Local Authorities: Key Role in Ending Child Poverty

1. ‘Ending Child Poverty everybody’s business’ Localism and Local Authorities what can they do best? Michelle Kennedy LGID Associate – Child Poverty Adviser ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

2. Tackling all the causes and consequences of child poverty needs a joined up approach and much of this depends on high quality local services , leadership and knowing your community

3. Ending child poverty by 2020 – what does it mean for local authorities? • The Child Poverty Act requires Local Authorities and their Named Partners to: • Cooperate to reduce, and mitigate the effects of, child poverty in their local area. • Produce local child poverty needs assessments. • Prepare joint local child poverty strategies. • The Guide produced on the duties signals the importance of local authorities – both to support consultation around the needs assessment but also to consider contribution to the local area strategy. • The emphasis is not on areas meeting the national targets at a local level – but on developing local strategies across the building blocks and driving action that makes a difference to the deprived communities in their area. Therefore all local areas should be making a contribution. ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

4. Leaders and champions Service commissioners and providers Accountable and responsible Local Authorities – doing what they do best Partners Improvement and creativity Experts and influencers ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

5. Leaders and champions Political leadership Corporate /executive leadership Community leadership Child Poverty Champions ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

6. Service commissioners and providers New ways and opportunities to provide / support pathways to employment for parents. Co-location – co-design of joint provision Better use of resources , data and intelligence Devolution / pooling of assets and budgets Greater understanding of families from ‘cradle to grave’ ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

7. Improvement and development Local Authorities leading on sector improvement and development – learning from the best Child poverty pilots , including Innovation and Community Budgets New ways of working with Families with Complex Needs Creative Councils and radical transformation Localism is what we do ! ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

8. So what else? • Some challenges and chances ahead: • Poverty Fatigue? • Welfare Reform • Housing Benefit changes • Localism Bill • Pace of change

9. So what can we do ? • Lead by example – as an individual and organisation • Champion your communities • Engage in and learn from partnership • Use the Child Poverty Needs Assessment and strategy to identify and work with places and families most at risk • Use the ‘Building Blocks’ to see where you fit in • Use new flexibilities such as those with JCP to work and commission differently and co-locate • Embed child poverty in existing or planned policies , service redesign and culture ( no need to re-invent the wheel) • Support families to take greater responsibility for themselves and their children ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’

10. ‘Ending Child Poverty everybody’s business’ Child Poverty Community of Practice : http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/comm/landing-home.do?id=1362979 Michelle Kennedy LGID Associate – Child Poverty Adviser ‘Ending child poverty everybody’s business’