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

• Examining the impact of the ban on unregulated accommodation for vulnerable children under-16 on capacity in care services
• Highlighting how Ofsted seeks to balance safety and welfare with flexibility to allow the delivery of effective care
• Outlining the requirements for multi-building registration, how registration can address the shortage of care placements, and how they will change the inspections landscape
• Examining the changing social care market, and how Local Authorities can meet demand for care placements

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.

Following an Inadequate Ofsted rating for Children’s Services in Sunderland in 2015, Together for Children was established in 2017 to deliver services on behalf of Sunderland City Council. In 2021, children’s services were rated Outstanding. This session will provide key insights into:

• How Together for Children led the transformation in children’s services in Sunderland to establish social work practices “of consistently high quality and relentless in significantly improving the experience of children and young people” (Ofsted)
• Best practice for integrating the voices of children and care experienced young people into the design of children’s services to ensure effective support, including health needs and care leavers
• How a focus on developing relationships ensures positive experiences for children and families, including during the pandemic

What Works for Children’s Social Care support practitioners in developing evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for children and young people. 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

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead transferred the delivery of children’s services to Achieving for Children in 2017. AfC is a Community Interest Company, allowing child protection services to be delivered in a way which solely focused on improving outcomes for the community, rather than profit. This session will provide an update 5-years on, providing key insights into:

• How delegated delivery of children’s services has impacted outcomes for children and young people in the long-term through
• How the Borough and AfC manage their ongoing partnership, including the role of the Joint Committee and Commissioning Board
• The importance of effective and established channels of communication to ensure ongoing cooperation to meet the evolving needs of residents
• The financial impact on the Borough f delegating children’s services

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