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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Relationships start with a conversation. Here’s how to get in touch.
Our aim is to develop an understanding of value for money that is not simply a matter of cost, but a balance of cost, quality and outcomes that best serves the child’s needs.
Variance has dominated much of the children’s services narrative for too long now – it’s time to move the debate on to value.
How can we ensure that foster carers are as well-supported as possible when they make the huge decision to foster a child?
We have released a new specialist module of the IMPOWER INDEX, which takes an in-depth look at the provision of services for pupils and students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), under the high needs funding system.
Today we are delighted to launch a short report and video highlighting the impacts of our Valuing Care programme so far.
Since February 2018, five councils have used Valuing Care to improve outcomes. This report shares some of the learning.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve hosted three sessions for directors, practitioners and commissioners from five councils to share with each other how they are making the most of the Valuing Care approach. Here are three of my reflections.
IMPOWER exists to increase the quality of people’s lives by making meaningful and measurable improvements to local public services. Drawing on 20 years of insight and impact, we have introduced two new campaigns with ambitious goals to help us align our purpose with our work in adult social care and children’s services.
