Locality Groups
Since September 2006, three multi-agency locality groups have been established across the Borough. These groups have brought a closer integration across Children and Young People’s Services in the Borough, enabling swift and easy referral and supporting the delivery of the 5 Every Child Matters' outcomes.
The multi-agency Locality Groups’ remit is to provide a process to help early identification of the needs of individual children and young people and is a key element of Children’s Services preventative strategy. As part of the process practioners will undertake a common assessment and with the consent of parents and young people, share information. The locality group will agree a plan for local interventions and initially identify a Lead Professional where more than one service is required. The groups meet on a fortnightly basis throughout the year, including the school holidays.
The Locality Groups, chaired by a Locality Manager, include all the schools in the relevant locality area and representatives from the following services:
- Children and Young People's Social Care;
- Children and Young People's Integrated Services (including Educational Psychologist, Education Welfare, Behaviour Support, Early Years and Youth Services);
- Primary Care Trust (the Health Visitor and School Nurse);
- Connexions;
- Youth Offending Team and,
- when appropriate, representatives from Housing and Community Service;
- Early Years Providers and other Voluntary Sector Providers.
All those who attend the meetings have completed the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) training and referrals to the group are only accepted on the completion of a CAF.
Evidence suggests that by sharing information and receiving advice and support from other professionals, universal services are able to plan more appropriate and quicker interventions with individual children and young people. In reviewing cases, there are clear examples where referral to Locality Groups has led to improved outcomes for individual children and young people.
Three Localities
The map below shows the 3 localities in Poole that are based on school pyramids:
- Alderney (Rossmore) - East
- Poole Town/Hamworthy (Carter/Poole High) - South
- Canford Heath/Broadstone (Ashdown/Corfe Hills) - West
Based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Borough of Poole Licence No 100024248
There are 3 Locality Managers, who are responsible for the development and co-ordination of preventative services for 0-19 year olds in their areas and have a deputy who has oversight of the Children’s Centres in each locality.
Until the end of March 2008, Poole is part of a pilot established by the Department for Children, Schools and Families developing the Budget Holding Lead Professional role that has enabled professionals to develop individual packages of support for children and young people through the locality process.
The devlopment of locality working will include further integration work of Children’s Centres and Extended Schools.
For more information on Locality Groups, you can contact:
Directgov