Every Child Matters: Change for Children [742kb] [pdf] was published in 2004 following wide consultation with children, parents, young people and those working in children's services. It sets out a national framework for local change, led by local authorities and their partners. The aim is to provide more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and families.

The outcomes

The previous Government's Every Child Matters Green Paper identified the five outcomes that are most important to children and young people:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well-being

The five outcomes are universal ambitions and we want every child across North Yorkshire to achieve these outcomes, whatever their background or circumstances. The Every Child Matters agenda seeks to shift the focus from dealing with the consequences of difficulties in children's lives to preventing things going wrong in the first place.

To achieve this there are changes to:

• Build services around the child, young person and family
• Support parents and carers
• Develop the workforce, changing culture and practice to support integrated working
• Integrate universal and targeted services
• Integrate services across the 0-19 age range

The changes in children's services are all based around agencies and professionals working together more effectively. This means that different agencies - public, private and voluntary/community - will be providing coordinated support for children and young people to ensure all the outcomes are met. Children's Trusts have formed to bring together the organisations responsible for services for children, young people and families with a focus on improving outcomes for children.

Why was it introduced?

The Every Child Matters agenda was developed partly in response to the problems that led to the death of Victoria Climbie in London, and partly due to an increasing emphasis on joined up and integrated working. The two key drivers behind the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme are the Children Act (2004) and the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services.

Every Child Matters: Change for Children was published in November 2004. The agenda was developed to ensure that the child is at the centre of everything done by the local authority, and to ensure that local authorities focus on the "outcomes" and not simply the process when they plan and provide children's services

What does this mean for North Yorkshire?

The North Yorkshire Children's Trust brings together North Yorkshire County Council and its partners that work with children, young people and their families. The Children's Trust, have developed a  Children and Young People's Plan [3mb] [pdf] based upon the five outcomes of Every Child Matters. By working in partnership, we are better able to provide the support and services required to improve the lives of children and young people.

Changing times newsletter Changing Times - March 2013 [779kb] [pdf] Changing Times - March 2013 Changing Times December 2012 [1Mb] [pdf] Changing Times December 2012 Changing Times - September 2012 [693kb] [pdf] Changing Times - September 2012 Changing Times - June 2012 [2Mb] [pdf] Changing Times - June 2012 Changing Times - March 2012 [1Mb] [pdf] Changing Times - March 2012 Changing Times - December 2011 [719kb] [pdf] Changing Times - December 2011 Changing Times - September 2011 [4Mb] [pdf] Changing Times - September 2011 Changing Times - June 2011 [6Mb] [pdf] Changing Times - June 2011 Changing Times - March 2011 [4Mb] [pdf] Changing Times - March 2011 Changing Times - December 2010 [1Mb] [pdf] Changing Times - December 2010 Changing Times - October 2010 [904kb] [pdf] Changing Times - October 2010 Useful downloads Every Child Matters - Change for Children [742kb] [pdf] Every Child Matters: Change for Children sets out the national framework for local change programmes to build services around the needs of children and young people Every Child Matters Outcomes Framework Poster [84kb] [pdf] A poster detailing the national framework of the Every Child Matters agenda and how it links in with Childrens Plan Children and Young People's Plan 2011-2014 [3Mb] [pdf] The Children and Young People's Plan for North Yorkshire sets out the priorities of how we are going to achieve the Every Child Matters outcomes for every child and young person in the County. Children and Young People's Plan 2011-2014 Needs Assessment [2Mb] [pdf] The priorities within the Children and Young People's Plan 2011-2014 are based upon extensive research, consultation and analysis, detailed within this document. Children and Young People's Service Plan [1Mb] [pdf] Delivering the strategic Priorities   Weblinks Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window and NYCC is not responsible for the content of external websites. The North Yorkshire Children's Trust website. The North Yorkshire Children's Trust unites all partners providing services for children and young people at both a strategic and local level. Department for Education - Integrated Working Integrated working focuses on enabling and encouraging professionals to work together effectively to deliver frontline services - This section explains the processes in place to improve outcomes for children, young people and families The Children Act 2004 The legislative spine for developing more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and families Contacts Integrated processes officer ip@northyorks.gov.uk Tel: 44 01609 533332 Full details for Integrated processes officer