1. Reclaiming Social Work in Aberdeen
Together we are …
Reclaiming Social Work in Aberdeen

2. RSW model: 7S Model
Shared Values (e.g. Managing risk together; believing in families, direct work)
Strategy (e.g. Whole system change, reduce LAC numbers, invest in staff)
Systems (e.g. Reduce processes & bureaucracy, change point of decision making)
Skills (e.g. Systemic practice, skilled supervision)
Style (e.g. Risk management not risk averse, Learning not blaming)
Staff (e.g. Support, nurture, develop & enthuse) 2

3. CLINICAL PRACTITIONER CHILDREN’S PRACTITIONER
RSW model: 7S Model
CONSULTANT
SOCIAL WORKER
Structure
CLINICAL PRACTITIONER
SOCIAL WORKER
UNIT
CO-ORDINATOR
CHILDREN’S PRACTITIONER 3

4. RSW in Aberdeen: the journey so far
April 2012: Meeting at Scottish Government
June 2012: Morning Lane Associates (MLA) make presentations to Scottish Government & ADSW Conference
Feb 2013: MLA presentation to Aberdeen Children’s Services Annual Practice Improvement Conference
March 2013: SCWB Committee agree to investigate the Reclaiming model in Aberdeen 4

5. Transformation Evaluation Messages
Systemic units delivered a more consistently high quality of direct work
Reduction in number of children in care
Reduction in staff sickness levels
Bureaucracy significantly reduced
Positive outcomes for children and families
Better decision making around risk
Consistently high levels of skill in direct work with families
More time spent with families and children (2 to 3 times more)
More intensive help for families – particularly at times of crisis or for families with complex problems'

6. RSW in Aberdeen: the journey so far
April 2012: Meeting at Scottish Government
June 2012: Morning Lane Associates (MLA) make presentations to Scottish Government & ADSW Conference
Feb 2013: MLA presentation to Aberdeen Children’s Services Annual Practice Improvement Conference
March 2013: SCWB Committee agree to investigate the Reclaiming model in Aberdeen 6

7. RSW in Aberdeen: the journey so far
May 2013: Report from MLA to Practice Improvement session & work on children’s services shared values
June/July 2013: volunteers sought from staff group to get actively involved
September 2013: SCWB Committee agree the model will be introduced in Aberdeen on a 3 year implementation programme
October 2013: Programme Board established, first meeting takes place
November 2013: 3 day managers training course takes place and first caseload weighting exercise carried out by CSMT

8. Children’s Services Core Values
Keeping children safe in families
Showing children respect and dignity
Openness and transparency
Having willingness to challenge and change
Being a learning organisation 8

9. RSW in Aberdeen: the journey so far
May 2013: Report from MLA to Practice Improvement session & work on children’s services shared values
June/July 2013: volunteers sought from staff group to get actively involved
September 2013: SCWB Committee agree the model will be introduced in Aberdeen on a 3 year implementation programme
October 2013: Programme Board established, first meeting takes place
November 2013: 3 day managers training course takes place and first caseload weighting exercise carried out by CSMT

10. RSW in Aberdeen: the journey so far
December 2013: 3 workstreams established
January 2014: Operational Reference Group established and 18 day systemic training course starts for 60 practitioners
February 2014:
Fortnightly staff bulletin starts
Strap line together we are… and brand agreed
Knowledge Hub Reclaiming Social Work group established
Intranet site established

11. RSW in Aberdeen: the journey so far
April 2014: Caseload audit to gather evidence for numbers of Units required
May 2014: Streamlining of process and system commences to free up time for direct contact, less paper
July 2014: Structure proposed and approved at programme board and staff engagement event to share the proposed structure
August 2014: Evaluation of implementation commissioned (Blake Stevenson)

12. RSW model: Evaluation references
Cross, S. et al (2010) Reclaiming Social Work London Borough of Hackney Children and Young People’s Services, Human Reliability Associates & London School of Economics
Forrester, D. et al (2013) Reclaiming Social Work? An Evaluation of Systemic Units as an Approach to Delivering Children‘s Services, Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care, University of Bedfordshire 12

13. Reclaiming Social Work 13