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Aims of the policy or strategy
The focus of this activity will be to shape provision within the locality of the Council. To provide holistic and flexible services that will meet the needs of children in care, with disabilities, and complex needs; reducing spend across the public sector.
Consolidating and delivering residential, short break provision and community-based services. All together this will deliver a new wraparound service for children and young people in Dorset with complex multiple needs. Working with families on a strength-based, relationship-based, restorative model in a shared approach with partner agencies.
Background to the proposal
Dorset’s ambition is to develop and provide services that will best meet the needs of children with complex needs and keep them living in their communities.
This programme will meet that ambition working with children, young people and their families, Dorset Council employees and partners to maximise outcomes and reduce the need for children to move from their communities to high cost out of County residential provision.
Intelligence and Communication
Data, information, evidence and research used and how it has influenced the decision-making process
- finance data – historical spend in previous years and projected spend via the Medium-Term Financial Plan
- Dorset Council’s Performance Data
- Dorset Short Breaks Survey 2019
- report to Cabinet 19 January 2021 (Children’s Provision)
- Placement Sufficiency Strategy 2020 – 2023
- Mid Term Financial Plan 2021/2022 – Capital Bids Summary
- Dorset’s Corporate Parenting Strategy 2020 – 2023
- Ofsted Inspection of Dorset local authority children’s services 2021
Engagement or consultation that has taken place as part of this EqIA
Children, young people and their families will be fully involved. Initial engagement and commitment have been secured with the Dorset Parent Carer Council and will be detailed in the Communication Strategy which underpins this proposal.
There will be full engagement and dialogue with staff at the Cherries, across Dorset Council children’s services, and partners to fully co-design future services.
A consultation exercise with care experienced young people who have direct experience of living in residential children’s home is proposed to ensure views are captured which will inform future design and specification. Regular engagement with the Children in Care Council and Leaving Care Council members will continue.
Feedback and communication
A workstream will be established involving the Dorset Parent Council, and partners representing children and families and will be detailed in the Communication Strategy which underpins this proposal.
There will be regular open and frequent communications to report progress through specific channels and feedback through more formal multi-agency meeting arrangements.
Feedback will be used to inform onward developments through co-production with children, young people, families and carers. Any subsequent changes to Services arising from the delivery of this strategy will be subject to further EQIA processes.
Assessment
Impacts of the policy or strategy
| Impacts on who or what? | Effect | Details |
| Age | Positive | The services will support children and young people from primary aged pupils to 25 years old.
Accommodation will be developed in accordance with the regulator, Ofsted, and will provide a high quality, homely environment that responds to the needs of the age group.
Service Delivery Through early identification and support implemented across all ages giving early access to support at the most timely and proportionate level of intervention. There will be improved transition for young people and support for them in preparing for adulthood and improved planning linked to improved pathways connected to the special educational and disabilities (SEND) strategy |
Disability: (including physical, mental, sensory and progressive conditions) |
Positive | Accommodation The residential provision will be designed to provide high quality, homely accommodation for children and young people with complex needs. Whilst avoiding an institutional feel, it will comply with the latest standards and building regulations to ensure that accommodation is accessible, suitable and fully meets Disability Discrimination requirements.
Service Delivery The services will be kept under review to demonstrate full compliance and commitment to being inclusive.
Commissioning & delivery of high quality & value for money specialist services that support disability requirements delivered locally.
Early identification and support will result in the delivery of timely and proportionate services minimising statutory intervention. A Graduated Approach will require partners and services to change their approach to managing risk safely and providing community-based responses. With community-based provision this will reduce travel distances for children and a reduction in out of County placements |
| Gender Reassignment & Gender Identity | Positive | Accommodation to be gender neutral.
Service Delivery Through the detailed development of the services, partners and services will be tasked in demonstrating and reviewing how services will be fully inclusive for children and young people of binary, non-binary or fluid gender, avoiding stereotypical approaches to ensure equality of services and experience |
| Pregnancy and maternity: | Neutral | It is not expected that this characteristic will be positively or negatively affected by this strategy. Services will be expected to connect with the Public Health Nursing teams for appropriate support |
| Race and Ethnicity | Positive | Accommodation and Service Delivery Through the detailed development of the service, partners and services will be tasked in providing services that are sensitive, respond to any disadvantage and provide positive affirmation of racial and ethnic origins. |
| Religion or belief | Positive | Accommodation and Service Delivery Through detailed development of the service, partners and services will be tasked to demonstrate how services will respect and uphold the right of children and young people to practice a particular religion. With staff and partners encouraging and facilitating religious practice in line with the child and young person’s beliefs |
| Sexual orientation | Positive | Accommodation On review of the data no disproportionate impacts on this group.
Service Delivery Through the detailed development of the service, partners will be tasked to demonstrate how services will promote equal opportunities for young people of all sexual orientation and that a child or young person’s sexual identity (including when there is uncertainty) is respected and positively affirmed |
| Sex (consider both men and women): | Positive | Accommodation Facilities (including toilets and bathrooms) will be designed to be uni-sex and non-gender specific
Service Delivery Through dialogue and subsequent detailed development of the service, the services and partners will be tasked asked to demonstrate how services will ensure that equal opportunities for males and females are promoted, and that stereotypes are avoided in relation to activities, interests and hobbies |
Marriage or civil partnership Single parent families Armed Forces communities |
Neutral | It is not expected that this characteristic will be positively or negatively affected by this strategy. |
| Carers | Positive | Local commissioning and the provision of services will result in providing support locally |
| Rural isolation | Positive | Providing local responses will reduce excessive travel time and out of County placements |
| Social & economic deprivation | Positive | Specialist support for Care Leavers & vulnerable young people transitioning into adulthood will be improved through an increased focus on employment, education and training.
Poverty In the main young people who live in children's homes have significantly poorer outcomes than their peers and the care population. They are more likely to engage in child sexual exploitation (6 times more likely), go missing from home (7 times more likely), be involved in gangs (5 times more likely), trafficking (12 times more likely) and child drug misuse (4 times more likely) and are less likely to be engaged in education and have stable employment prospects and training. |
Key to effects or impacts
Positive - the proposal eliminates discrimination, advances equality of opportunity and/or fosters good relations with protected groups.
Negative - protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against
Neutral - no change/ no assessed significant impact of protected characteristic groups
Negative - protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against
People who have agreed the EQIA
Name Claire Shiels
Date 24 January 2022
Equality Lead Aidan Badder
Date 26 January 2022
Equality and Diversity Action Group Chair Becky Forrester
Date 8 February 2022