UPDATE NO 295 29 March 2018

LGA Procurement for Regional Children’s Improvement Advisers (3 posts)

Anna Wright, the curent LGA Children’s Improvement Adviser in the South East writes:

“I’m just writing to let you all know that I have decided to discontinue my work as LGA Children’s Improvement Associate from May 2018. 

“I am still doing coaching, facilitation and training across the SE so am happy to continue to support colleagues on an individual basis or through SESLIP so please get in touch if you think I can help. The LGA is currently seeking a replacement associate and I will keep the role until someone is appointed. If you know of someone who might be interested, please forward them the advert attached”

The LGA procurement process for a new South East CIA (and also for the same in the East and North West Regions) is fully explained here.

The closing date for applications is 5pm, 6 April 2018.

Interviews for the South East are set for 17 April in Westminster

If you would like an informal discussion about these opportunities please contact either:

• Edwina Grant, National Children’s Improvement Adviser – 07904 111646 or
• Richard Cooke, Children’s Services Programme Manager – 07766 356320

SE DCS Peer Challenge 2018

Planning is underway for 4 Director’s Peer Challenges in 2018. The confirmed participants and dates are in bold on the accompanying chart. Nominations are invited to join the visiting team to Oxfordshire in July, names to Richard Tyndall in the first instance please. For more details please go to the SE ADCS Peer Challenge page. Colleagues requiring a more detailed briefing should contact Anna Wright (details below).

The 2018 MoU is now available for particpants to download, sign and return. Thanks to Bracknell Forest for returning a signed MoU.

Thanks to Paul Senior (DCS Wokingham) for joining Triad 2 to cover for West Berkshire while they change DCSs 

Consultation on 2018-19 DCS Peer Challenge Arrangements

A consultation document has been published seeking views on the nature and shape of the 2018-19 DCS Peer Challenge Arrangements. These proposals arise as a response to the DfE’s Regional Alliance programme.

This consultation was discussed at the SE ADCS Branch meeting last week; the closing date is the end of the month.

The consultation document is available here. The deadline for responses is Friday 30 March 2018, which should be sent to Richard Tyndall (details below). If you have any questions please contact Richard Tyndall or Anna Wright (details below).

Annual report of the Troubled Families Programme 2017-18

MHCLG have published “Supporting disadvantaged families – Annual report of the Troubled Families Programme 2017-18“.

The current Troubled Families Programme was rolled out in England in April 2015 and replaced the first programme which had been in place since 2012. The programme will continue support for disadvantaged families with complex problems and will work with up to 400,000 families by 2020.

The annual report confirms that the programme continues to reach families with complex and multiple problems.

The full report is here.

Brighton and Hove and Kent were named as 2 of 11 authorities selected to pilot the new earned autonomy funding model. 

Complex LAC and Edge of Care Efficiencies

This project, sponsored by Lucy Butler (DCS, Oxfordshire) was discussed and endorsed by the SE ADCS meeting this morning.

The presentation is here, and the report summarising procgress is here.

For further details, please contact Mark Evans or Rosemary Perry (contact details below)

Investing cost effectively in Early Interventions: Developing the children’s workforce: Friday 20th April 2018, 9:30am to 2:30pm.

Khalid Mahmood of the East Midlands SLIP writes:

The East Midlands regional workforce development network is pleased to invite you to their 3^rdnational conference ‘Investing cost effectively in Early Interventions: Developing the children’s workforce’ due to take place at the Yew Lodge Hotel, Packington Hill, Kegworth, DE74 2DF on Friday 20^thApril 2018, between 9:30am and 2:30pm. 

Please note this conference is free for colleagues supporting the children’s workforce in the East Midlands region. All other participants will be charged £45+VAT.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0116 299 5942 or via email khalid.mahmood@sdsa.net.

The conference programme includes; keynote input, update on accreditation pathways and apprenticeships, mapping of SW knowledge and skills, networking and launch of the East Midlands workforce collaborative hub. It also provides a valuable opportunity for colleagues from around the country to share their work and ideas for the development of the wider workforce. A conference flyer is available here to download.

Please click on https://childrensworkforceconf2018.eventbrite.co.uk for registration and further details.

Home Office: Trusted Relationships Fund

The Home Office has launched (on 25 February) a £13 million fund to help foster relationships between frontline professionals and young people at risk of sexual exploitation.

The Trusted Relationships Fund will invite local authorities to apply for funding to run projects aimed at fostering relationships between frontline staff and at-risk children. Through the fund, local authorities are encouraged to work with local partners to improve the way professionals, including social workers, youth workers, police and voluntary sector practitioners, work together to support vulnerable young people.

The announcement in full is available here and further details are here

The prospectus is available here and Annex A: application questions, criteria and scoring is here.

Expressions of interest deadline is 13 April

For further information, you can contact TrustedRelationships@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk