Improving Information Children’s Information Services

in Wales

Phyllis MatthewsChildren’s Information Bureau Manager

Alma BellesChildren’s Information Bureau Assistant Manager

Outline of presentation

• Statutory basis of CIS

• Where are we now in Wrexham

• Where do we need to be by April ‘08

• Where are we now in Wales

• What resources do we need

Statutory basis of Children’s Information Services

Section 118A of the Schools Standards & Framework Act 1998 (as amended by the Education Act 2002) places a duty on Local Authorities to:

“establish and maintain a service providing information to the public on childcare and related services in the area”.

Statutory basis of Children’s Information Services

Section 27 of the Childcare Act 2006 requires Local Authorities:

• to ensure that parents of children and young people aged 0-19 have access to the full range of information they may need as parents

What is the Children’s Information Bureau?

The Centre for Information on all children’s services in Wrexham County Borough

(0-14)

Children’s Information Bureau

• Opened in October 1995

• First Children’s Information Service in Wales

• Achieved National Quality Award in February 2004 and September 2007

What information does the CIB provide?• Childminders• Day Nurseries• Playgroups• Out of School Clubs• Open Access Playschemes• Health, Education and Social Services • Leisure Activities• Local and national organisations

What else does the CIB provide?

• Books and leaflets on parenting and childcare

• Information files on a wide range of topics

• Help for parents of children with special needs

• National helplines for parents

What other services does the CIB provide?• Training for childcare workers • Employer support programme• Support for unemployed parents• Childminder start up grants• Sustainability grants• Assisted places scheme• Support to 22 CIS in Wales

Who uses the service?Over 5,000 enquiries a year from:• Parents /carers• Professionals• Childcare providers• Students • Voluntary organisations • Employers • Other CIS

What do they want to know?• Childcare• Leisure• Funding• Education• Setting up a

Business • Children’s

Issues

• Parenting• Training courses• Health• Work-Life

Balance • Special needs

How do they contact the service?• Telephone helpline with 24

hour answerphone facility

• Drop-in centre open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

• WCBC Website

• Letter/email

• Outreach service

• Touch Screen Kiosks

What do they think of the service?• Monitoring form completed for every

enquiry received

• Comments form sent out or given out to every enquirer

• 98% of enquirers rated the service either very good or excellent over the 12 month period April ’06 - March ‘07

Comments received

“I would just like to thank you for all the extra information given on leisure activities. I didn’t realise there was so much to do with your baby.”

“It was the information and support you gave me that aided my case and gave me strength to fight my corner. Thank you so much.”

“Diolch yn fawr iawn am parchu fyng iaith – mae’r teulu yn ddwyieithog. Digonedd o gwybodaeth diolch.”

CIB staffing

• Manager

• Assistant Manager

• 2 Information Officers

• 3 Information Assistants

• Training Officer• Childcare Funding

Officer• Parents’ Advisor

(Genesis) • Project Support

Officer (Genesis)• Work-Life Balance

Information Officer (Equal)

Section 27 of Childcare ActKey features:

• Provision of information, advice and support to parents on childcare provided in the area

• Provision of information on any other services, facilities or publications, which may be of benefit to parents, children or young people

• The information service must be accessible to all persons who may benefit from it, in particular, persons who might otherwise have difficulty in taking advantage of it.

Information to be provided

• Children and Young People’s Plan• Education and family learning services• Health and well-being services• Play, sport and other recreational facilities• Social care and family support• Youth services• Financial and legal services• Child development• Staying safe• Local and national services for disabled children and young

people• Services promoting the use of the Welsh language

Baseline assessment of CIS A survey was recently carried out to

find out how prepared CIS are to meet the requirements of Section 27 of the Childcare Act. The results are categorised as follows:

• Childcare Information• Other information• Accessibility

Childcare Information

All CIS provide information, advice and assistance to parents or prospective parents who use, or propose to use, childcare provided in the area of the local authority

Other Information

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

Children & Young P eople's P lan

Education & Family Learning Services

Health & Wellbeing Services

P lay, Sports & Other Recreational Services

Social Care & Family Support Services

Youth Services

Financial & Legal Services

Child Development

Staying Safe

Services for Disabled Children & Young P eople

Services P romoting the use of the Welsh Language

Number of CIS

Areas for improvement

• Child development

• Staying safe

• Local and National services for Disabled Children and Young People

Areas of excellence

• Financial and legal services/Work Life Balance

• Services promoting the use of the Welsh Language

• Play, sports and other recreational facilities

• Youth services

Accessibility: location

• Council Office

• Shop front

• Integrated Children’s Centre

• Library

Accessibility: opening hours/services• Office hours• Websites• Interview rooms• Free phone• Answer phone• Kiosks

Accessibility:areas for improvement

Working with:

• Local employers• Health Clinics• Community Focused Schools• People who have difficulty in taking

advantage of the service

Accessibility:examples of good practiceWorking with :

• Integrated Children’s Centres

• Jobcentre Plus

• Genesis Cymru.Wales

• Libraries

• Partners in the community

Resources: staffing

Staffing levels to meet existing duties:

• 2.5 telephone help-line

• 3.5 drop-in centre

Staffing levels to meet new duties:• An additional full-time Outreach Officer• An additional half-time Information Officer

Resources: revenue costs

Costs will vary according to the 0-19 population, number of childcare settings and local circumstances.

As a minimum a CIS would require £30,000 running costs plus staffing costs

Commitment: Local Authority

• CIS representation on strategic partnerships

• Services are staffed by trained, qualified information professionals

• Adequate resources

Commitment: Welsh Assembly Government

Vision

“Our vision for Children’s Information Services is that they are a strong, visible and mainstream part of local authority provision, widely understood and used by families.”

The Childcare Strategy for Wales: Childcare is for Children November 2005.