Plan to give North Yorkshire children help earlier goes to councillors
The proposed three-year strategy is due to be considered on 27th October
Children and young people in North Yorkshire could get help earlier under a proposed three-year strategy.
North Yorkshire Council's executive is due to consider the plan on Tuesday 27th October.
The strategy is called "Little Steps to Big Futures: With You. Your Place. When it Matters".
The council says it sets out a vision for improving outcomes for children and young people by reshaping how support is delivered across the county.
What the strategy aims to do
The council says the proposed strategy focuses on providing help earlier and strengthening family and community support.
It says the aim is for more children to thrive within their families, communities and local schools.
The council says it also wants children and young people to develop a strong sense of belonging, connection and identity in the places where they live, learn and grow.
It says working with children, families, schools and partners will help prevent needs from escalating.
The council says the strategy has been informed by local data, insight and engagement.
It says many children and young people in North Yorkshire enjoy positive outcomes, but some face challenges linked to poverty, health and wellbeing, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and discrimination.
It also points to the particular challenges that can arise in a large rural county.
The five priorities
The strategy is built around five priorities:
Helping families earlier.
Promoting inclusion, belonging and learning.
Strengthening families and support networks.
Improving stability for vulnerable children and young people.
Helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed for adulthood.
Joined-up support
The council says a key focus is strengthening joined-up working across services, schools and communities.
It says that would let families get support sooner and more easily when challenges arise.
The council says the approach aims to provide support closer to home and reduce the need for more intensive interventions later.
It says existing services and resources will increasingly focus on early intervention, inclusion and partnership working.
The council says the strategy also positions it to respond to national reforms across children's social care, safeguarding and SEND.
Cllr Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for children and families, said: "Every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy a happy, healthy and fulfilling childhood, regardless of their background or circumstances."
Cllr Sanderson also said: "By intervening earlier and working more closely with our partners, we want more children to remain safely with their families wherever possible and more children and young people to achieve, thrive and feel that they belong within their local schools and communities."