1. Every Chance for Every Child in SA
Nigel Richardson
City of Leeds
#EveryChildSA
October 2016

2. ? There’s a picture on my fridge… Nigel Richardson
Former! Director of Children’s Services
Leeds City Council ?

5. Do the simple things better
Three mindsets
Do the simple things better
The child is the client
Safeguard and promote

7. July 2009: An Inspector Calls…
‘The response to child protection referrals does not meet statutory guidance and does not ensure that children are adequately safeguarded’.
Leeds Ofsted report 2009

8. Only One Question
What is it like to be a child or young person growing up in Leeds… and how do we make it better?

9. Children live in families
Families create communities
Communities create cities

10. Changing Families Lowest marriage rate in 150 years
Most couples cohabit before marriage
Highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe
2 million lone parents with dependent children
4/10 babies born outside marriage
2million + ++ children living in poverty
Estimated cost of family breakdown - £46 billion +++

11. Family risk factors Poor parental supervision Harsh/erratic discipline
Parental conflict
Separation from a biological parent
Family violence
Anti-social parent
Low income
Poor housing

12. Risks for young people Leaving school with no qualifications
Involvement in crime
Alcohol & drugs
Poor mental health
Homelessness
Pregnancy/fatherhood

13. Protective factors Social bonding
Clear standards of positive behaviour
Involvement in family, school & community
Positive role models
Clear, high expectations
Social & thinking skills
Recognition & praise

14. Or put another way…
Experience of the education system and labour market
Society and culture in which they grow up
Relationships with parents and families
Experiences with peers and in leisure time

15. An organisational imperative?
What if?
An organisational imperative?
A new Social Contract?
Recognise ‘family’ as the most important ‘utility’ for the 21st century?

16. uiu

17. Leeds 180K children and young people One vision One partnership
One Plan
Five outcomes
12 priorities and 3 obsessions
25 clusters : 3 behaviours
Schools at the heart of communities
75k people
A life ready for learning

19. Three behaviours Voice and influence of the child Restorative practice
Outcomes based accountability

20. Agreed Policy Framework
Our key statement of intent:
‘The default behaviour of children’s services in Leeds in all its dealings with local citizens/partners/organisations will be a restorative one – high support with high challenge’.
Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of the Council

22. Changing culture Cross-party political support
OBA as the recognised methodology for projects in the city.
Approach adopted by key city-
wide strategic partnerships
Children’s Trust Board receive regular OBA scorecards on CYP Plan priorities.
Adopted by all local ‘cluster’
partnerships
25 clusters using OBA events
to address local priority issues
- Top 100 Methodology

24. Changing culture
A restorative commitment to working with individuals, families and communities to solve problems
OBA used to consult on school place planning in response to population growth
The children’s social care
transformation programme –
improving frontline practice
OBA used to plan change, measure impact and show practitioners the difference they are making.
A new social contract with families
The way we do things around here!

25. Is anybody any better off?

26. It pays to obsess: Reducing the number of looked after children
Number of children looked after
1500
1400
1300
1200
March 11
March 15
March 13
March 12
March 14
250 fewer children in care
(£16m saved)

27. 570 fewer young people who are NEET
It pays to obsess: Reducing the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET)
2300
2050
1550
1300
March 11
March 15
March 13
March 12
March 14
1800
570 fewer young people who are NEET
Number of young people who are NEET

28. Approximately 400,000 more pupil days in schools
It pays to obsess: Improving school attendance
Primary schools
Secondary schools
2010/11
2013/14
2011/12
2012/13
92%
98%
96%
94%
2010/11
2013/14
2011/12
2012/13
92%
98%
96%
94%
Approximately 400,000 more pupil days in schools
Academic year
Academic year

29. The Thing of Beauty !

31. 2015: The inspectors return!
The Inspectors looked at…
And found that Leeds is…
children who need help and protection
Good
children looked after and achieving permanence
adoption
experience and progress of care leavers
leadership and management
Outstanding
The Leeds Safeguarding Children Board is
OVERALL LEEDS IS…

32. 2015:
The inspectors
on OBA
‘The application of the outcomes based accountability approach… is facilitating a shared understanding of priorities for children… (and) the three obsessions are providing a sharp focus for strategic and operational thinking’.
Ofsted 2015

33. Keep thinking about… Early start and early help
The behaviour of adults
Children live in families
Families matter
Multi-agency endeavours safeguard children
Physical regen v Social regen
The common wealth of an area
Voice & influence of children
The strength of families
90/10
Life ready for learning

34. Points to Ponder… Keep the complex simple not simplistic
Obsess on outcomes
Keep your discipline
Repeating yourself is good
Understand the patterns
Tell stories
Structures help shape behaviours but relationships make the difference

35. A Question of leadership?
No more heroes
Relationships across partnerships
Culture eats strategy for breakfast
The way we do things around here
What and how but also why
Invert the triangle
Outcomes, Outcomes, Outcomes
There’s a dance to be danced

37. Mobilising collective effort…
Better diagnosis
Common language
Better intervention
Better outcomes

38. Outstanding Leaders need four key qualities :
Unwarranted optimism
Regard crisis as the norm and complexity as fun
An endless supply of intellectual curiosity
A complete absence of paranoia and self-pity

40. Thank you
for listening.