New Children’s Commissioner report highlights a national scandal
'Early access to mental health support' report shows that there is insufficient lower level preventative support available
April 10, 2019
Improving the lives of 100,000 children by maximising value and eradicating unnecessary demand in children's services.
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 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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'Early access to mental health support' report shows that there is insufficient lower level preventative support available
A focus on outcome productivity in children’s services would unequivocally deliver the step changes in understanding called for in the recent PAC report ‘Transforming Children’s Services’.
Guest blogpost written by Tracey Bowman, Access to Resources Manager at Norfolk County Council. Along with four other local authorities, Norfolk County Council is using Valuing Care to improve the lives of children and young people, and increase the value provided by placements and support.
In a time of growing demand and diminishing resources, it is time to widen the lens in order to better understand and manage demand.
'It is helping us guarantee that the children in our care have every opportunity to thrive and succeed.'
Funding isn’t keeping up with demand pressures, but neither is national policy
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