UPDATE NO 323 12 October 2018

2018-19 DCS Peer Challenge Arrangements

Congratulations to East Sussex, Surrey and Wokingham (Triad 1) who have agreed Thursday 28 February 2019 for their challenge day.

They join Kent, Reading and Portsmouth (Triad 2) who have agreed Monday 4 February 2019; Hampshire and IoW, Milton Keynes and Slough (Triad 3) on Friday 15 February 2019; Medway, Oxfordshire and Windsor and Maidenhead (Triad 4) on Friday 15 February 2019; and Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire and West Berkshire (Triad 5) on Tuesday 26 February 2019 for theirs. Isabelle Gregory (contact details below) will be in touch to chase progress with Triad 6.

The data packs for each authority which will inform the peer challnege are now avialable from the restricted DCS-only section of the website.

Thanks to the 14 colleagues who have signed and returned their MoUs.

For more information please contact Anna Wright or Richard Tyndall (details below).

Detailed arrangements are under way for the peer challenge of self-assessment arrangements that will culminate in the Regional Improvement Summit on 22 March 2019 – please save this date for DCSs and Lead Members.

Also please save the date 30 November 2018 for DCSs and management team members for the regional training and preparation day. The session will be a half-day in the morning. Please contact Anna Wright for more details, and Isabelle Gregory to book your places. Thanks to the 20 delegates from 9 authorities who have already booked places.

Thanks to 16/19  for sharing Annual Conversation letters (still missing Bracknell Forest, Medway and Reading), and only three more self-assessemnts needed for a full set (Medway, Reading, and Surrey awaited); thanks to the other 16 for sharing.

These documents are all available from the restricted DCS-only section of the website.

For access to this page, and to supply further reports, please contact Isabelle Gregory (details below).

Improving Mental Health Assessments for Looked-After Children – Call for Pilot Area Volunteers

Akosua (Kos) Wireko, DfE’s Regional Improvement Lead for the South East, writes

Hi 

DfE has commissioned the Anna Freud Centre to implement pilots that seek to improve the mental health assessments looked-after children receive when they enter care. The project team are now in the pilot area recruitment phase, and are looking for volunteers.

Many thanks, Akosua Wireko (Ms)

More info can be found via this link and any questions can be directed at Rosie Ellis – AfC Project Manager – Rosie.Ellis@annafreud.org.  

What Works Centre: Change Programme

Apply to become Change Programme partners with the What Works Centre

The What Works Centre invitation says:

We are looking for local authorities or children’s services trusts – either bidding on their own or in collaboration with third sector organisations – that are interested in working with us on this exciting Change Programme. The application process for local authorities or children’s services trusts is now open and we’d like as many as possible to apply:

If you’re interested in responding to the call, you can find more information here: Change Programme pack: information for applicants

To apply please complete the Application Form: Change Programme Partners and email to wwccsc@nesta.org.uk by midday 31st October 2018.

If you have questions please read here: FAQs : Change Programme Projects

For futher information please email wwc-cascade@cardiff.ac.uk and we can arrange for a member of the team to contact you.

We are also hosting a webinar for potential applicants on Monday 15 October and you can register for the webinar here.