Essex County Council have made children with parents in prison a strategic priority by referencing them in their Children & Young People's Strategic Plan.
The plan is the product of the Essex-wide Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership with representatives from across partner organisations providing leadership for the children's system. The Partnership discusses the most important issues and problems for children, young people and families in Essex and decides on actions. It sits alongside the Essex Safeguarding Children Board, whose responsibility is to ensure the safety of children in Essex. Children who have parents in prison are included on a list of particularly vulnerable children that the partnership will focus on in coming plans. Encouragingly, the document recognises that "There are some children and young people who do not appear vulnerable but who may not be coping as well as we think or whose circumstances are not secure; for these children and young people only small changes or challenges in life may make things difficult. Being aware of children and young people 'on the edge' of vulnerability is important." The strategic plan will be developed into a delivery plan with measurable outcomes which will be reviewed at the Partnership's quarterly meetings, keeping children of prisoners on the Council's agenda.
You can download the Essex Children & Young People's Strategic Plan below.
