LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION GROUP: REMIT

LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION GROUP: REMIT (June 2010)

Purpose

1. This short paper outlines the agreed remit for the Looked After Children Strategic Implementation Group (LACSIG).   It draws on the commitment made by the Scottish Government and COSLA following the launch of the National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI) and discussions the Scottish Government and Scottish Institute for Residential Childcare have had with members of the Group in advance of the first meeting.

Background

2. In response to the findings and recommendations of the NRCCI,  the Scottish Government and COSLA agreed that the five priority themes to emerge which call for action focus on:

• Culture change;
• Workforce;
• Commissioning;
• Improving learning outcomes; and
• Improving health outcomes

3. In the joint response it was recognised that ‘the challenges facing residential childcare are inextricably linked to broader issues for looked after children’.  It was proposed that the Director for Children, Young People and Social Care draw together a high-level governance group on Improving Outcomes for Looked After Children, comprised of key partners committed to driving reform.

Remit

4. The remit of LACSIG is as follows:

• To lead and drive forward an implementation programme to improve the outcomes for looked after children and young people in Scotland.

5. In fulfilling this remit, the Group will:

• take high level ownership of the implementation agenda for looked after children and the development of appropriate services to ensure their stability, wellbeing and security, including those leaving care;
• focus on the five themes identified as priorities following the publication of the NRCCI, namely:
  • Culture change;
  • Workforce;
  • Commissioning;
  • improving learning outcomes; and
  • Improving health outcomes
• communicate and champion the needs of looked after children across the full range of public services;
• identify, share and disseminate good practice and innovation to improve outcomes; and
• conduct and oversee studies and research necessary to ensure effective implementation of policies and practice.

6. It seems likely that the work will encompass the following (LACSIG-1(6) refers):

•  improvements in the identification and assessment of needs;
• robust care planning which will involve children, young people and their families;
• the effective commissioning of services to meet needs so that the right services are provided when and where needed;
• safe recruitment of appropriately qualified staff and the training and development of the existing workforce who are all supported in undertaking tasks for which they have been employed; and
• more effective collaboration and integration of services and working with and for looked after children and young people.

7. A key feature of the Group will be its links and connectedness to all aspects of the childcare sector which can contribute to making the necessary improvements and ensure improved outcomes for looked after children.  A key challenge for the Group will be identifying and agreeing how improvements will be measured.

8. The work of the Group is set within the context of, and will be driven by, the national policy agenda for looked after children and young people. This is a broad agenda and early priorities will be captured in a series of workplans, with key milestones identified, aligned to the five themes above.  This will be supported by regular progress updates on the broader agenda  (LACSIG–(1)5 and 6 refer). 

9. The Group will be Chaired by Sarah Smith, Director for Children, Young People and Social Care, Scottish Government and will meet formally 3 times a year, with a first meeting on 19 May 2010.  Full membership is provided at Annex A.  The Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care will provide Secretariat support for the Group.  

The Scottish Government June 2010 

ANNEX A: MEMBERSHIP

Name Title / Organisation

Sarah Smith Chair of Looked After Children Strategic Implementation GroupChildren Young People and Social Care, Scottish Government

Robert Nicol Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

Neil McKechnie Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)

Alistair Gaw Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW)

Julia Swan  Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)

Romy Langeland Chair of National Residential Child Care Initiative (NRCCI)

Jennifer Davidson Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC)

Garry Coutts Scottish Government Commissioning Group, NHS Highland

Caroline Selkirk NHS Tayside (Replaced by Melanie Hornett, NHS Lothian, in September 2010)

Netta Maciver Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA)

Anna Fowlie Scottish Social Services Council

Heather Gray Who Cares? Scotland

Sara Lurie  The Fostering Network

Barbara Hudson British Association of Adoption and Fostering

Ilona Richards Throughcare and Aftercare Forum

Fiona Robertson Care and Justice Division, Scottish Government

Anne Black Chair of Moving Forward in Kinship and Foster Care

Louise Warde-Hunter Action for Children (also representing Aberlour, Barnardos Scotland, Quarriers and Children 1st )

Marc Hendrikson Social Work Inspection Agency

Ronnie Hill Care Commission (Replaced by Bryan Livingstone, Care Commission in January 2011)