Managers and Consultants Children's Services Case Studies & Testimonials
Interim Managers and Consultants - Children’s Services
Background Information
The Council was subject to rigorous enhanced monitoring from the DCSF and regional Government Office following an APA rating of “inadequate” for Staying Safe and a time of 6 months was given to demonstrate significant progress in 7 key areas:
- Percentage of referrals of children in need that led to initial assessments
- Number of core assessments of children in need per 10,000 population aged under 18
- Children and young people who are the subject of a child protection plan, or on the child protection register, per 10,000 population aged under 1.
- The percentage of children who became the subject of a child protection plan, or were registered, during the year, and were the subject of a child protection plan, or were registered, at 31 March, who had been previously registered
- Children looked after per 10,000 population aged under 18
- Gross expenditure on children in need but not looked after, as a percentage of gross expenditure on all children’s services
- Social Workers and care managers specifically for children (WTEs) per 10,000 population aged 0-17.
Purpose
The main objectives were:
- To develop and embed a performance management culture in children's social care
- To develop a thorough and holistic understanding of the causes and forces at work within and without the looked after children system
- To provide support to a programme of safely reducing numbers of children in care
- Dealing with the wider issues that might arise from the above objectives, for example strengthening of early intervention services.
Aims and Objectives
To research relevant current policy, guidelines, legislation and trends in respect of the preparation for and transition into adulthood; considering research and good practice within the area of transitions and be able to understand present and future ways of responding to this group.
To understand the local response and service delivery to disabled young people in order to consider the present position, strengths and areas for development. To propose and present an improved effective model for
future service delivery including understanding future housing related support needs and aspirations for young people. The model will consider both effectiveness and efficiencies.
Activities Delivered
OUK consultants worked towards the above objectives by working with staff and managers to develop performance monitoring systems for intervention and initial and core assessments, using Outcomes Based Accountability methodology.
We also Researched and developed an ‘Invest to Save’ bid designed to re-focus resources from targeted services to early intervention.
Methodology
OUK achieved improvement in safeguarding performance through:
- A dynamic and collaborative approach through a team with complementary skills and experience, and with shared professional values and standards
- Primarily focussing on the activities surrounding thresholds for intervention, initial and core assessments, and utilising tried and tested Outcomes Based Accountability methodology
- Engaging and enthusing operational and support staff to embrace key data sets contained within the performance monitoring processes
- Addressing the inadequacy of gate-keeping mechanisms and the lack of resources to reduce numbers through discharges
- Developing new policies and procedures where needed, for example UASC
- The impact of the first phase of investment in early intervention services
- Implementing an outcomes-driven commissioning strategy to reverse the previous reactive response to LAC placements
- A review of all LAC in external agency placements and in-house residential placements with key stakeholders to establish and confirm the planning for these children to ensure that they were all appropriately located, that plans were correctly understood by the relevant stakeholders, and action plans developed to address the issues identified
- Introduction of Access to Care Resources Panel to regularly review costs of external placements and monitor progress of placements where the care plan has identified that it is appropriate for CYP to move
- A review of the in-house residential sector to optimise utilisation, with resultant action taken to designate and ensure one unit having a reception and assessment function. This allowed emergency placements to be made locally with a very rapid turnaround time, and prevent other units facing the disruption of an unplanned placement
Conclusions and Recommendations
The impact of the intervention was dramatic and immediate. Outcomes UK, working in partnership with the Children’s Services Directorate have achieved the following improvements:
- Improved APA rating in Staying Safe from “inadequate” to“adequate”
- Performance in the 7 key areas has shown a noticeable and sustained upturn.
- Increased morale as staff regained their energy, enthusiasm and confidence from the leadership offered by the interim team
- The DCSF and Government Office were impressed with the speed of the recovery, the results achieved and the ability of the authority to sustain the improvement
An Area Manager for Children’s Centres registered with Outcomes UK carries a wide range of experience in the fostering environment within Children’s Services. Associate credentials – Experience as an Area Manager for Children’s Centres Our Associate is an innovative manager with additional knowledge of Read More...