UPDATE NO 441 19 February 2021

Launch of the Public Law Working Group’s Final Report 10.30am – 12pm on Tuesday 9 March 2021

Katy Block of ADCS writes 

“Practitioners and professionals working in the English and Welsh family justice systems are invited to join a free online event to mark the publication of the final report of the President of the Family Division’s Public Law Working Group (PLWG). The event will be held via Zoom, 10.30am – 12pm on Tuesday 9 March 2021.   

“At the end of 2018 Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, initiated a sector-led review of the family justice system. Two groups were formed to look at private and public law.  The private law report published in April 2020 but the pandemic severely delayed the public law report.

“The final report identifies issues and challenges and includes a suite of resources and tools to assist practitioners in an attempt to address some of this variation, which can often be cultural or as a result of accepted local custom and practice.  These tools include new best practice guidance, advice from children and young people to practitioners plus templates and forms.”

Programme: 

10.30am – Welcome and scene setting – Jenny Coles, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) 

10.40am – Keynote speech (1) – Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division 

10.55am – Keynote speech (2) – Mr Justice Keehan, Chair of the PLWG  

11.10am – Panel discussion chaired by Jenny Coles: 

• Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division 
• Mr Justice Keehan, Chair of the PLWG 
• Jacky Tiotto, Chief Executive, Cafcass 
• Nigel Brown, Chief Executive Cafcass Cymru 
• Helen Lincoln, Director of Children’s Services, Essex County Council 
• Sally-Ann Jenkins, Head of Children’s and Families Services, Newport City Council 
• Yvette Stanley, National Director, Early Years Regulation & Social Care, Ofsted 
• Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for England (Children and Families). 

11.55am – Closing remarks, Jenny Coles  

The Booking form is here the closing date for bookings is lunchtime on Friday 5 March

High Needs Funding Block: consultation closes 24 March

DfE have launched a consultation about the formula used to calculate the high needs funding block. 

The closing date is 24 March. 

The consultation document is here

The response page is here

The DfE says

“The high needs National Funding Formula (NFF) calculates funding allocations to local authorities for children and young people in England with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision (AP).

“This consultation forms the first stage of a longer term review of the High Needs NFF. This review will be taken forward following the SEND review, and will consider how the distribution of High Needs funding can be improved, to achieve the highest quality support for the most vulnerable children and young people.”

Teaching School Hubs named in DfE announcement

13 Teaching School Hubs have been named for the South East.

They will be expected to play a significant role in delivering:

• school-based initial teacher training (ITT)
• the early career framework when it is available nationally from September 2021
• the new specialist national professional qualifications (NPQ)
• leadership NPQs
• appropriate body services for early career teachers – schools that are not currently appropriate bodies will need to register as an appropriate body after becoming teaching school hubs

Teaching school hubs will also promote and deliver other high-quality evidence-based professional development to school leaders and teachers.

Future dates for Network meetings

Lead Members Group:  10.00am Friday 5 March 2021, “Your role as Corporate Parents in delivering excellence for Care Leavers“, presented by Mark Riddell MBE. More information from Alison Michalska (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Thursday 11 March 2021. More information from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Tuesday 20 April 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 12 March 2021 – 10.30am. More information from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 12 March 2021. More information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Wednesday 10 March 2021. More information from Diane Williamson (contact details below)

Fostering Network: 10.30am Thursday 12 April 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

SEND SE19: DfE SEND Regional Update 12.30pm Wednesday 24 February 2021. More information from Tracey Maytas (contact details below)

Take Your Place – the future leaders programme for the South East

New dates announced for Take Your Place courses delivered in association with The Staff College this spring and summer

Please download the flyer here 

Further information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

• Women in Leadership 24 and 25 March

The Women in Leadership Programme is designed to create a safe space for women to connect, share their experiences and learn how to strive and thrive in their own work places. There are some key issues that affects every woman along the path of her career. The Programme helps to address some of the issues that affect all females by providing a forum that considers the unique challenges women encounter

• Black and Asian Leaders 23 and 24 June 

This programme aims to: Provide strategies to help participants overcome barriers and enhance their skills to be able to thrive as Black global majority leaders; Renew self and group confidence, which is often depleted by every day racism; Enable participants to learn about and try out for themselves different leadership approaches and understand how these relate to their own values and principles; Ensure participants develop their own personal learning plan in order to help them progress in their careers.

LGA Webinar: Local authority youth services Wednesday 24 February 2021, 2.00pm – 4.30pm

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the lives of children and young people. Youth services have pivoted and mobilised to support vulnerable children and families in their community.

Youth workers across the country work closely with partners such as the National Citizen Service (NCS), Barnardo’s and the National Youth Agency’s (NYA) youth worker guidance has brought vital clarity to the sector.

There are a range of youth service models across local authorities; this webinar will provide the opportunity for local authority youth services and family services to come together and reflect on the last year, share their experiences and good practice and hear from a range of partners. There will also be an update from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

More details here

Confirmed speakers:

• Paul Schofield, Head of Policy – Local Youth Services, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Amanda Naylor, Head of Partnerships, Barnardo’s
• Amanda Best, Chief Operations Officers (Acting) National Citizen Service (NCS)
• Leigh Middleton, Chief Executive, National Youth Agency (NYA)
• Cllr Teresa Heritage, Vice-Chair LGA Children and Young People’s Board, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families at Hertfordshire County Council (Chair)

This is a virtual webinar, book here

Mental Health at Work – Our Frontline

You support us, we support you

Our Frontline is a partnership between Shout, Samaritans, Mind, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Find out more about them here, join them on their social channels below, and see some of the latest real-life stories from Our Frontline.

Twitter or Instagram or Facebook or Linkedin

There are tailored support pages for staff working in schools; and staff working in social care. Also for social care workers, to talk by text, text FRONTLINE to 85258 any time. To talk by phone, call 0300 131 7000 from 7am to 11pm if you’re in England.

Other specialist help is available at: Get support if you work in health; Get support if you work in the emergency services; Get support if you’re any other essential worker.