ITEM CH5
CHILDREN’S SERVICES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 14 JULY 2009
REDUCING TEENAGE CONCEPTIONS IN OXFORDSHIRE
Background
1. In March 2009 the Children’s Scrutiny Committee received an interim report outlining the findings of the Confidential Inquiry into teenage conceptions in Oxfordshire held in July 2008. The Inquiry was held by Janet Tomlinson, Director of Children, Young People and Families at Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and Dr Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health for Oxfordshire. It identified a series of recommendations for action to improve the strategy to reduce teenage pregnancies. In April 2009, the Confidential Inquiry reviewed progress made since the original report in 2008.
2. This paper updates members on the latest position and outlines action that has been taken since the original review.
The Latest picture
3. We now have teenage conception figures for the first quarter of 2008, reflecting Oxfordshire’s rates just before the Confidential Inquiry. There were 84 conceptions January-March, compared to 91 conceptions in the same quarter for 2007. This is promising but the rates over the year may vary so it is not yet possible to judge whether we will see an overall decrease for 2008.
4. Previously the 2007 rate had been 29.6 per 1000 (350 conceptions) compared with 27.5 per 1000 (320 conceptions) in 2006. The 2007 data showed a -5.6% change in rate from the 1998 baseline. This change in rate is the second lowest in the Thames Valley and compares poorly with a national change in rate of -10.7%.
5. It is also important to note that Oxfordshire’s rate for young mothers aged 16-19 in education, employment or training (EET) is 20.5% and this is not as good as the national average of 31.5% for England. It is clear that supporting young mothers back into education, employment and training remains a priority.
Progress on Action Points
6. As a result of the Confidential Inquiry into teenage pregnancy, existing plans have been reprioritised to focus on where the strategy can have the greatest impact. In line with the recommendations the following progress was reported:
Governance and Strategy
7. A new Reducing Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator (RTPC) had been appointed and work has begun on a single multi-agency strategic plan.
8. The current strategy has been revised so that sexual health and education to prevent teenage conceptions is targeted in Oxford and Banbury where teenage conception rates are persistently high.
9. The first full Teenage Pregnancy performance management dataset was presented to the Children and Young People’s Trust Performance Sub-Group in May. This will ensure that all partners understand the ‘story’ behind teenage pregnancy, demonstrates that we have a firm grip on what needs to be achieved and increases rigour and challenge about actions and impact into the process.
10. The governance of the teenage pregnancy strategy has changed to reflect the new area based structure. Area Trust Boards, which report to the Children and Young People’s Trust, are ideally placed to hold services to account for their part in delivering the strategy. They will also be able to focus more effectively on the teenage pregnancy hotspots.
Workforce Development
11. We have commissioned the OCC Learning and Development team to conduct an evaluation of the multi-agency training course we offer on supporting young people’s sexual health needs. Attendance is monitored after each session and each session is also evaluated on the day. Trainers then meet regularly to review evaluations and check Quality Assurance.
Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
12. A new enhanced specification for support to Sex and Relationships Education has been agreed with the Healthy Oxfordshire Schools Team. It is targeted at six secondary schools that sit in Oxford and Banbury.
Targeted Investment
13. A Sexual Health Development Officer post has been commissioned and is now working across the Youth Service from April to August 2009. The aim is to increase capacity and skills around young people’s sexual health
14. We are extending the School Health Nurse programme so that the service runs in Banbury and Oxford during the summer holidays. It will cover all aspects of health including mental health, diet and sexual health according to young people’s needs. The service will include a weekday phone line and drop- in sessions in youth clubs in Oxford City and Banbury.
Improving Support for Boys and Young Men
15. The Joint Commissioning Sub-Group of the Children and Young People’s Trust has agreed to invest in the provision of sexual health services in Further Education colleges in both Banbury and Oxford. This will include separate provision for both the Oxpens and Blackbird Leys campus, where the majority of students are male. This is due to begin in the Autumn term.
Involving Young People
16. The Young People’s Sounding Board has prioritised young people’s sexual health as an area for discussion so that they can continue to influence directly the development of services. There is joint working with the PCT to survey young people across Oxfordshire about the impact of sexual health campaigns.
Supporting Young Mothers and Reducing Second Teenage Conceptions
17. Oxfordshire is a Wave 3 pilot site for the Family Nurse Partnership programme. During 2010, one hundred first time parents aged under 20 years will be targeted with an intensive programme of evidence based interventions, lasting until their child is two years old. This will be delivered by specially trained Family Nurses. This approach is already proven to reduce second pregnancies, to increase the number of young parents returning to education, to improve early attachment and improve the children’s educational achievement over their school career. There will be a formal launch of the programme in the autumn.
18. The “Young Mums to Be” course has recently won a national award for the work it does to re-engage young parents. Over 30 young mothers are enrolled at present and another 11 will begin the course in September. The course educates young women about pregnancy and birth, mother and child health, development and bonding, sexual health and it encourages a return to EET.
Conclusion
19. The Confidential Inquiry review team agree there is evidence that in Oxfordshire, we have foundations in place to ensure that the number of teenage conceptions continues to decrease, however, there is no room for complacency. This remains a top priority for the Children and Young People’s Trust, for the Director of Children, Young People and Families and for the Joint Director of Public Health.
20. A new Strategic Lead post for teenage pregnancy and healthy lifestyles has been agreed by Oxfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Trust and will be jointly funded. This post will drive forward the teenage pregnancy strategy at a senior level. A job description is being written at present and we expect to advertise shortly.
21. The focus now must be on making sure that each initiative delivers what is expected and that we are able to measure that impact in terms of our conception rate locally. The agenda will be led through the Area Trust Boards, monitored on a quarterly basis by the Children and Young People’s Trust.
SARAH BRETON LUCY RUSSELL Strategic Lead and Head of Reducing Teenage Joint Commissioning Pregnancy Coordinator
July 2009
|