Lead Members' Group

The role of Lead Member is key to the leadership of Children’s Services.

We recognise the wealth of experience, enthusiasm and talent of our Lead Members and as with our DCSs, the support of colleagues and safe environment to share ideas and learn from each other is beneficial to all.

The SESLIP Programme Board has agreed to develop a work-stream to support the learning and development of Lead Members as a part of the SESLIP Improvement Plan. 

During 2020-2021 we piloted a programme of self-assessment and triad/ quartet peer challenge which were complementary to the DCS-led self-assessment and peer challenge and support. The priority outcomes from this programme have been agreed with Lead Members and will shape and inform the members work-stream which is currently being drafted.

The Lead Member Sponsor is Cllr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Learning for Bracknell Forest.

South East Region's Lead Members Group is supported by Alison Michalska,  the LGA Regional Children's Improvement Advisor, as part of LGA's ongoing sector-led improvement offer.

Workshops already delivered

These were devised to respond to critical areas of concern for our South East member colleagues with senior leadership responsibility.

The first of these took place on Friday 5 March 2021, with the topic:

#1 Your role as Corporate Parents in delivering excellence for Care Leavers, presented by Mark Riddell MBE. In the panel opposite there are links to his presentation, a BBC feature on a care leaver and a letter from MHCLG on Council Tax and Care Leavers.

#2 Child Poverty - understanding the role of Councillors in tacking child poverty and was led by Lisa Faulkner Bunyan (Child and Family Poverty/ Children's Services expert). The slides for this event are posted in the box opposite.

#3 Understanding adolescents and the challenges and risks faced supporting and safeguarding complex young people with Dez Holmes of Research in Practice. The presentation is here and the recording (55 mins) of Dez Holmes giving it is here

#4 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and the National Transfer Scheme and was led by DCSs and Lead Members from Kent and Portsmouth and Katie Thrussell of the South East Strategic Partnership on Migration. The slides are posted in the box opposite.

#5 Mental Health services for children and young people with Dr Gavin Lockhart, Clinical Lead for CYP Mental Health in the South East. The presentation is posted in the box opposite.

#6 Political leadership of effective SEND systems. The presentation is posted in the box opposite 

Governance & Reports

Confidential organisational information is shared under the terms of the current SESLIP Memorandum of Understanding.

A contact list for the Lead Members Group is here.

Useful resources

Check out the LGA website for a wealth of helpful resources to support you in your role as Lead Member for Children's Services. We have picked out five key documents below as starters.

• Link to the ‘must know’ guide for lead members 
• New lead members guide (first 10 days)
• A guide to the 10 questions to ask when scrutinising LAC services - 
• What happens if your children’s services are judged inadequate by Ofsted? 
• Corporate parenting resource pack

Upcoming Events

Please contact Alison Michalska (contact details below) if you would like to find out more.

Useful tools and links

• SESLIP Lead Members' Self Assessment Template
• Presentation re LM Self Assessment cycle to DCS September 2020
• Overview of LGA support for children's services lead members - October 2020
• Presentation to Expert Workshop #1 - Mark Riddell
• Expert Workshop #1, Video: This is My Life, Arron's Story
• Expert Workshop #1, MHCLG letter on Care Leavers and Council Tax
• Expert Workshop #1: LGA Resource Pack: Corporate Parenting
• Expert Workshop #1: LGA Resource Pack: Support for Care Leavers
• Expert Workshop #2: Presentation on Child Poverty
• Expert Workshop #3 Presentation on Adolescents
• Expert Workshop #3 Recording of Dez Holmes presentation on adolescents (55 mins)
• Expert Workshop #4: Presentation on UASC and NTS
• Expert Workshop #5 presentation on CYP and Mental Health
• Expert Workshop #6: Political leadership of… effective SEND Systems: presenttation
• SE ICS presentation 8 April 2022 from Anna Freud Centre and others

Next meeting: Friday 8 July 2022 9.30am

This will be a Lead Members' only meeting and will discuss the arrangements for the renewal of self-assessments in autumn/winter 2023. 

We will welcome any newly eleceted/appointed lead members for the municipal year 2022-2023 

For more information please contact Richard or Alison (details below)