UPDATE NO 289 16 February 2018

LGA REGIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES Enabling school improvement

Paige Gore, Programme Support Officer at LGA writes,

In partnership with Isos Partnership, LGA has recently published a report looking at role of local authorities in supporting local school improvement systems. The LGA is now supporting a series of five regional workshops across the country in 2018 to discuss this role in more depth and consider the issues that are affecting each local area. These events will be free, if you would like to attend, we would be grateful if you could respond to paige.gore@local.gov.uk at the LGA by Wednesday 28 February.  

The regional workshops will take place on the following dates at the following locations and all begin at 10.30am:

• Birmingham – 8 March (Novotel, 70 Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2HT)
• Manchester – 9 March (Britannia Hotel, Portland Street, Manchester M1 3LA)
• Bristol – 16 March (Novotel, Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6HY)
• London – 22 March (Local Government House, 18 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ)
• Newcastle – 23 March (Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stephenson Quarter, Hawthorn Square, Newcastle NE1 3SA)

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis so please apply as soon as possible. 

For more details download the flyer or contact contact Simon Rea simon.rea@isospartnership.com or Clive Harris clive.harris@local.gov.uk 

SE DCS Peer Challenge 2018

Planning is underway for 4 Director’s Peer Challenges in 2018. The confirmed participants and dates are in bold on the accompanying chart. Nominations are invited to join the visiting team to Oxfordshire in July, names to Richard Tyndall in the first instance please. For more details please go to the SE ADCS Peer Challenge page. Colleagues requiring a more detailed briefing should contact Anna Wright (details below).

The 2018 MoU is now available for particpants to download, sign and return. Thanks to Bracknell Forest for returning a signed MoU.

Understanding Spend in Children’s Services – London 13 March 2018

This half day event will preview findings from new research that aims to answer the question “what drives variation in spend on children’s services”.

Children’s services are facing a funding gap of at least £2 billion by 2020. Having responded to reducing resources and sharply increasing demand over recent years, the LGA is concerned that councils have very few savings left to find that won’t have a real and lasting impact on crucial services that vulnerable children and their families rely on.

However, we also recognise that within the context of an overall national pressure on children’s services, there remains considerable variation in spend between similarly performing councils.

The LGA therefore commissioned Newton in late 2017 to deliver a diagnostic project to answer the question: what drives variations in spend on children’s services? The project combines analysis of national data sets and detailed on-the-ground studies with a group of eight authorities, (who achieve similar outcomes but have varying levels of spend). The objective of this dual approach is to quantify the relative important of factors, both internal to councils and external, in driving the observed variations in spend. These factors include:

   • population size
   • geographic size
   • deprivation
   • local market factors
   • council operational and financial management
   • the role of partner organisations
   • financial accounting

This event will preview findings from this research, and provide an opportunity to examine particular factors and issues in-depth through dedicated breakout sessions. Workshops will also explore a selection of the tools used to quantify the impact of different factors on spend, and how to compare local spend on children’s services on a like-for-like basis.

Book now on this link.

Consultation on 2018-19 DCS Peer Challenge Arrangements

A consultation document has been published seeking views on the nature and shape of the 2018-19 DCS Peer Challenge Arrangements. These proposals arise as a response to the DfE’s Regional Alliance programme.

The consultation document is available here. The deadline for responses is Friday 30 March 2018, which should be sent to Richard Tyndall (details below). If you have any questions please contact Richard Tyndall or Anna Wright (details below).

Research in Practice – Recruiting Board Members

Research in Practice is recruiting board members, and is keen to engage serving directors and assistant directors from their network of partners. Colleagues with a passion for evidence-informed practice, excellent knowledge of the children’s sector and a commitment to providing support and challenge to the RiP leadership team are encouraged to consider this rewarding role.

To express your interest, please contact chris.green@rip.org.uk

Lucy Butler (DCS, Oxfordshire) is a current RiP Board Member.

Complex LAC and Edge of Care Efficiencies

We have places available at the Complex LAC & Edge of Care Efficiency workshop taking place on 1 March 13.30-16.30 at Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton St, Westminster, London SW1P 3R. 

To date Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Milton Keynes, Kent, Portsmouth, Surrey, and Windsor and Maidenhead have booked places. The target audience is service managers and places are limited to a maximum of 2 per authority. For more contact Mark Evans or Rosemary Perry (details below).

Leadership Development

We continue to offer our successful portfolio of Leadership Development Courses all of which have been positively evaluated by delegates.

We are offering LAs the opportunity to train their own trainers for all our courses. Our aim is to increase the capacity and capability across the region  to ensure future sustainability within LAs. Courses can also be delivered with adult services and/or for schools. Please contact Di Smith, details below, if this is of interest to you

All courses are run in-house in the LA who provides the venue. Each course is accompanied by a range of training resources for the delegates including a comprehensive handbook. The current courses on offer are as follows and details of each course and the costs for each can be found by downloading the April 2016 Leadership Development Prospectus. 

Coaching to Improve Performance

Embedding a Coaching Culture

Leading Change in Times of Austerity

Step Up to Leadership   

We can also arrange one-to-one coaching, especially to support newly appointed 2nd and 3rd tier managers

If you require further details or wish to book a course please get in touch with Di Smith (contact details below)