1. Putting Signs of Safety into Practice
Implementation across all services and Reflections on a Child’s Death

2. Agenda What are North Tyneside Best Hopes
Our Journey so Far & Implementation
Case Study – Death of a Child
Learning from Implementation
Where are we

3. What are our best hopes
Children, young people and their families report positive experiences of their involvement with services
A single model of practice with a common language that everyone understands and uses including children and families who services are working with.
More children being cared for within family networks when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

4. Our Journey So Far
Started with two days introduction training in April 2017
Senior Leadership Team attended five days training in April 2017
Social Care Staff including health and police attended five days training in November 2017
Training Practice Leads to drive forward the model.

5. Implementation
GETTING IT RIGHT AT THE START – Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub – What we do
What we did – whole area launch not just one area to pilot

6. Implementation When did we really go for it – Learning Curve
Partner Agencies – how did we let them know and get them on board (Briefings) – Also open to the public
Commissioned a new electronic case recording system with Signs of Safety templates – Liquid Logic – we were first in the World

7. Having a Conscience or a Marjorie as she is called in North Tyneside
Having a Marjorie – Jiminy Cricket - he was a great conscience to Pinocchio .
Well this is what Marjorie is to us ––
“When you get in trouble and you don’t know right from wrong, give a little whistle.” or a shout for Marjorie……..

8. Having a Conscience or a Marjorie as she is called in North Tyneside
Support in reframing cases – but slip back
IRO’s were said to be a “hard nut to crack”
Group Supervision – Marjorie was key in supporting

9. “Without Deviation Progress is not Possible” Frank Zappa Musician and American Philosopher ( )

10. Death of a Child
Death of a baby with a family who were known to social workers – including a Child Protection Plan and previously out of parents care
Drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and mental health issues
Reaction - Doing what we have always done

11. The Light Bulb Moment
Light bulb moment – 4 days before our Final Evidence was due to be filed
Case Mapping & Network Meeting
Court had confidence in the Family Plan
Allowed child to return home

12. What did their Family Plan Look like?

13. Learning from Implementation
Development Journey -– 2 steps forward one back and that is fine
Liquid Logic – First in the world – the surprise that on the system it wasn’t 3 columns
Remember your questions these are key – prepare – slow down your thinking

14. Learning from Implementation
Gap between 2 days and 5 days was too long
Practice Leads trained first and quickly
Catch up with changing policy and procedure
Too much too soon
HOLD YOUR NERVE and BE BRAVE

15. Some surprises
Feedback from Children in Care Council “Keep it really simple and honest – I like that”.
Early Help – fully embraced and developed
Our Children’s Homes – Riverdale
0-19 Health Visiting Service
OFSTED – Strongest Implementation of Signs of Safety that they had seen

16. THANK YOU Contact Details
Victoria McLeod –
Majella Tallack –