The Every Child Matters (ECM) Network

The overarching aim of the network is to support and develop a strategic approach to the delivery of services for children, young people and families across all sectors in Sefton. The ECM Network:

  • Recognises that partnerships influenced by the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) support the achievement of key health and wellbeing outcomes for children, young people and families;
  • Supports and facilitates the involvement and participation of voluntary, community and faith (VCF) organisations in the development and delivery of services, multi-agency approaches and inter-agency working;
  • Encourages the development of a coordinated, strategic approach to local services, embedding best practice that enables quality outcomes for children, young people and families.

What is the ECM Network:

The ECM forum, which meets bi-monthly. Each forum has a different overarching theme and includes presentations, workshops, information sharing and networking opportunities. The ECM forum plays a key role in children and young people’s service planning, bringing together agencies with an interest in delivering services for children and young people aged 0-19 years (up to 25 if specific to additional needs) and their families.

Information sharing is facilitated through regular monthly updates through e-bulletins and the regularly updated webpage

ECM members- and in particular, our ECM Ambassadors sit on various boards and groups.

The work of the ECM Forum is under-pinned by priorities relating to the Sefton Integrated Health & Wellbeing Strategy, Sefton’s Children’s Plan and the needs represented by the service users fed in by our member organisations.

ECM sub-groups

Sefton Children With Additional Needs (CWAN) Network and Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Network

Sefton Children With Additional Needs (CWAN) Network 

This group is a sub-group of the ECM Forum, for those working with children with disabilities and their families, where updates from members, key themes, issues and pieces of work can be shared and explored. By coordinating approaches, this group shares good practice operationally and strategically, with intention to influence change.

The network meets bi-monthly, sharing resources and venues from members. Our principle aims will be:

  • to develop a directory of contacts
  • a shared calendar of events to avoid duplication
  • to share skills and knowledge
  • to be proactive and work together to problem solve
  • to identify methods to resource the group in the future 

Find out more here

Click here to download the CWAN Network Terms of Reference

Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Network (Sefton) 

The primary purpose of this subgroup of the Every Child Matters (ECM) Forum is to bring together partnerships of Sefton providers, school representatives and commissioners in order to share practice, discuss trends, and effectively influence the development of initiatives and provision that will meet the emotional health and wellbeing needs of children, young people and families in Sefton, across the full continuum of need (universal to inpatient). Find out more here

ECM Forum Terms of Reference

Click here to download the ECM Forum Terms of Reference.

ECM Network Ambassadors Role

To support the ECM network and the themes across the children, young people and families’ workforce, we would like to increase the number of ambassadors who will champion the work of the VCF sector.

Click Here to download the ECM Forum Ambassadors Role Description

While not exhaustive, here are some of the themes we would love to be championed:

  • Safeguarding
  • CYP Mental Health
  • Children with additional needs
  • Family support
  • Physical health
  • Education
  • Community development
  • Youth provision and participation
  • Targeted youth work – youth offending, substance misuse, sexual health, risk-taking behaviours
  • Welfare reform and anti-poverty
  • Early years

If you’d like to find out more or just chat about it, please get in touch with Laura Goad at laura.goad@seftoncvs.org.uk or on 0151 920 0726 ext 223

Click here to subscribe to the Every Child Matters (ECM) Email Updates

Click here to download the ECM Forum Ambassadors Bio document

Every Child Matters (ECM) Forum 2017 Upcoming Dates

Wednesday 27th September
9.00am – 12.30pm
Sefton PDC, 225 Park Rd Formby L37 6EW

Universal Theme: Safeguarding (Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and Children’s Social Care)

The agenda will include: Safeguarding: MASH Team update, LSCB Ofsted improvement progress, allegations management, Social Care Partnership Work

Click here to download the Booking Form (Word doc)
Click Here to book online
Click here to download the ECM Forum September Agenda

Tuesday 28th November
9.00am – 12.30pm
Waterside Lodge, Marine Drive, PR8 1RY

Universal Theme: Health

The agenda will include: youth mental health updates- strategy implementation and workplan; health priorities- obesity and diabetes and plans for the ECM forum 2018.

Click here to download the Booking Form (Word doc)

Every Child Matters Forum Notes & Documents

Click the links below to download the notes from this year’s ECM Forum meetings.

2017 Notes and Presentations

17th July 2017

23rd May 2017

29th March 2017

31st January 2017 

Job Opportunities 

No current vacancies… 

Useful links, information and resources

Every Child Matters (ECM) Forum on Twitter