WSCB Annual Conference 10 th October 2011

1. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families WSCB Annual Conference10th October 2011 Marion Davis Strategic Director Children, Young People and Families

2. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Reflections on the past year in safeguarding (or “Another year older and deeper in debt!” • Last year we were only 6 months into the coalition government • Lots of new initiatives, but also lots of things discarded • Munro review underway and first report published – with links to SWRB and FJR • Safeguarding pressures documented (C4EO / ADCS research)

3. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Recent national developments affecting children’s services • Deepening economic gloom • Relationship of LAs to schools (academies, free schools etc.) • Continued removal of organisations and requirements • Changes to inspection / sector-led improvement • Family Justice Review and Allen / Field / Tickell reviews • Adoption focus – Martin Narey’s work • Health changes

4. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Impact on children and families • Recession + benefits restriction +inflation + pay restraint = lowest disposable incomes for 30 years • Unemployment, especially 18 – 25 age group • Greater competition for and cost of university places • More families eligible for free school meals • Increased demand on children’s social care in year to 31.03.2011 • Initial assessments up from 390,600 to 440,800 • CIN up from 343 to 339 per 10,000 population • CPP up from 35,700 to 42,300 • LAC up 2% to 65,520

5. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Local Developments • Council reorganisation, including creation of People Group • Budget pressures • Demand pressures • Inspections • Annual rating of children’s services

6. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report. A child-centred system

7. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Munro Review • Launched June 2010 • October 2010 Part 1 “A Systems Analysis” • February 2011 Part 2 “The Child’s Journey” • May 2011 Final Report “A Child Centred System” 15 recommendations • July 2011 The Government’s response

8. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Remember… The child protection system in England has good multi- agency working to protect and help children By international comparisons England has a low level of child deaths attributable to abuse and neglect. There is substantial research and knowledge about effective interventions, and a growing use of the evidence base by practitioners. ….. you just wouldn’t know that from the media.

9. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families If the review was implemented what would it look like? • A system that learns whether children are being helped, and how they have experienced that help, innovating in response to feedback • A system free from unnecessary central prescription over professional practice but with clear rules about where and how to co-ordinate action to protect children and young people • A system where professional practice is informed by research and evidence, competent judgement informing action when the work is too varied for rules • A system that expects and recognises errors and so tries to catch them quickly • A system that is ‘risk sensible’

10. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Government response to recommendations (1)Valuing Professional Expertise • R1 Revision of Working Together / Assessment Framework ACCEPT • R2 New inspection framework should examine the effectiveness of all agencies’ contribution ACCEPT • R3 New inspection framework should examine the child’s journey from needing to receiving help ACCEPT • R4 Intelligent use of nationally collected and locally published data ACCEPT

11. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Government Response (2)Sharing Responsibility for the Provision of Early Help • R8 The impact of health reorganisation on effective partnership arrangements and effective help should be researched ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE • R10 There should be a duty on LA and partners to secure sufficient provision of early help services for children, young people and families ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE • R13 LAs and partners should review the ways in which child and family social work is delivered, drawing on evidence of effectiveness ACCEPT

12. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Government Response (3)Developing social work expertise and supporting effective practice • R11 SWRB should incorporate necessary professional accountabilities for child and family social work into a framework that informs social work training and development ACCEPT • R12 Employers and HEIs should ensure SW students are prepared for the challenges of child protection work ACCEPT • R14 LAs to designate a Principal Child & Family Social Worker – a senior manager/practitioner reporting to senior management ACCEPT • R15 A Chief Social Worker should be created to advise government and inform Parliament on the working of the Children Act 1989 ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE

13. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Government Response (4)Strengthening Accountabilities & Creating a Learning System • R5 LSCB should submit its annual report to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council (and to the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board and Police Commissioner ACCEPT • R6 LSCB should assess the effectiveness and value for money of early help services, and of multi-agency training ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE • R7 DCS and Lead Member should not be given functions other than children’s services, unless exceptional circumstances arise ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE • R9 LSCBs should use systems methodology when undertaking SCRs (in conjunction with national resources.) In the meantime, Ofsted evaluation of SCRs should end CONSIDER FURTHER

14. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families What next? • Working Together revision has begun (Sep. 2011) • Implementation Group to reconvene (Oct. 2011) • Eileen Munro to review one year on (May 2012) • Revised Ofsted inspection framework (published Dec 2011 for implementation 2012) • Draft revised statutory guidance on role of DCS and Lead Member (Sep. 2011) • Actions for Children’s Improvement Board

15. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Revised Ofsted inspection framework proposals(consultation closed 30.09.2011) • A universal programme of safeguarding inspections • Sampling approach to LAC services inspections • Unannounced inspection • Proportionate inspection • Inspection following the child’s journey, including early help • Involving children, young people and families in inspection • Direct observation of social work practice • Multi-agency approaches (? Multi-inspectorate)

16. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Draft revised statutory guidance on role of DCS and Lead Member (issued 30.09.11 for consultation) • Reasserts that DCS and LM roles provide a clear and unambiguous line of professional and political accountability for children’s well-being and should report directly to Chief Executive and Leader / Mayor. • DCS has direct operational responsibility for the performance of LA functions relating to the education and social care of children and young people. • LAs should give due consideration to protecting the discrete roles and responsibilities of DCS and LM before allocating any additional functions to them (other than children’s services.) • LA should carry out effective assurance checks of their structure, satisfy themselves of their arrangements - Ofsted may wish to examine these, as well as them being open to peer challenge and review.

17. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families What can we get on with locally?(Acknowledging some recommendations require government action.) • Consider additional LSCB responsibilities • Progress elements of social work reforms (R11, R12, R13 and R14) – Principal SW / SWIF etc. • Learn from journey authorities and work with other West Midlands LAs in sector-led improvement • LSCB (through Chair) to maintain / develop links with Children’s Trust (R6 and R10), Chief executive and Leader (R7) and Health and Wellbeing Board (R8 and R10)

18. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families Regional Approaches Agreed at West Midlands ADCS to collaborate on: • A “Beyond Munro” conference to identify areas of learning from each other • A regional approach to revising procedures / assessment framework (CAF, WT, IA and CA) • Minimum data set and benchmarking • Quality and outcomes (including capturing user experiences)

19. Warwickshire County Council Children, Young People and Families What next for WSCB….. We start from a strong foundation Don’t expect DfE to provide all the answers What should we focus on now to make the most difference for children and young people in Warwickshire?