Involving young people in decision making: the impact of the Integrated Children s System Study by Royal Holloway - Un

1. Involving young people in decision making: the impact of the Integrated Children�s System Study by Royal Holloway - University of London; Loughborough University; The Open University; University of Wales, Cardiff  Hedy Cleaver and Wendy Rose July 2008

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3. 3 Integrated Children�s System Designed to ensure professional processes of assessment, planning, intervention and reviewing lead to good outcomes for children in need and their families Consists of three inter-related elements: Conceptual model using Assessment Framework dimensions A set of data requirements to support individual case planning and the management and deliver of services Sample formats for recording and for generating reports Must be implemented as an electronic system

4. Aims of the Integrated Children�s System A national system to provide a more structured and ecological approach to the assessment, planning, intervention and reviewing for all children in need To provide a common language that can be used by all those working with children and young people To facilitate collaborative working & information sharing across departments and organisations For implementation in England & Wales from 2006

5. 5 Research led by Royal Holloway A two year study to identify the impact of the ICS on direct work with children & families, inter-agency working & information sharing, planning and performance management, and IT systems 4 pilot authorities in England & Wales involved Data were gathered before & after implementation using a range of methods including: an audit of social work case files, interviews & questionnaires, multi-agency workshops, & field trips

6. 6 Findings from the pilot areas: changes to practice Impact of ICS was greatest in relation to work with children in need of protection and looked after children Practice temporarily deteriorated while practitioners were learning new processes Once implementation was complete, positive changes to practice were identified First line managers were key to supporting practitioners in using the system

7. Involving children and young people: their rights The principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the Children Act 2004 include the right for children and young people to participate in decision making The ICS is consistent with these principles and places emphasis on the importance of seeking and recording the views of children on all processes that affect them 7

8. Impact of the ICS on involving looked after young people Social work records suggest during the pilot stage there was little change in the involvement of children and young people in care plans (approx � involved in care plans) or reviews (three-quarters consulted about their reviews) However, there was an increase in the involvement of young people in their pathway (leaving care) plans (increased from 58% to 71%) 8

9. 9 Pathway plans Pathway plans showed: A significant improvement in recording and analysing information about young person�s needs Greater focus on young person�s family and social relationships and their emotional and behavioural needs However, greater attention still needed to be given to developing specific contingency plans

10. 10 Experiences of looked after young people 34 young people from one pilot authority participated in the study All had experienced care planning and reviews since the authority implemented the ICS Involved equal numbers of boys and girls Young people were aged between11 and 16+ years - most (79%) were 14 years or more The majority (70%) were in residential care

11. What children want from their plans and reviews asked about their care plan and have a say in agreeing it attend reviews and find out what is going on give their opinion about what should happen be clear who has the final say in decisions be respected in meetings and not made to feel uncomfortable From Report of Children�s Rights Director 2006

12. Care plans Most young people knew about their care plan although only approximately a third had been given a copy Young people generally content with the degree of professional involvement in their care plans Wanted parents and family members to play a greater role Most young people thought care plans should cover living arrangements, education, health and family and social relationships Less consensus on more sensitive issues such as identify and social presentation 12

13. Reviews Findings suggested ICS was having a limited but positive impact when compared with other studies Approximately half recalled being consulted about venue and timing of meeting, and who should be invited, but being present when decisions are taken is not enough Rather fewer (some 40%) felt they had been consulted over the issues that would be discussed - ie the agenda 13

14. Preparation for reviews Although not all young people felt adequately prepared for their reviews, findings suggest some improvement Over half (58.8%) had been informed about the purpose of the review and the issues that would be discussed Just under a half (47%) had received help to prepare what they wanted to say Review chairs continued to take little part in preparing young people for the review and rarely met them beforehand even if they are strangers 14

15. 15 Experience of reviews - attendance Most young people attended their reviews Generally satisfied with the extent of professional attendance Residential link workers did not consistently attend � a third did not routinely attend Young people dissatisfied with the attendance rate of parents and relatives three-quarters wanted parents to attend � only 47% reported parental attendance other relatives rarely attended any reviews

16. 16 Experience of reviews: issues discussed Matters considered at reviews generally accepted by young people Personal issues such as young people�s past, their friends and their feelings not seen as appropriate subjects Approximately 2/3rds of young people who disagreed with what was said were confident in expressing their dissent ICS introduced greater clarity and specificity into decision-making following reviews - however not all young people were confident that the decisions would be implemented

17. Reflections Increased policy emphasis on children�s involvement and consultation in decisions about them Progress generally in the right direction but patchy Promising early results from pilot authorities that ICS supported children�s involvement in plans and reviews Encouraging evidence from young people and social work records of increased participation in pathway plans