Children’s Trust Network19 October 2011

Developments in Safeguarding

Anthony MayCorporate Director for Children, Families and Cultural

Services

Where we have come from

• A new Children’s Department in 2006• A successful JAR in 2008• An unprecedented rise in workload during 2009

and 2010 – services which lacked resilience• A poor Unannounced Inspection in 2009• An inadequate full inspection in 2010• A DfE Improvement Notice

What we have done about it• High level improvement programme – independently led:

– New vision and mission for social care– More social workers and support workers– New thresholds and improved partnership working– Restructure of front end services– New quality assurance and performance management regimes– Engaged wide range of external support and challenge

• Significant financial investment:– £25 million over two years (£22.6 million is permanent):– Staff – front line and support– Placements– Legal costs– New improvement/ quality assurance team

• A human resource strategy:– Staff development and training– Communication and engagement– Working conditions and arrangements– Culture

Where are we now?• A focus on leadership, accountability and sustainability • Partnership-wide thresholds guidance – Pathway to Provision • Recruitment to provide additional capacity and a more stable

workforce• Improvements in timeliness and quality of assessments• An embedded “Quality Management Framework”• Wave one transformation projects underway• Improved partnership working • Integrated approaches for:

– early intervention;– targeted youth support;– child poverty; and– young carers.

How do we know we’re improving?

• Quantitative data has improved• Quality systems confirm improvement• External audit support this view• The staff are telling us • Our partners are telling us• We’ve had two successful DfE reviews• We’ve had a successful unannounced Ofsted inspection• We’ve had a successful Peer Challenge• We’ve had a successful Ofsted reinspection of safeguarding

services• Our Ofsted Children’s Services Assessment for 2011 will see an

improvement in our rating.

Ofsted safeguarding reinspection

Key Findings

• The overall effectiveness of services in Nottinghamshire in ensuring children are safe is adequate (grade 3)

• The capacity for improvement is good (grade 2)

“In a relatively short period of time the local authority, and the full range of partners, have made significant progress in understanding and improving safeguarding services within the county. Senior managers within the local authority, and at the highest level from across partner agencies, have a shared understanding of the effectiveness of safeguarding services.”

“Effective plans are in place to continue with service improvement reflected in the Safeguarding Improvement Plan, the Nottinghamshire Children, Young People and Families Plan and the NSCB Business Plan.”

“Appropriate action is taken by partners and children’s social care to safeguard children. The quality of provision has improved but as yet remains inconsistent. However, performance management and quality assurance have been a significant driver to date and are a good basis for continuing improvements.”

Ofsted safeguarding reinspection“areas for improvement”

• Improve quality and consistency of assessments– Assessment & Care planning training programme in place for all front line staff

and first line managers– Reflective practice action learning being commissioned for 1st line managers– Quality management framework revised in October 2011 to improve monitoring

of quality

• Reduce the number of inappropriate referrals to children’s social care

– Introduction of common referral form (Autumn 2011)– Revised Pathway to Provision with improved step up and step down processes,

published in November 2011– Ongoing audit of inappropriate contacts and re-referrals to Children's Social Care

Ofsted safeguarding reinspection“areas for improvement”

• Reduce the Number of Children subject to both Safeguarding and Looked After Plans

– IRO & CPC project underway, clear policy of “One child one plan” implemented October 2011, completion December 2011

• Improve the strategic lead and challenge functions of the LADO

– October 2012 implement an action plan to strengthen the strategic role of the LADO and improve contact with hard to reach communities and faith groups.

• Improve managers awareness of commissioned services and effective commissioning

– Implement a commissioning good practice programme for Group managers (November 2011)

Ofsted safeguarding reinspection“areas for improvement”

• Increase the use of the CAF as early intervention tool

– Use the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub programme October 2011 (ongoing) to review the effectiveness of current CAF use and Joint Access team & early intervention processes – strong engagement with Children’s Trust

– Re launch Pathway to Provision handbook in November 2011– Introduction of seven new “Early Intervention District Manager” posts to support

the development of district based early intervention services

• Provide a Management Development Programme for First Line Managers

– Supervision skills training Care planning and assessment skill training already established. Reflective practice learning currently being commissioned

– Full team manager development programme to be implemented in 2012

Initial AssessmentsINITIAL ASSESSMENTSThe DFE improvement notice requires that:“Whilst ensuring assessment are of a high quality, increase the percentage of initial assessments for children’s social care carried out within timescales from the provisional 2009-10 baseline of 54% to:

60% for September 2010 (in month figure)70% for March 2011 (in month figure)75% by 30 June 2011 (cumulative figure for the first quarter of 2011-12 year)” Improvement notice

Percentage of initial assessments completed on time

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep

09/10 62.9 48.8 49.8 48.1 47.5 49.2 37.1 43.9 49.0 67.0 61.9 63.5

10/11 81.3 77.8 68.8 71.7 84.1 81.6 75.9 76.1 76.1 80.8 82.9 83.6

Target 60.0 62.5 64.5 66.0 68.5 70.0 72.0 73.5 75.0 75.0 75.0 75.0

Total number of initial assessments completed

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep

09/10 510 539 478 424 413 567 418 786 798 1151 892 871

10/11 720 600 500 502 571 631 547 590 670 562 574 659

Percentage of initial assessments completed within timescale

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep

Month

% 09/10

10/11

Target

Linear(10/11)

PLEASE NOTE: These figures include ALL teams, as opposed to just R & A teamsThe target has been consistently achieved in each of

the past 12 months, with sustained improvement being evidenced again in the last 3 months.

Core AssessmentsThe DfE Improvement Notice requires that:

“Whilst ensuring assessment are of a high quality, increase the percentage of core assessments for children’s social care carried out within timescales from the provisional 2009-10 baseline of 46% to:- 55% for September 2010 (in month figure)- 70% for March 2011 (in month figure)- 75% by 30 June 2011 (cumulative figure for the first quarter of 2011-12 year)”

Percentage of core assessments completed on time

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep*

09/10 38.8 29.9 46.8 54.8 47.4 38.5 29.3 51.2 34.6 67.4 61.8 76.1 71.3

10/11 71.3 56.0 70.6 57.1 67.7 66.3 71.4 73.7 72.5 77.2 75.8 68.0 71.6

Target 55.0 57.5 59.5 62.5 65.5 68.5 70.0 71.5 73.5 75.0 75.0 75.0 75.0

Total number of core assessments completed

Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug

09/10 105 85 67 94 93 97 96 92 82 165 132 217 155

10/11 155 209 175 187 154 164 175 192 152 171 202 215 228

CORE ASSESSMENTS - Highlight report reference 1.3

“Whilst ensuring assessments are of high quality, increase the percentage of core assessments for children’s social care carried out within timescales from the provisional 2009-10 baseline of 46% to:

55% for September 2010 (in-month figure)70% for March 2011 (in-month figure)

Percentage of core assessments completed on time

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep

09/10 29.9 46.8 54.8 47.4 38.5 29.3 51.2 34.6 67.4 61.8 76.1 71.3

10/11 56.0 70.6 57.1 67.7 66.3 71.4 73.7 72.5 77.2 75.8 68.0 72.4

Target 60.0 62.5 64.5 66.0 68.5 70.0 72.0 73.5 75.0 75.0 75.0 75.0

Total number of core assessments completed

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep

09/10 67 94 93 97 96 92 82 165 132 217 155 209

10/11 175 187 154 164 175 192 152 171 202 215 228 257

Percentage of core assessments completed within timescale

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep

Month

%

09/10

10/11

Target

Linear(10/11)

PLEASE NOTE: These figures include ALL teams, as opposed to just R & A teams

Following a dip in performance during August, the data for September shows that performance is moving back toward the target level

Re-referralsThe DfE Improvement Notice sets a target to:

“Reduce the percentage of re-referrals to children’s social care to:- 30% by September 2010- 26% by 31 March 2011- And sustain at levels by 30 June 2011.”

Percentage of re-referrals started

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug

09/10 38.0 37.3 36.8 33.7 36.0 35.3 34.1 34.5 30.3 25.6 32.3 40.8

10/11 37.5 41.3 29.8 33.8 37.7 35.4 35.1 30.5 38.3 32.2 30.5 28.7

Target 30.0 29.3 28.5 27.8 27.0 26.5 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0

Total number of referrals started

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

09/10 981 964 867 748 839 733 829 724 953 900 1572 1000

10/11 888 806 692 559 589 610 713 541 618 621 548 602

Percentage of re-referrals started

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep

09/10 37.3 36.8 33.7 36.0 35.3 34.1 34.5 30.3 25.6 32.3 40.8 37.5

10/11 41.3 29.8 33.8 37.7 35.4 35.1 30.5 38.3 32.2 30.5 28.7 27.3

Target 30.0 29.5 29.0 28.5 27.5 26.5 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0

Total number of referrals started

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

09/10 964 867 748 839 733 829 724 953 900 1572 1000 888

10/11 806 692 559 589 610 713 541 618 621 548 602 703

Re-referrals as a percentage of referrals started

20

25

30

35

40

45

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep

Month

%

09/10

10/11

Target

Linear(10/11)

PLEASE NOTE: These figures include ALL teams, as opposed to just R & A teams

Re-referral rates continue to reduce towards the targt level.

Child Protection Reviews

The DfE Improvement Notice requires the Council to:

“Ensure that statutory timescales are met for the review of child protection cases.” Improvement Notice

2009 (March) 2010 (March) 2010 (Sep) 2010 (Oct) 2010 (Nov) 2010 (Dec) 2011 (Jan) 2011 (Feb) 2011 (Mar) 2011 (Apr) 2011 (May) 2011 (Jun) 2011 (Jul) 2011 (Aug)

% 99.3 92.5 99.3 99.1 99.2 99.2 99.7 99.8 99.8 100 100 100 99.8 99.8

80

85

90

95

100

2009(March)

2010(March)

2010 (Sep) 2010 (Oct) 2010 (Nov) 2010 (Dec) 2011 (Jan) 2011 (Feb) 2011 (Mar) 2011 (Apr) 2011 (May) 2011 (Jun) 2011 (Jul) 2011 (Aug)

2011/12 Target

2009 (Mar) 2010 (Mar) 2010 (Sep) 2010 (Oct) 2010 (Nov) 2010 (Dec) 2011 (Jan) 2011 (Feb) 2011 (Mar) 2011 (Apr) 2011 (May) 2011 (Jun) 2011 (Jul) 2011 (Aug) 2011 (Sep)

% 99.3 92.5 99.3 99.1 99.2 99.2 99.7 99.8 99.8 100 100 100 99.8 99.8 99.5

Percentage of child protection reviews carried out within timescale

80

85

90

95

100

2009 (Mar) 2010 (Mar) 2010 (Sep) 2010 (Oct) 2010 (Nov) 2010 (Dec) 2011 (Jan) 2011 (Feb) 2011 (Mar) 2011 (Apr) 2011 (May) 2011 (Jun) 2011 (Jul) 2011 (Aug) 2011 (Sep)

Year

%

2011/12 Target

The graph shows that performance has continued to be no less than 99.5% in 2011.

What are the challenges we face?

• Quality of core assessments• Continue to reduce re-referrals • Ensuring a focus on outcomes• Workforce development and workload

management• Dealing with increasing numbers of child

protection plans and LAC – further £6 million in provisional budget for next two years

• Transforming services whilst maintaining an improvement trajectory

Where are we going next?

• Ofsted Action Plan – to tackle the identified areas for improvement

• Transformation programme (May 2011 – April 2013)– Whole service review – within an integrated context– Short term (Wave 1 projects underway)– New service operating model ready for consultation – October

2011:• MASH;• Locality approach;• Supported by specialist and county-wide functions

• Transfer of governance - Improvement Board to NSCB– Shadow arrangements from April 2011– Any outstanding actions from the Improvement Notice– Six monthly review of completed priorities

• Complete recruitment of new staff