Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership

Gloucestershire Child Action Model Overview and Local Preventative Strategy Kathy O’Mahony

To inform and engage key staff about the objectives and the wider context of the Child Action Project To clarify what the Child Action Model is To clarify how we hope to implement the model through the ISA project and point out the implications for staff in your agency To explore the emerging Gloucestershire Child Action Model and clarify how it’s implementation will meet the needs of vulnerable children To consider progress to date and how the Common Language assessment framework supports the model Child Action Project

What’s it got to do with me? Who is saying this should happen & why? What’s the added value to what we already do? What Are The Key Questions?

Drivers Green Paper - ECM ECM - Next Steps National Service Framework SEN National Strategy Local Agenda – CYPSP / Preventative Strategy

What Are They Saying? Outcome focus Prevention / early identification Co-ordination / integration Family / parent support Accountability Common skills / processes / working together to share information / knowledge

Aims for Young People The 7 C&YPSP Outcomes – Infants & children thrive and meet key developmental milestones Children are prepared for school Children succeed in school Children grow up healthy and choose healthy lifestyles Children grow up in safe and supportive families, family settings and local communities Young people grow up to be successful adults Children & young people are included in mainstream services and contribute to shaping the services

Locally – What And How Outcomes Preventative strategy How: Processes; early intervention (incrementally); support to families / children; rationalising differences; developing a common cause, processes & shared objectives across agencies Best Value Review of services for Vulnerable Children Specific Initiatives

What Does This Mean For Us? Radical period of change Complex agendas Complex range of activities across agencies Local progress Role of ISA / CAM / Common Processes Critical role of above in overall delivery of agenda for Gloucestershire (along with other developments)

Which Children are we concerned about.  Encompasses vulnerable children, children in need, children at risk etc. Children In Gloucestershire Offending & behavioural problems Abuse & neglect Poor mental physical & sexual health Poor material conditions Educational under- achievement ALL CHILDREN (125,800) VULNERABLE CHILDREN (45,000) CHILDREN IN NEED (4,375) LOOKED-AFTER CHILDREN (470) CHILDREN ON CPR (130)

How Does the Child Action Model Fit in? This provides the Infrastructure for agencies to assess the needs of vulnerable children, plan interventions and review effectiveness Children are assessed using the Common Language assessment framework Supported by ISA, and implemented through the ISA Professional Practices work stream and the Child Action Project

Child Action Model SSD Response Joint Agency Response Single Agency Response Child Action Project

Role of Project Workers - To implement the Child Action Model in Schools: Oxstalls Community SchoolNew Schools: ArchwayConey Hill Cam HouseTredworth Coln HouseSandford Hesters Way Primary Forest View Primary Cashes Green Primary Innsworth Junior Child Action Project

 Assessing, using common language assessment tools the needs of children in school who have been identified as having some emerging problems that are not purely educational  Identifying community resources which will meet the needs identified  Developing Child Action Plans to meet assessed needs  Monitoring and reviewing children ’s progress  Engaging other agencies and professionals in the use and application of the Child Action Model and Common Assessment tools  Providing information based on their assessments of need to local agencies and groups to assist in shaping service provision in the locality of the school  Working to implement the Common Language assessment framework & the Child Action Model in schools Child Action Project - How are we doing it?

 How do we include the Early Years age group and children with disabilities?  Classification of categories of need is being developed through the ISA Professional Practices Group.  Clarification of thresholds and moving between the levels of model are being developed by the Professional Practices Group.  Service Directory being developed through ISA, with the support of the Child Action Project  Consultation between staff groups and the acknowledgement of a keyworker role is crucial for the model to succeed (as identified in Every Child Matters)  Steering group for the project and locality groups to be established.  Common Language Assessment & case management tools are being implemented across the agencies Child Action Model - Work in Progress

Vision for the Future Aspirations –Cross county provision –Consistent access to provision for vulnerable children –Clear thresholds –Co-ordination with voluntary and statutory agencies –Locally owned and developed

Football team Youth Club Dropped out Extreme behaviour Parents contacted - angry Stops attending Youth Club School Performance drops Parents contacted - feel angry ground him Breaks into car YOS Assessment and Cautioned Parents angry and embarrassed do not contact school Stealing, drug misuse and more driving offences Assessment and community sentence Parents despair – contact social services requesting accommodation Gets into trouble After school homework club Difficult behaviour Parents contacted - feel angry and upset

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Common Language Presentation Why a common language is necessary National Assessment Framework Gloucestershire’s response How the assessment model works and complements the Child Action Model - case study How the model has been implemented so far Summary Questions

Common Language & Assessment References in Government guidance - Guidance to Children Act 1989 National Assessment Framework: “Effective collaboration requires a common language to understand the needs of children…” Every Child Matters - Next Steps: “A common assessment framework should help to identify... needs earlier and avoid duplication between agencies

Why Is It Necessary? Professionals from different agencies often use the same terms to describe different things Each agency uses different assessment tools Families often subjected to multiple assessments by different professionals Intrusive, stigmatising, confusing, costly and inconsistent

What Happened? Introduction of National Assessment Framework 2000 Research indicates that while it is good at gathering information it offers little guidance regarding analysis

Gloucestershire’s Response Development of common language assessment model that: a) incorporates NAF b) provides tool for analysis of information gathered

The Assessment Process Using The Common Language Model Gather information - NAF Identify needs - relating to child rather than services Make a judgement about the level of need - apply a threshold Specify realistic outcomes to be achieved Identify appropriate services to meet needs and outcomes specified

How Does It Complement The CAM? Child Action Model: Low level needs - likely impairment Complex needs - impairment High level needs- significant impairment Continuum of Need Threshold Multi Agency SSD Single Agency

How Does It Work? CIRCUMSTANCES NEEDSTHRESHOLDOUTCOMESSERVICES LIVING SITUATION FAMILY & SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS SOCIAL & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR PHYSICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Implementation Training in CL assessment model has been provided to: –all social services fieldwork staff –Child Action Project staff –Health Visitors –School Nurses –EWOs –Reintegration staff

Summary Common language is essential for integrated working National Assessment Framework - good on information gathering but poor on analysis Common language assessment model incorporates NAF and provides analysis tool Compatible with and complements Child Action Model Multi-agency training provided to some agencies - but wider training strategy required

? Questions

DfES – A sophisticated human and technology system that encompasses:  A universal local authority child information hub  An underpinning service and information network  Improvements in local case management systems C&YPSP – A wide-ranging project to promote better information sharing across agencies and support the Local Preventative Strategy in improving the outcomes of children in Gloucestershire WHAT IS ISA?

 All children between  Encompasses vulnerable children, children in need, children at risk etc. ISA SCOPE Offending & behavioural problems Abuse & neglect Poor mental physical & sexual health Poor material conditions Educational under- achievement ALL CHILDREN (125,800) VULNERABLE CHILDREN (45,000) CHILDREN IN NEED (4,375) LOOKED-AFTER CHILDREN (470) CHILDREN ON CPR (130)

WITH AN ISA SERVICE NETWORK: REFERRALS Police CAMHS Signal referral Possible notification of SSD referral SSD expression of interest in police involvement SCHOOL Social Services Notification of police involvement Connexions Health Education Expression of interest in police involvement Expression of interest from other agencies not previously involved ISA NETWORK Expression of interest in SSD referral Signal referral Possible signal involvement Possible notification of CAMHS & SSD referral

WITH AN ISA SERVICE NETWORK: SERVICE DELIVERY ISA network YOT Housing Police Social care Voluntary sector Ed Psy CAMHS Health EducationConnexions From birth From age 3/4 From age 13 From involvement. ISA service network - constantly sharing information

PRODUCTS: Audit of current practice & systems Agreed CAM / CAF policy CAM / CAF implementation programme – June 2004 PROF. PRACTICES

PRODUCTS: Caldicott Guardian legal framework Information sharing agreement User Guide Data Protection policy statement Privacy statement Consent documentation – July 2004 MOU / SLA – September 2004 LEGAL & INFO.

PRODUCTS: C&YPSP vision statement & LPS paper Branding Communication Plan Web site Service directory – June 2004 Newsletter Workgroup & seminar package COMMS. & PR

PRODUCTS: Assessment of IT systems in development to support ISA E-GIF technical statement – June 2004 Security statement - June 2004 Technical feasibility report - July 2004 Short-list if IT systems most likely to meet SOR - September 2004 IT DEVELOPMENT

SUMMER 2004:  Common Practices  Common Language  Common Assessment Framework  Child Action Model Locality Groups  ISA Resource Pack  Business Case  Statement of Requirement for an ISA IT solution KEY DELIVERABLES

NEXT STEPS AUTUMN 2004:  Trailblazer report SPRING 2005:  Children Bill  Funding for ISA IT system SUMMER 2005:  Procurement of an IT system  ISA IT Pilot SPRING 2006:  Full working ISA system with a comprehensive database of children in Gloucestershire

DATABASE PERSONAL & SENSITIVE INFORMATION: Forename (s) Surname (s) Date of birth Gender Address (es) Ethnicity Unique number Education Parent / guardian details GP Health Visitor Assessed needs Keyworker

CHILDREN BILL AGENCIES REQUIRED TO SUPPLY DATA: Local Authorities Police Probation boards YOS Strategic Health Auth. NHS Trusts NHS Foundation Trusts LSC Maintained schools Ind. schools FE institutions Prisons

CHILDREN BILL AGENCIES PERMITTED TO SHARE DATA: Inland Revenue  Child benefit records & Child tax credit record Secretary of State  DWP benefit records Registered childminders & day care providers Registered social landlords Voluntary organisations working with children

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