Bernadette Duffy Thomas Coram Centre for Children and Families, Camden

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Bernadette Duffy Thomas Coram Centre for Children and Families, Camden"

Noel Moore
7 years ago
Views:

1 Governance Conference Bernadette Duffy Thomas Coram Centre for Children and Families, Camden Overview Brief outline of the centre s activities and the range of agencies involved The working relationship with LEA Overview of governance structure Recruitment and support for governors Roles and Responsibilities Interact with staff Contributing to the centre s strategic plan Budgets Challenges and things we would do differently if they were starting again Advantages and tips for success Brief outline of the centre s activities and the range of agencies involved The Thomas Coram Centre for children and families is a partnership between the London Borough of Camden and Coram Family. The centre is part of Coram Community Campus.Our objective is to work as a multi-agency team thereby making a wide range of service easily accessible to families. We are situated just south of Kings Cross station in the London borough of Camden. The local community is rich in cultural, linguistic, religious and economic diversity. We provide Fully integrated care and education for children

2 Support for parents and carers Support for early years practitioners The working relationship with LEA The centre is closely linked to Camden s Early Years Service and Primary Schools The authority provides most of the funding for the nursery and clerks the governing body The authority provides financial and personnel support The head of centre is supported by the Head of Early Years and Link Inspector Centre staff have access to training and support provided by Camden Overview of governance structure The governing body acts as governing body for the whole Childrens Centre and oversees all aspects of the centre work. Governors decide to adopt the following model 5 parent governors 2 staff governors [ plus head] 3 LEA governors 3 community governors Campus Sure Start Bangladeshi community 1 sponsor governor Coram Family 4 associate governors ex parent for continuity Local Programme Manager Lead Social Worker for South Camden Health visitor /PCT Institute of education

3 additional member of staff There are four committees attached to the governing body: - Children and Curriculum Parents and Families Staff and training Finance and Premises Membership of the committees is open to governors and anyone else who feels that they would like to contribute. Governors chair each committee and minutes of committees are circulated to all governors. Recruitment and support for governors Governors are recruited in a variety of ways. It is important that potential governors are nurtured. The most successful governors have been those who are aware of what we do. Once recruited it is important to support new governors, for example by linking them to a more experienced governor, giving them opportunities to spend time in the different parts of the centre It is important that each governor feels that his or her particular expertise is recognised and is matched to specific activities. Roles and Responsibilities Each governor is part of at least one committee Governors have particular areas of interest, for example SEN and disabilities, health, social services, community links The parents governors organise parents forums

4 The staff governors report back to the staff centre meeting Interacting with staff Governors are involved in all appointment of staff They are also involved in the heads performance management Governors spend time in the centre getting to know staff and the chair comes to staff meetings as required Contributing to the centre s strategic plan The Centre Improvement Plan reflects the different aspects of the centres work It includes Sure Start Unit memorandum of understanding, Ofsted Action Plan, European Social Fund outputs, local Sure Start agreements, National Foundation for Youth Music outcomes A draft plan is devised by the centre staff following consultation with parents and children The draft is then shared with the governing body and their comments are incorporated The final plan is approved by the whole governing body Budgets Thomas Coram is an integrated centre and it does not make sense to just delegate the school bit. The authority has decided to delegate/devolve the whole budget to the governors The funding for the 70 term time place for 3 and 4 year olds is delegated Funding for Children in Need places, 6 months to three and extended day/year is devolved EEC funding for training /dissemination and out reach to families and Standards Fund have always been devolved

5 There are also a number of other funding streams, for example European Social Fund, local Sure Start and National Foundation for Youth Music. Challenges and things we would do differently if they were starting again Challenges Accepting that there will always be change Integrating funding streams Bringing together staff terms and conditions Ensuring that the requirements of school governance are met while making sure that the governing body meets the needs of the centre. Finding times when everyone can meet! If we were starting again we would spend more time recruiting and inducting governors into their role. Advantages and tips for success There is a single body to oversee the work of the centre. All stakeholders are represented on the governing body Policies apply to the whole centre Make the structure work for your centre Working in an integrated centre is a voyage of discovery - Enjoy the journey!

A guide for prospective School Governors in Surrey. What governing bodies do and what being a governor involves

A guide for prospective School Governors in Surrey What governing bodies do and what being a governor involves Introduction 3 Why people become governors 4 Why schools have governing bodies 4 The qualities