UPDATE NO 513 08 July 2022

New SESLIP MoU issued

On 1 July, SESLIP Steering Group issued a new Memorandum of Understanding. This reflects extended agreements on data benchmarking on a national basis. Thanks to Portsmouth for returning the first signed copy, available here.

We ask the Director of Children’s Services, the Chief Executive and the Lead Member for Children’s Services for each authority to sign this document to symbolise the professional, corporate and political commitment to joint working in the interests of promoting better outcomes for children and young people.

Where have all the workers gone? blogpost from Lucy Butler

On 1 July ADCS published “Where have all the workers gone?” a blogpost written by Lucy Butler (DCS West Sussex)

The post starts, “Is it me, is it the South-East, but have all the workers disappeared? And when I ask where have all the workers gone, I am not just meaning social workers, but I will get on to those … ” read on here

UK Trauma Council guide to brain changes following child trauma

On 1 July, UK Trauma Council published CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, THE BRAIN AND THE SOCIAL WORLD by Eamon McCrory Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, UCL and Co-Director, UK Trauma Council

The guide illustrates the importance of social relationships for mental health and explains that children with a history of maltreatment could face social difficulties such as bullying. Recommendations include: prioritising the social experience of children and providing support for parents, carers and professionals.

The full report is here

Sharp rise in children with special needs approaching councils for support

On 29 June LGA released a press statement on the rise in demands on English council’s SEND services. It was based on the latest EHC plan figures published by the DfE and statistics from 2014

The number of children in England approaching councils for special needs support has increased by almost a quarter in a year, latest figures reveal, with 170 young people now starting support plans each day.

There are now nearly half a million children and young people (473,255) on ECH plans – an increase of over 100 per cent since eligibility for SEND support was extended in 2014 to people aged 16-25.

Staffing crisis in children’s homes – ICHA

On 27 June ICHA published its 2022 State of the Sector report. It warns of a staffing crisis- children’s homes are facing the highest level of staff turnover on record

Large providers have been worst hit by high staff turnover compared with smaller providers, it adds, noting that 17 per cent of large respondents reported levels of staff turnover below 10 per cent compared with 21 per cent of small providers.  High staff turnover contributes to “challenges faced by providers and the sector-wide barriers to improving sufficiency”, Peter Sandiford, chief executive of the ICHA said.

The full report is here

Schools causing concern – revised guidance from DfE

On 30 June DfE published revised guidance for local authorities and regional directors on Schools Causing Concern which will come into force on 1 September 2022

This statutory guidance sets out what schools and local authorities must do to comply with the law. You should follow the guidance unless you have a very good reason not to. The document marked ‘from 1 September 2022’ is updated guidance which will take effect from that date. This follows the recent consultation on supporting schools that are not making necessary improvements.

Local authority school places scorecards: academic year 2020/21

On 30 June DfE published Local authority school places scorecards for 2020/21 which display a snapshot of the progress each local authority across England is making towards ensuring there are sufficient good quality school places.

You can view the progress for England as a whole or for any individual local authority. To do this click on LA scorecards

Updated guidance for virtual school head role extension to children with a social worker

On 30 June DfE published updated guidance on virtual school head role extension to children with a social worker

DfE have updated the Promoting the education of children with a social worker: virtual school head role extension guidance, Virtual school head role extension: grant determination letter and the Virtual school head role extension: memorandum of understanding.

Future dates for network meetings

Lead Members Group: Friday 22 July 10.00am.  More from Alison Michalska (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Tuesday 12 July 10:00am More from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Wednesday 20 July 10.30am-12noon More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 14 October 10:00am. More from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 9 September 10:00am. More from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Wednesday 14 September at 2pm. More from Amanda Meadows (contact details below)

Fostering Network: Wednesday 13 July 10-11.30am More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

SEND SE19: Tuesday 12 July 2022 10:00 – 13:00 Co-production Conference: Embedding Resilience in Strategic Co-production. More from Sheelagh Sullivan (contact details below)

Early Help: Monday 12 September 1.30pm. More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

Family Hubs Community of Practice: Governance and commissioning workshop via Teams Tuesday 19 July 9.20 – 11.30. More from Carly Bain (contact details below) 

Regional Improvement Plans approved

On 1 July, SESLIP Steering Group approved the Regional Improvement Plan 2022-2023 and the SE19 SEND Regional Improvement Plan 2022-2023.

For further information please contact Richard Tyndall (details below) or for SEND Sheelagh Sullivan (details below) 

Updated DfE guidance Creating sustainable high needs systems

On 23 June DfE published an updated version of Sustainability in high needs systems Guidance for local authorities 

It includes:

• guidance for local authorities on how to manage their high needs systems effectively and sustainably, drawing on learning from the high needs budgets effective management in local authorities research report and the safety valve intervention programme
• guidance on our intervention work with local authorities, including updates on the delivering better value in SEND programme and the safety valve intervention programme
• case studies from local authorities highlighting examples of work to manage high needs systems sustainably seen through our intervention programmes, from 2021

Research examining practice in 10 local authorities which appear to manage high needs budgets effectively

On June 23 DfE published High needs budgets: effective management in local authorities. It provides examples of good or promising ways that case study local authorities are managing budgets for children and young people with high needs

The ten authorities featured in the study were Barnet, Camden, East Sussex, Essex, North Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Telford & Wrekin, Wakefield, and Wigan 

Open consultation: Introducing a separate judgement about care leavers within the inspection of local authority children’s services (ILACS)

On 20 June Ofsted launched a consultation on proposals for a new judgement on the experiences and progress of care leavers within the ILACS framework

This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 29 July 2022. The proposals are here and your response can be made here