AT A time when the issues of health and social care are dominating the news, Cornwall Council has launched an ambitious plan to protect and improve the lives of children and young people in the county.

The One Vision partnership plan is designed to work alongside the transformation plans of both the NHS and Cornwall Council’s adult social care provision with the aim of closing the gap between those who are doing well and those who are doing less well, by targeting care and support to those children, young people and their families with the most pressing needs.

As birth rates and the number of families moving to Cornwall continues to rise, there will inevitably be more children in the county with disabilities or chronic health problems, and the improvements in medical care mean that the growth in older parents (over 35), and the survival of more babies with lower birth weights, will both increase the risk of children with long term disabilities.

The county also continues to be an area of high childhood poverty with more than one in three children in some of the most deprived areas affected by having parents with low-paid, seasonal employment, and so at increased risk to childhood obesity and tooth decay.

The plan brings together NHS Kernow, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Devon and Cornwall Police and other bodies to work closer with Cornwall Council in meeting the needs of all the young people in Cornwall, with support to keep them safe and healthy.

It covers a wide range of education, health and social care services commissioned by Cornwall Council, NHS Kernow and the council of the Isles of Scilly.

These include education and early years’ services, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, community child health services, including child and adolescent mental health services, early help services, and children’s social care, including child protection, children in care and care leavers.

Cornwall Councillor (Lib Dem) for St Breward, St Teath and Delabole, Dominic Fairman, said: “Since joining the Young People Policy Advisory Committee, this has been the most important piece of work we have looked at. As money to both the NHS and to Cornwall Council continues to be reduced by this government, it is essential that all of these organisations involved with looking after young people co-operate strongly.

“Nearly half of the people in Cornwall live in small towns or villages with poor public transport, and if we can get to children in need early with a clear and simple plan, led by one key worker, we can deliver a better service despite the cuts in funding.”

There will be a series of public engagement events between April and June.

To learn more, contact Cllr Fairman on 07939 122303 or at [email protected]