Childrens Board

The Manchester Children's Board is the senior body including all the major partners involved in the design and delivery of services for children, young people and families in Manchester. It is ultimately accountable for improving outcomes, meeting the targets in the Children and Young People’s Plan and delivering the Children’s Trust Arrangements in the city.

The Board's Terms of Reference (which are to be updated during Autumn 2008) set out the key functions:

• To lead, direct and plan strategic developments in children and young people’s services and ensure these are appropriately resourced and set out in the Children and Young People’s Plan.
• To performance manage the effective delivery of the top-level actions and targets set out in the Children and Young People's Plan, the Local Area Agreement, the Community Strategy and as a consequence of the Joint Area Review (JAR) and/or Area Performance Assessment (APA) processes.
• To use individual accountability and management responsibility to direct and ensure the children’s trust arrangements are effective at a city-wide, district and neighbourhood level. 
  
• To ensure children and young people are appropriately prioritised and engaged within the work of the Manchester Partnership.
• To act as the final port of call for blockages to progress to be addressed and overcome.
• If and when necessary to challenge and be challenged by the Manchester Safeguarding Children Board and to receive reports on its work programme and performance.

• Pauline Newman, Director of Children's Services, Manchester City Council (Chair)
• Steve Mycio, Deputy Chief Executive Performance, Manchester City Council
• John Edwards, Deputy Director of Children's Services, Manchester City Council
• Laura Roberts, Chief Executive Manchester Primary Care Trust
• Mark Donnellan, Chief Superintendent, Greater Manchester Police
• Elaine Bowker, Area Manager, Learning and Skills Council
• Ruth Craven, voluntary and community sector strategic lead (MACC)