NW PROVIDERS OF CHILDREN SERVICES NEWSLETTER JULY 2007 

We are pleased to announce changes to the governance arrangements for out of authority placements in the North West.  

STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE 

Placements North West is a collaborative approach to the strategic and operational activities involved in finding and purchasing Out of Authority Placements.  It is accountable to the 20 Directors Children Services in the region who have agreed to collaborate under a single unified structure that replaces the previous sub regional projects.   

NORTH WEST STEERING GROUP 

The DfES are supporting Regional Commissioning and has created a National Steering Group that will play a major role in helping to meet the Government’s commitment to secure better value for money and give more placement choice to children through the piloting of regional commissioning units. 

All future activity will be guided and monitored by a Steering Group that is chaired by Joan Feenan, DCS Cheshire County Council.  The existing sub regional Assistant Directors Groups (Social Care and SEN) and the NWR Partnership (SEN) are represented on the Steering Group and will have a strategic input into the project and receive regular updates on progress.  The membership of the Steering Group also includes representation from the Strategic Health Authority. 

IMPLEMENTATION GROUP 

The core implementation group will comprise of the current full time project leads (David Smith and Jean Warren) with Project Management support and links to the strategic groups being provided by Bernie Holmes 

The core implementation group will be key to achieving effective communications during the development phase of the project and will be responsible for ensuring that information flows are maintained with and between the strategic leads, operational staff and service providers involved in commissioning placements in the North West.  

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The core implementation group will coordinate the delivery of the regional collaboration on out of authority placements on behalf of the partner authorities.  Specifically it will have the following aims:

• To develop a regional database and placement search facility to inform and promote effective matching of children and young people and placements

• To develop a regional approach to provider accreditation and monitoring

• To develop a regional approach to outcome based placement monitoring

• To develop a regional approach to standard fees and an agreed approach to negotiating annual increases.

• To promote a common approach to sharing information.

• To promote the consolidation of Provider Forums

• To develop a better understanding of commissioning intelligence and management information relating to placement activity

• To develop a regional approach to the implementation of recommendations on National Contracts

• To bid for developmental resources on behalf of the partners

• To review the effectiveness of the project, its long term sustainability and make recommendations to the Regional DCS Group on the future activity and structure of the project and the resources required to deliver these.

• To implement the actions resulting from the DfES Regional Commissioning Initiative

• To agree with Partners a process for consulting and informing Children and Young people on relevant developments

• To monitor progress and achievements against the agreed action plan

The project will initially cover the following types of placement for Children and Young People in the North West, other placement types can be added by the Steering Group:

• Independent Fostering Placements

• Residential Care Placements

• Education Placements

• Supported Accommodation for young people leaving care

CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION GROUPS 

The current sub regional Provider Forums are being restructured to represent the 3 types of care and education currently represented in the project: 

• Residential Care Providers

• Independent Foster Agencies

• Education Providers

Consultation will be achieved through these joint ‘service specific’ groups and the provider representatives will be responsible for wider consultation and dissemination of information within their own networks.  There will be an annual regional Provider Forum which will provide topical information across the region.  A further ‘service specific’ group covering Leaving Care / Support Accommodation will also be developed in the near future. 

David Smith will be the Implementation Group lead for the Fostering and Residential groups whilst Jean Warren will lead on all Education and Leaving Care developments. 

Further detailed communications relating to these new arrangements will be posted on the new Placements North West Project website shortly. However, if you require further information in the meantime please contact either David or Jean via the above links.