Children’s Social Care Forum 2022

Before proceedings get underway, this short explainer session will explore how you can get the most out of our new next generation Conference platform.

Our IG Team will run through how to make virtual connections, creating networking meet ups, accessing content on demand and how to use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.

Following the release of the £500m Youth Investment Fund, £1.6bn of new grant funding in each of the next 3 years, and £259m for expanding provision in children’s homes, this session will discuss the future landscape of children’s social care funding and delivery, including:

• Developing a whole council approach to supporting children in care and care leavers
• Applying the principles of corporate parenting across all areas of children’s services to create positive experiences for care experienced people
• Responding to and recognising the views of care experienced young people in service design and delivery

• Sharing what children and young care leavers have highlighted as the key issues affecting them
• Examining how the care system can respond to meet these priorities
• Highlighting the importance of communities and relationships for children in care and recent care leavers, and the impact of out of area placements and unregulated accommodation

The CMA’s ongoing market study into the supply of children’s social care placements has raised concerns about the funding of private care placements. The Interim Report has found that, while most residential placements and fostering services are of good quality there, is a shortage of placements for children, and that high prices are often paid to place children with private providers making high levels of profit.

This session will provide an update on the market study, and discuss the impact of private care placements on service delivery.

Anne will discuss the recent Commission on Young Lives “Out of Harm’s Way” report. Focussing on protecting vulnerable teenagers who are at risk of exploitation and crime, the report argues that a care system that was largely designed for small children is struggling to adapt to the needs of older children, including operating inflexible hours and work practices that are not suited to the often chaotic lives of vulnerable teens. It makes a series of recommendations to government, aimed at improving the children’s social care system and keeping teenagers safe from county lines, drug gangs and criminal exploitation.

Nuffield Family Justice Observatory’s research identifies and fills gaps in our understanding of the family justice system, to support better outcomes for children and families. By embedding evidence and valuation in your social care practices, you can better assess the impact they have, and continue to improve your service offering.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how to embed evidence into social care practices to improve outcomes for children and young people
• Know how to measure the quantitative impact of practices in children’s social care to assess your own practices
• Improve your ability to embed evaluation into programmes to allow you to assess their impact and ensure value for money

• One on one networking opportunities and live delegate meet ups
• Replay functions so you never miss a session
• Live chat, questioning and polling tools
• Real time resources and presentations
• A next generation conference engagement platform

Before proceedings get underway, this short explainer session will explore how you can get the most out of our new next generation Conference platform. Our IG Team will run through how to make virtual connections, creating networking meet ups, accessing content on demand and how to use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.

Following the announcement of £82m to create 75 Family Hubs in England, Lord Farmer will outline the role of Family Hubs in providing multi-agency early help, and the Government’s vision for how they will improve outcomes for young people. 

This discussion session will focus on the practical aspects of establishing Family Hubs, including:

• The role of Family Hubs in Early Years support, and their impact on outcomes
• How to integrate Family Hubs into existing care and services pathways
• How Family Hubs differ from Sure Start Centres
• Best practice for establishing Family Hubs

• Sharing best practice for effective transition planning in social care through engaging with young people and families
• Examining the role of partnerships and multi-agency working in supporting children and young people through transitions in care

According to the National Care Forum, the social care sector is facing “the most acute recruitment and retention crisis” in its history. Using innovative recruitment and retention strategies can allow care providers to focus on effective delivery and improving outcomes. Skills for Care provide support for service providers to create a well-led, skilled and valued social care workforce.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the balance between attracting and recruiting the right staff and development and retention, to maintain a skilled workforce
• Learn how to implement innovative strategies to attract candidates, including the importance of values-based recruitment
• Know how to frame vacancies to attract the right candidates and improve staff retention
• Examine your training and development practices to improve staff retention

Integrating the voices of children and young people in service development and design ensures that services are effectively able to reflect their needs. Mind of My Own co-produces apps with young people that empower them to be heard and express their lived experience.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to better work with and communicate with children and young people through the Mind of My Own Apps
• Learn how to better understand what children and young people are telling you and providing them with an environment that enables them to communicate their views in a way that suits them
• Learn how to take their views and increase the impact of your services by integrating the voices of children and young people in your service design

*programme subject to change