Newsletters
Our Regional Improvement Plan for 2023-2024 can be found here
Our Impact Report published in March 2023 can be found here
If you would like to work for the programme, ESCC has advertised the SESLIP Freelance Consultant Approved List. To view the advert follow the link and choose the “Opportunities” tab then search on reference RFX1000055. Pease address all enquiries about this opportunity to Richard Tyndall (contact details below)
Updates
Take Your Place 2023
Applications for the 2023 Take Your Place cohort are now open. Closing date is 25 August 2023. The programme starts on 31 October 2023.
Take Your Place Leadership Development Programme
This is a free to access CPD leadership programme for third tier managers. The course will start with a residential on 31 October and 1 November 2023, followed by in person workshops on 23 November 2023, 17 January 2024 and a final session on 7 March 2024. The workshops are being held in Reading at venue with good public transport links. Each SESLIP large authority has two places and small authorities a single place (we will also take names for reserves as last year not all authorities took up their full allocation). Your final nominations need to be endorsed by your DCS and details sent to mark@evansconsulting.co.uk. The deadline for applications is Friday 25 August 2023. Those nominated will be asked to complete a short online questionnaire with the Staff College to confirm their place. More information is available in the flyer.
Working Together to Safeguard Children – consultation on changes
On 21 June DfE launched a consultation on changes to the statutory guidance Working Together. The closing date is 6 September 2023.
DfE says:
“Updating Working Together now is central to delivering on the first phase of our ambitious plans to transform Children’s Social Care, set out in Stable Homes, Built on Love. We want to see strengthened multi-agency working across the whole system of help, support and protection for children and their families, a system re-balanced towards help at an early point, and strong, effective and consistent child protection practice.”
Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners – consultation on changes
On 21 June DfE launched a consultation on changes to Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners. The closing date is 6 September 2023.
DfE says:
This consultation seeks views on a revision to non-statutory guidance:
Information sharing advice for practitioners providing safeguarding
services to children, young people, parents and carers. (Published 2018)
Commissioning high-quality trusts:
On 6 July DfE published Guidance on the role of the DfE in making commissioning decisions about academy trusts
This guidance provides:
Information about the decisions made by Regions Group on behalf of the Secretary of State, about the creation, consolidation and growth of academy trusts.
It covers decisions:
- for schools to join or form new academy trusts
- to move underperforming schools to new trusts
- to approve applications for trust transfers
- to approve which trusts can open new free schools
Annex A sets out the trust quality descriptions, first published in draft form as part of the Academies regulatory and commissioning review.
Annex B sets out the evidence that Regions Group will use to inform its decisions.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
The Big Listen Report:
On 30 June 2023 SESLIP and LIIA published a Report on The Big Listen Survey 2022-23
#thebiglisten Research Final Report:
The Big Listen is an ambitious research project undertaken collaboratively between 52 local authorities in London and the South East. The research sought to listen directly to frontline social workers and managers through a combination of focus groups attended by over 150 people and a survey completed by over a 1,000, representing more than 8% of all social workers/managers in both regions. The research also looked at a range of other sources with the aim of bringing together the best possible evidence to inform the development of a regional workforce strategy.
The report includes an accessible short executive summary. Authorities who contributed to the research by getting more than 25 of their staff to participate will also be provided with an individual authority level report.
Key findings from the research will be presented at the next regional DCS Meeting (21st July) where discussion will focus on how the research can be used to contribute to developing a South East regional work force plan.
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (July 2023)
On 6 July DfE published consultations on changes to Working Together and Information sharing advice
On 6 July DfE published Commissioning High Quality Trusts
On 30 June SESLIP and LIIA published a Report on The Big Listen Survey 2022-23
On 22 June DfE published SEN data for academic year 2022/23
On 12 June Ofsted published a press release on changes to school inspections
On 11 June DHSC published an Evaluation of the Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents programme
On 26 May DfE cirulated the Application Guide for the Fostering Recruitment and Retention programme.
On 25 May the Childrens Commissioner published Looked after children who are not in school
On 25 May the House of Lords Public Servicers Committee published A response to the Children’s Social Care Implementation Strategy
On 25 May DfE published new guidance: Suspension and Permanent Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement
On 18 May NFJO published Ethnicity of children in care and supervision proceedings in England
On 18 May DfE published statistics on children accommodated in secure children’s homes for March 2023
On 17 May The Staff College published Just Home – evertything starts with heart, hope and a home.
On 16 May DfE published new guidance: Area SEND inspections: support and challenge following inspection
On 15 May DfE published 9 updated ‘Safety Valve’ agreements
On 11 May The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health published analysis of NHS England’s RTT dataset for ‘other paediatrics’
On 26 April the House of Commons Education Select Committee published its report on The future of post-16 qualifications
On 25 April Become published Gone Too Far as part of its new campaign to keep children in care close to the people and places that matter to them
On 25 April DfE updated the statistics on suspensions and permanent exclusions across state-funded schools up to spring term 2022
On 20 April the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published a national safeguarding practice review into safeguarding children with disabilities and complex needs in residential settings.
On 20 April UNICEF UK and the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development & Learning (PEDAL) published Understanding and supporting mental health in infancy and early childhood.