What do you think of the CYP plan in your area? Does it include men? Send in your comments.
Why is the Children and Young People's Plan Important
The new Children's Act (2004) makes each local authority responsible for improving outcomes for children and young people. The local authority is required to produce a Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) which reflects the aims of the 'Every Child Matters' green paper.
The CYPP should assess local need and identify the whole range of resources and agencies in the area whose activities affect children and young people. It should encompass the views of all these agencies as well as children, young people and their families in setting out a vision for the provision of all local authority and other services over the coming years.
For more information about CYPP see http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/planningandcommissioning/cypp
Why 'Every Dad Matters' ?
Research evidence has backed up what many people have known to be common sense - that fathers and male carers are important in improving outcomes for children and young people. Recent legislation has recognised the importance of fathers and male carers and the need for agencies providing services to families to undergo a culture change to ensure that fathers and male carers are included in provision.
The Children's Centre Practice Guidance from the DfES and the New National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services both stress the importance of engaging fathers and male carers in achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.
The new gender equality duty places an obligation on all agencies which provide public services to demonstrate what they are doing to ensure their services meet the differing needs of both men and women.
In a recent article in the Guardian, the Minister for Children Beverley Hughes is quoted as saying "Where fathers and mothers are both doing a good job with them, children are more likely to excel at school, stay out of trouble, and grow into balanced, well-adjusted adults. Care from both parents also helps girls and boys to question gender stereotypes that so limit what they think they can do in terms, for example, of future careers."
Why the Consultation Document?
The aim of the consultation document is to ensure that in planning for local children's services, authorities make best use of a valuable and currently underutilised resource for improving outcomes for children - namely the fathers and male carers.
The consultation document aims to include a number of measures in the Children and Young People's Plan which will enable inclusion of Fathers and Male carers in services which affect their children.
The document will also be used as a point of reference in the implementation of the CYP plans in shaping services.
What to Do Now?
Read the consultation document - 'Every Dad Matters' and let us know your comments/suggestions. You may have specific information that should be included for your local area. Please let us know if you are happy to add your name in support of the document. Please include your name, job title, which local authority area your work is relevant to and your organisation.
What Happens Next?
We at the Children North East Fatherhood Centre will be collating responses from practitioners and submitting the compiled documents to each of the local authorities in the North East region. Practitioners from other areas with an interest in work with fathers may wish to use some of the information from the 'Every Dad Matters' consultation document to make their own submissions to their local authorities.
Please note that although the 'Every Dad Matters' document is protected by copyright, practitioners are free to use whole or part of the document in their own submission provided that the relevant section is attributed to the fatherhood centre.
Any Questions?
If you have any further questions/comments or suggestions or wish to add your name in support of the 'Every Dad Matters' consultation please contact David Van der Velde, Centre Manager on 0845 130 7225. David@WorkingwithFathers.com.