The Child Action Model The context for change in children’s services Developing integrated services in Gloucestershire The concepts behind the model Outline of model and how it works Questions

Children’s Services – The Context for Change Children Act 1989 – ‘Every authority has a general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need…. By providing a range and level of services appropriate to those needs’Section 17 ‘Every local authority shall take…steps to identify the extent to which there are children in need within their area’Schedule 2 ‘Where it appears to a local authority that any authority or person could…help in the exercise of any of their functions…they may request the help of that authority or person……and…’an authority whose help is so requested shall comply with the request’Section 27

What Happened? Focus on safeguarding rather than promoting welfare Messages from Research – too many children caught in the CP net ‘160,000 children & families a year …drawn into CP process…..but only 25,000 registered’ ….and too much focus on abuse at expense of general needs – ‘in over half of (CP) cases, families receive no services at all following investigation’ Messages from research

This led to……… Focus on prevention, earlier intervention and integration of services Recognition that children’s needs cut across agencies – Sure Start, YOS, Connexions National Assessment Framework ‘effective collaboration requires a common language to understand the needs of children and a joint commitment to improving outcomes’

This led to ……. Climbie Enquiry – 12 chances to save her life over 10 months IRT - system to facilitate information sharing across agencies Green Paper – Every Child Matters Children Bill

Gloucestershire’s Response CYPSP – all heads of service, chaired by County Council CEO IRT project initiated Development of common language assessment model Child Action Model\Child Action Project

Child Action Model Continuum of need Low level needs - likely impairment High level needs - significant impairment Complex needs - impairment

Child Action Model Thresholds Low level needs - likely impairment Complex needs - actual impairment High level needs - significant impairment Threshold Continuum of Need

Services 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

Child Action Project- putting theory into practice Staff funded by SSD & Children’s Fund Based in schools Point of contact for school staff Assess needs by using common language assessment tool Identify community resources Coordinate services and/or signpost

Child Action Model Low level needs - likely impairment Complex needs - impairment High level needs - significant impairment Continuum of Need Threshold Single Agency Multi Agency SSD

Child Action Project Provide a catalyst and example of how integrated services can work in practice Plan to extend project to all communities and localities Once established, aim to withdraw Child Action staff

Child Action Model - the Bolton system Initial identification of concerns by agency IRT Completion of common language assessment – Needs, Threshold, Outcome, Service Level of Need\Threshold Low level Complex High level Single Agency Multi -Agency SSD Monitoring and Review SERVICE PROVISION

Summary Long recognised that services intervene too little and too late Recognition that children’s needs cut across agency boundaries and integrated approach needed Child Action Project is vehicle for ‘kick starting’ integrated services across all localities

Summary- Key Elements Agency that identifies concern carries out assessment Key Worker Single agency or Joint commissioning of services Services ‘wrap’ around child - child is at the centre

Questions