UPDATE NO 392 28 February 2020

Developing Models of Social Work Project – Monday 8 June 2020 Conference Booking OPEN

Planning is progressing well for the Models of Social Work Conference to be held on 8 June 2020 at the Arora Hotel, Gatwick. The conference will share an overview of models of social care practice that are currently in use across the South East Region, including Family Safeguarding Model, Signs of Safety, Restorative Practice and Bespoke Models developed by Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and Hampshire. 

For more information please visit the project webpage or contact Diane Williamson (details below)

We will look at what works and why, as well as the challenges, and share ideas about how to overcome them, with an opportunity to look at the models in more depth in workshops.  The conference will be of particular interest to Assistant Directors with responsibility for Safeguarding, Senior Social Care Managers and  Principal Social Workers.

There are 3 places for each Local Authority in the South East region. To book places for your authority, download and complete the booking form and return it to  Jane.Redmond@bracknell-forest.gov.uk – by 7 May 2020.

AD Education Network – next meeting Friday 1 May – Joint with SEND SE19

The next meeting of the AD Education Group will be a joint event with the SESLIP SEND Network on Friday 1 May, is planned to run from 10.30am to 3.30pm, more details are available from Chris Owen (Education) or Tracey Maytas (SEND) contact details for both below

The Children Missing Education group met on 14 Feb 2020. Key points from the meeting:

• Mike Stoneman and Cate Duffy’s presentation about the group and CME to SESLIP DCSs had been well-received.
• Agreement that there are several aspects of CME where the group could develop recommendations for a shared SESLIP position. These include:
• promoting a role for LAs to manage in-year admissions for all schools,
• a core set of CME data for all LAs to request from all schools,
• agreements with local schools about reporting all pupils moved onto a reduced timetable.
• Next meeting 5 May, 1pm – 3.30pm, Shaw House Newbury. There will be a focus on pupils with medical needs and exclusions and fair access protocols.
• LAs yet to nominate a representative: Milton Keynes, West Sussex, Kent, Wokingham, Southampton.

Profit making and risk in independent children’s social care placement providers

This study examines the evidence that is available in relation to the financial performance of the largest independent sector children’s social care provider organisations operating in England. The LGA are increasingly concerned about the levels of debt and indicators of financial risk in some of the largest groups, as well as the lack of market oversight which means there is no clear understanding about how profit, consolidation and risk are affecting the market and outcomes for children in care.

The LGA Report Page is here

The full report is here.

This study examines profit-making and financial risk in the biggest independent providers of placements for children in care. In this report reference to the independent sector includes both private companies and voluntary sector bodies.

The LGA are calling on the Government to introduce oversight of groups of providers, and work with councils to support more in-house and smaller providers to ensure we have placements that meet the needs of our children.The LGA are increasingly concerned about the levels of debt and indicators of financial risk in some of the largest groups, as well as the lack of market oversight which means there is no clear understanding about how profit, consolidation and risk are affecting the market and outcomes for children in care

2 recent research reports

Longitudinal study funded by the DfE about the value of investing in early education

Evaluation of the PEEP early literacy programme shows small increase in early literacy and in the home learning environment

Social Work England – National Advisory Forum – Vacancy Closing date 4 March

Kate Metcalf, Regional Engagement Lead (South East) writes,

Hello,

At Social Work England we’re building an engagement forum to provide expert advice, support and challenge to our work and how we achieve our objectives as the regulator of social work in England. I would be really grateful if you could share this message and invitation as extensively as possible, as well as with those who may be in a position to, and be interested in applying 

With very many thanks

Who can apply: You can apply if you are a:

• practising social worker
• social work student
• person with lived experience of social work
• social work education and training provider

How to apply: Find out more about the role and how to apply here

Closing date: 4 March

2 recent research reports

Education Policy Institute says: High quality CPD for teachers is one of the best ways for schools to increase pupil attainment

FFT Education Datalab says: EAL and progress 8: Education Datalab analysis by ethnic group and year of entry to school. Most variation is due to ethnicity and other research shows, by year 11, as many as half of EAL pupils are proficient in English. 

Developing and sustaining an effective local SEND system: a practical guide for councils and partners

LGA has published Developing and sustaining an effective local SEND system: a practical guide for councils and partners 

This report has been written as a concise, practical summary of good practice in developing and sustaining an effective local SEND system.

The LGA commissioned Isos Partnership to work with local councils and their partners to: 

• draw together what partners in local areas have done to develop and sustain effective, system-level approaches to supporting young people with SEND;
• from these approaches, distil some key practical messages that could be used by partners in local areas across the country, adapted to their local circumstances and priorities;
• and share, develop and refine these key messages formatively and iteratively through co-productive discussions with leaders from local areas across the country.

The full report is here.

UNREGULATED CHILDREN’S HOMES CONSULTATION closing date 8 April

The government has launched a consultation over unregulated children’s homes, including plans to ban the use of provision for under-16s and the introduction of a minimum national standard for accommodation.

You can respond to the online consultation here

The LGA have said “ Making the use of unregulated settings for under 16s illegal will not solve the problem if the Government does not, first and foremost, work with councils and providers to make sure that we have enough high quality, registered places for children to live so that we can keep them safe.”

This consultation closes at 10:30pm on 8 April 2020

The number of children in care aged 16 or 17 placed in unregulated settings has increased from 2,900 in 2009 to 6,100 in 2019. We want to ensure these placements are good quality. Proposals include:

• banning using this provision for under 16s
• introducing national quality standards
• ensuring independent reviewing officers represent young people’s interests
• requiring local authorities and policy forces to cooperate with each other
• new legal powers for Ofsted to take action against illegal providers

Taking a look together at memoranda of co-operation to manage the demand and supply of Children’s Social Workers

Colleagues from the East Midlands have organised a regional seminar on the topic of MoCs for managing the supply of children’s social workers.

It will be held on Wednesday 18th March 2020, 1.00pm – 4.00pm at Kegworth, nr Derby DE74 2DF

You can download a flyer for the event here

The conference will be chaired by Andy Smith, DCS Derby and EM ADCS Chair.

Book places: Please can you contact Pete Chilvers to book places or Mark Evans (details below) who is organising SESLIP representation

LGA/Government Equalities Office – Return to Social Work Campaign

The Return to Social Work programme is an initiative developed by the LGA and Government Equalities Office, designed to help councils fill their social worker vacancies. The programme will run a recruitment drive on behalf of councils and give them the opportunity to hire experienced social workers without the associated recruitment costs. 

It also gives 200 social workers currently on a career break, the opportunity to receive free training so they can return to their chosen profession. More details are here.

The communications toolkit is here, with templates for multiple platforms, to make sharing the opportunity as easy as possible. A full overview of the programme can also be found in the employer information pack.