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.
The Self-Assessment tool and outcomes of the triad sessions will help to shape and inform the LM work-stream and is complementary to the DCS-led self-assessment and peer challenge & support.
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.
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.
Workshop for Councillors - Friday 19th March 2021, 10-12 via Teams*
Child Poverty, presented by Lisa Faulkner
Child Poverty consultant Lisa Faulkner will lead a two-hour workshop with the help of guest presenters:
Amanda Bailey, Director, North East Child Poverty Commission
Emma Richardson, Senior Manager Specialist Services, Child Poverty lead for Northumberland County Council
Jeremy Beake, Corporate Policy and Equality Manager, Child Poverty lead for Milton Keynes Council
* please email Richard Tyndall (details below) to register and receive your joining link.
This session is for elected members who have a particular interest in policy and programmes around child poverty. It will be of interest to Lead Members and their deputies, Cabinet or Executive colleagues, members of children’s scrutiny panels or anyone with a desire to improve their understanding of the issues.
Useful tools and links
- SESLIP Lead Members' Self Assessment Template
- Useful information for councils on novel coronavirus (COVID-19).from LGA
- Overview of LGA support for children's services lead members - October 2020
- Presentation re LM Self Assessment cycle to DCS September 2020
- Mark Riddell's Care Leavers and Corporate Parenting Presentation from 5 March 2021
- This Is My Life: Arron's Story Despite a challenging upbringing in care, Arron has an incredibly positive outlook on life. Truly aspirational!
- MHCLG letter on care leavers and Council Tax 13 Jan 2021
Save the Dates for Lead Members' Expert Workshops 2021
We are delighted to announce two workshops which have been 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:
Your role as Corporate Parents in delivering excellence for Care Leavers, presented by Mark Riddell MBE. In the panel above there are links to his presentation, a BBC feature on a care leaver and a letter from MHCLG on Council Tax and Care Leavers.
The second workshop will take place on Friday 19th March, on the topic: Child Poverty - understanding the role of Councillors in tacking child poverty
This event will be led by Lisa Faulkner Bunyan (Child and Family Poverty/ Children's Services expert).
Date: Friday 19th March Time: 10am - 12 noon
Teams invite to follow.
Please email Richard Tyndall (details below) to register for the workshops.
Please contact Alison Michalska (details below) if you have any questions about the content of the workshops.