Overview

North Yorkshire continues to refine and embed its practice model to deliver a range of innovative and successful projects within the organisation, based on the principle that children are best placed wherever possilbe within their family network. Support continues to be given to a range of local authorities in a range of activities across the full spectrum of services available for children and families.

Understanding Excellence

Psychology Speech and Language/Care Leavers: We will continue to develop Psychological and Speech & Language Therapy focused particularly on Care Leavers. Traditionally, there has been a considerable gap in both Psychological and Speech and Language Therapy for 18 to 25 year olds, largely driven by the gaping deficit between the support available through children’s services up to the age of 18 and the high thresholds and complex referral pathways of Adult Mental Health and Speech and Language support. Through the Psychologist roles focused on Leaving Care implemented through the PiP Programme, over a third of Care Leavers have received support.

Restorative Practice: We will continue to develop a Restorative Practice Service, including the Restorative Academy to train care experienced young people to use their own experiences to deliver conflict resolution using restorative approaches whilst developing skills, experience and working towards ASDAN Qualifications. We have seen really encouraging results from the work of the Restorative Practice Service.

Knowledge & Skills Framework: As part of the original PiP programme, we implemented a Knowledge and Skills framework, including Systemic Training for Social Care staff and Frontline Leadership Training. Over the course of the Project, this has formed the base, alongside Signs of Safety, of the development of a new strengths-based and relationship-focused model of practice. This model of practice uses Signs of Safety as a single approach to use the Restorative Continuum (Family Finding, Restorative Practice, Family Group Conferencing), that has been developed through the PiP programme, to deliver restorative and targeted interventions to support families to stay together where safe and appropriate. Through engaging with families and the wider family network, outcomes for children and young people can be greatly improved without the considerable disruption and instability that bringing children into care can cause.

Single View of a Plan: We are continuing with the development of the Single View of the Child, which has now gone live with the Multi Agency Asessment and Screening Team (MAST), informing front door decision making. We are expanding this project into wider social care teams and/or across into education support services. We are also developing a single view of a plan and exploration of sharing data with our partners relating to children and young people missing from home.

Sector improvement

We are continuing to work with colleagues in neighbouring authorities to provide Sector Led Improvement and support within the following specialisms:

Whole System Diagnostic/Tailored Review: The ability to look at data sets to determine and recommend areas for improvement and further enquiry.

Front Door: Advice and guidance from our MAST made up of social care, police, prevention, health and mental health provide a service of robust screening and assessments using Signs of Safety.

Quality of Planning Framework: Development of a Quality of Practice Framework that incorporates Quality Assurance, Performance and Practice to provide a triangulated view of the quality of service provision.

Financial Modelling: Offers support, advice and guidance to other local authorities with regards to financial literacy and acumen to introduce financial modelling, analysis and planning in the social care domain.

Looked After Children Reductions: Advice and guidance from our MAST made up of social care, police, prevention, health and mental health provide a service of robust screening and assessments using Signs of Safety.

Strategic Planning Framework: Children and Young People’s Plan/aligned Health and Wellbeing Strategy: clarity of performance scorecard and quality thematic analysis.

Work Force: Work Force Development and Staffing. How it is possible to move to no agency staff, low turnover.

No Wrong Door Innovation: Advice and guidance from our MAST made up of social care, police, prevention, health and mental health provide a service of robust screening and assessments using Signs of Safety.

Smart Solutions: Our trading service with 23 products generating significant income on traded basis with schools both in and outside North Yorkshire.

Signs of Safety/Strengthening Relationships: Mainstreamed in our Safeguarding and Early Help Services. This methodology is highly regarded nationally and has been embedded in North Yorkshire for 6 years. Ofsted commented in our 2014 inspection “children who are subject of concern about their welfare or who are at risk of harm are identified, supported and protected well. The Signs of Safety methodology is used across the county effectively to assess and manage risk.”

Children and Families Services: Combined Social Care and Early Help (reducing demand on social care): includes bringing together disparate services into an integrated 0-19 Prevention service aligned/collocated with Healthy Child Programme which delivered £3M saving. Early Help have close links with Safeguarding to ensure smooth step-ups and step-downs between services.

Family Group Conferencing: Children and Families Service. Combined Social Care and Early Help (reducing demand on social care): includes bringing together disparate services into an integrated 0-19 Prevention service aligned/collocated with Healthy Child Programme which delivered £3M saving. Early Help have close links with Safeguarding to ensure smooth step-ups and step-downs between services.
Restorative Practice: Offer of sharing of best practice with other local Authorities and support to advise in implementing Conflict Resolution through Restorative Practice with an aim to prevent entrance to care whilst supporting care experienced young people to develop skills, experience and qualification through delivering restorative interventions.