Reflections from ADCS 19
I share my reflections on the recent Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) Annual Conference.
July 15, 2019
Valuing Children
Improving the lives of 100,000 children by maximising value and eradicating unnecessary demand in children's services.
The challenge
There is a commonly-held view that delivering high quality outcomes in local government can be achieved if the right controls and processes are in place. At IMPOWER, we believe this to be an illusion. At their heart, public services are complex, where outcomes are not linear, responsibilities are distributed, and where success depends on creating the right relationships across and between system boundaries.
The demands placed on children’s services departments have risen continually over the last ten years, and budgets have been cut as a result of austerity measures enforced by central government. By reframing the challenge and looking at complexity across the system, we have proven that demand can be managed and that better outcomes can cost less.
Our solution
Our Valuing Children campaign has three elements: Target Demand Redesign, Reframing Special Educational Needs & Disability, and Valuing Care. Individually and collectively, they look beyond the traditional boundaries in local government and use individuals’ needs to inform service design and to demonstrate value.
This approach requires new tools, insights, skills and metrics. Rather than managing savings spreadsheets, we focus on changing behaviours at the frontline and on managing trajectories so that change is truly embedded and service users get the right support at the right cost and at the right time.
Our unique approach gives Directors of Children’s Services the evidence and the confidence to understand the value of their services. Through our campaign, we aim to improve the lives of 100,000 more children by maximising value and eradicating unnecessary demand in children’s services.
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