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Children's services' providers in Kent have made a fresh
commitment to work more closely together in the interests of
children, young people and families.
From this week, 23 new Local Children's Services Partnerships
(LCSPs) will bring together representatives from Kent County
Council services, schools, social care, district councils, health
and the police, as well as other voluntary services and agencies
who work with children within a local area.
This is part of a national programme of reform to ensure
Children's Services are co-operating more effectively to improve
the health, safety and learning of all children and young people.
Kent has responded positively to this national programme and
introduced a new partnership called the Kent Children's Trust in
October 2006.
KCC's Managing Director of Children, Families and Education
Graham Badman chairs the Kent Children's Trust and
the Bishop of Dover, The Right Reverend Dr Stephen Venner is deputy
chairman.
While the Kent Children's Trust will take a strategic view, the
LCSPs will focus on day-to-day services and the specific needs of
their area.
Graham Badman said: "The new Local Children's Services
Partnerships will not only make a difference to the way services
for children work together in Kent but most importantly for
children and young people themselves.
"They will strengthen the networks between agencies to help
ensure each individual child receives the care and attention they
need. The most vulnerable children in our society must be given the
highest priority and these new arrangements will help to do
this."
The local partnerships will be led by a Local Children's
Services Partnership Manager:
- for Ashford these new managers will be Laura Froude and Helen
Anderson
- for Canterbury these new managers will be Jean Mosley and Ruth
Herron
- for Cranbrook and Paddock Wood the new manager will be Julie
Stones
- for Dartford these new managers will be a Karen Coffey and Nick
Fenton
- for Deal and Sandwich the new manager will be Alan Rogers
- for Dover the new manager will be Lee-Anne Farach
- for Gravesham the new manager will be Sue Tunnicliff
- for Maidstone there will be two new managers, the first of whom
is Hilary Macdonald. The other manager will be in place shortly,
with Mike Thompson covering in the meantime
- for Malling the new manager will be Tony Froud
- for Swanley and District the new manager will be Paul
Shallcross
- for Shepway these new managers will be Val Walton and Stephen
Smith
- for Swale there will be two new managers, the first of whom is
John Truman. The other manager will in place shortly, with John
Studley covering in the meantime
- for Thanet these new managers will be Nedine Watson-Cutts and
Karen Sharp
- for Tonbridge the new manager will be George Parkin
- for Tunbridge Wells the new manager will be Beth
Macildowie
Their first responsibility will be to develop a Local Children
and Young People's Plan based on local needs.
Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education Standards
Leyland
Ridings said: "This is a hugely significant moment in the
development of our children's trust arrangements and our ambition
to improve the wellbeing and life chances for Kent children and
young people. I know all the partnerships will have a very
successful future." |