The Total Craigroyston initiative came to a close at the end of March, as the localities model of the City of Edinburgh Council begins to be implemented. A ‘checking-out’ session was held on 23 March at Pilton Children’s and Youth Project to share with local people and workers the progress that had been made and to identify key messages for the locality management team (writes Tim Packer).
The event started with a presentation from Christine Mackay (above), the manger of Total Craigroyston, and then group discussions based around the seven themes from the Road Map. Three questions were asked in the groups:
1) What do you think about the progress that’s been made?
2) Are there other examples of progress that we should be noting?
3) What do you think we need to keep in mind going into locality management?
To help facilitate the discussion each group were given you-said/we-did posters and some key data from the A Place that You Know infographic about each of the themes. All of the groups were led by a member of the Total Craigroyston team or another key partner.
All of the comments from the groups have been taken into account, the key messages are outlined below for each of the questions.
The progress that has been made
Across the groups the improvements that have taken place in communication between staff and with the community were noted. The opportunities for staff to come together have improved the ability to deliver the right support for families and young people. Example mentioned included the Youth TAC, Support in Time and Community Connections. Sharing of information through the summer/easter/term activities calendars and the Parent and Carer activities and groups booklet are seen to be good examples of how to share information with local people about what’s available.
Ways to re-focus the way that services work was seen as critical, promoting early intervention, the ‘whole family’ approach and identifying practical solutions. These changes were seen to have helped families and young people get the support that they need more quickly and prevent deterioration in their situations.
The improved engagement of senior management and the increased cooperation between organisations locally were seen as having had a positive impact, specifically around the issues of youth crime. This has also helped to reduce duplication in the support to families and young people.
Other areas of progress
Some specific examples of where improvements in the wider area were seen as having a positive impact.
The support to Head Teachers is stronger. Through the Support in Time meeting and the link officer with Police Scotland, as examples, it was identified that there access to information of who to get help from, share information and knowledge of other groups’/services’ roles has improved.
North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum and other groups for young people are making a positive impact on the community. The ideas and voice of young people is identifying the issues that affect them and showing the importance of their inclusion in the decisions about their community.
Rights Respecting Schools and the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme are having a positive effect in the area. These approaches are seen to be building young people’s capacity to act respectively and encourage positive behaviour.
Timebanking is a helpful way of building community.
Going into locality working
Key messages for locality working were concentrated on three areas – communication, focus on local issues, and ongoing engagement with local people.
Most of the comments made about the locality arrangements emphasised the necessity for the new structure to take into account how information will be communicated. Clear ways for local people to find out what’s on, settling into the area and where to get help are essential. Including time and opportunity for staff to share information, and develop positive working relationships across service and organisational boundaries is clear.
Practical examples of these are, continue to develop the timetables for children and young people, use community centres and notices boards more effectively (‘Welcome to the area’, ‘what is on’ sections), and sustain key groups such as Support in Time, Community Connections, Guardian’s Group and Youth TAC where staff can more together to tackle issues that arise.
There was concern expressed about the size of the localities, and that issues in smaller communities might be overlooked. Going forward practical solutions were to identify ways of measure the key issues for communities and locality managers (across services and organisation boundaries) to lead on cooperative working. Finding ways to share information about what is happening locally and pursue changes when they’re need are essential.
Localities need to be engaging local people through formal routes (Neighbourhood Partnership, Community Councils, tenants groups, consultations) but also listening regularly to the issues that are being faced on a day to day basis. Shaping the locality to address the issues that face local people is key to improving the area and providing the right support. Practical issues included finding ways locally to address the financial difficulties that people are facing, listening to the problems that are having a wider effect (for example, as with motorbike crime and house breaking)
Looking ahead
The exact way that the North West Locality will be structured is still being developed, however if you do have questions here are some contacts:
Peter Strong (Locality Manager, 0131 529 5005, peter.strong@edinburgh.gov.uk),
Tracey Devenney (Total Craigroyston/general information, 0131 529 5073, tracey.devenney@edinburgh.gov.uk),
Steven Macara (Total Craigroyston/Work with schools, 0131 529 5032, Steven.macara@edinburgh.gov.uk),
Gordon McLean (Children’s Services Area Co-ordinator South West, 07710 389011, gordon.mclean@edinburgh.gov.uk).
Thank you to everyone that has contributed to make Total Craigroyston a success.
Tim Packer, April 2016
Total Craigroyston
tim.packer@edinburgh.gov.uk
Total Craigroyston have also produced an update on the mainstreaming of TC services – see below
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