UPDATE NO 238 17 February 2017

SE DCS Peer Challenge

We are now recruiting volunteers to join the visiting teams. If you or a colleague might be a suitable nomination, please can you first discuss this with your DCS. Nominations should be Head of Service or Assistant Director or equivalent level. The commitment is some preparation, some pre-reading and a two-day visit on site. 

Portsmouth (6/7 April) the team led by Lucy Butler (DCS Oxfordshire) is now full; many thanks to Rodney D’Costa (Slough) for coming forward.

Brighton and Hove (27/28 June) to join the team led by Steve Crocker (DCS Hampshire and IoW) and including Rachel Morgan (Head of Standards and Effectiveness at Bracknell Forest) and two more colleagues, one with YOS, and another with Social Care expertise. 

Richard Tyndall (details below) will collect nominations and confirm the teams in due course.

Improving the Quality of Audits

Sector Led Improvement Audit Project Workshop  – 20 February 2017 10.00-15.30 at the The Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, Westminster SW1P 3BU

We are launching a new project to explore how authorities across the South East can collaborate to improve the quality and impact of case auditing practice. The target audience for this event is Principal Social Workers and others who are involved in running audit programmes. (e.g. QA Managers).

The workshop will explore good practice from within the region and beyond. It will also consider options for improved working together in this critical area.  The project will focus particular attention on validity, reliability and closing the ‘quality assurance circle’ to ensure audits have the greatest impact in improving outcomes for children and families. It will also consider the use of audits with regulators and other stakeholders. 

Up to two places are available for each authority, to book please contact Mark Evans (details below)

The workshop is being facilitated by David Goosey – Principal Lecturer in Dept of Leadership, Westminster University and qualified clinical auditor (contact details below) and Mark Evans – SESLIP Workforce Lead and experienced Children’s Social Care Practitioner and Leader. 

Please let Mark or David know if the contact we hold for Principal Social Worker or QA Manager needs updating.

Leadership Development

We continue to offer our successful portfolio of Leadership Development Courses all of which have been positively evaluated by delegates.

We are offering LAs the opportunity to train their own trainers for all our courses. Our aim is to increase the capacity and capability across the region  to ensure future sustainability within LAs. Courses can also be delivered with adult services and/or for schools. Please contact Di Smith, details below, if this is of interest to you. 

All courses are run in-house in the LA who provides the venue. Each course is accompanied by a range of training resources for the delegates including a comprehensive handbook. The current courses on offer are as follows and details of each course and the costs for each can be found by downloading the April 2016 Leadership Development Prospectus. 

Coaching to Improve Performance

Embedding a Coaching Culture

Leading Change in Times of Austerity

Step Up to Leadership   

We can also arrange one-to-one coaching, especially to support newly appointed 2nd and 3rd tier managers

If you require further details or wish to book a course please get in touch with Di Smith (contact details below)