Social Work performance measures

The request was successful.

Dear Derbyshire County Council,
Performance Measures:-

What management decisions have you taken to:
1. Ensure the % of social work assessments completed within 45 days increases from
a baseline of 75%, to 84% in 2018/19, to 91% in 2019/20?
2. Ensure the % of initial child protection conferences held within 15 days of S47 from a baseline of 56%, to 70% in 2018/19, to 82% in 2019/20, to 90% in 2020/21, to 98% in 2021/22?

What is the expected increased cost for each of the above years, if the decisions have increased expenditure and what part of the overall budget is to be used to enable increased in the efficiency required for this work to develop each year?

What action has been taken to implement the following within 2018/19:
a. Develop career pathways through workforce structures
b. Support development of a corporate approach to leadership, performance and staff well-being.
(Perhaps it would be beneficial if you could inform me of any cttee papers that provide the DETAILS requested of how such actions are going to be implemented.

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

David Clough

Access 2 Info (Commissioning Communities and Policy), Derbyshire County Council

Dear Mr Clough

I refer to your request for Information received on the 26 September 2018.

We will be dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In accordance with the legislation, the deadline for responding is 20 working days from the receipt of the request, this being the 24 October 2018. However, we shall endeavour to deal with your request promptly, and if possible before this date.

Yours Sincerely

Justin Hird
Legal Assistant
Derbyshire County Council
County Hall
Matlock
DE4 3AG

Telephone: 01629 539336

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CS DP and FOI (Childrens Services), Derbyshire County Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Clough

 

Thank you for your information request dated 26^th September 2018.  I can
confirm that we do hold the requested information. The request has been
considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  The response to
your request is as follows:

 

What management decisions have you taken to:

1.    Ensure the % of social work assessments completed within 45 days
increases from a baseline of 75%, to 84% in 2018/19, to 91% in 2019/20?

There has been a successful growth bid to increase capacity in front line
services and to enable increased management oversight.  The impact of this
will support the timeliness of completion of social work assessments.  The
activity is evaluated through performance workshops and other management
and practitioner forums, alongside this there is live data contained
within a dashboard reporting system which is accessible to the workforce
to regularly oversee performance.  There is a comprehensive action plan
that sets out a whole systems approach to support these objectives which
is detailed in the children’s services plan.  Further to this the
workforce has been supported with additional practice guidance and
training. 

 

2.    Ensure the % of initial child protection conferences held within 15
days of S47 from a baseline of 56%, to 70% in 2018/19, to 82% in 2019/20,
to 90% in 2020/21, to 98% in 2021/22?

There has been additional capacity within the Child Protection service to
address timeliness of Initial Child Protection Conferences resulting in
two additional posts being recruited to.  There has been support to the
workforce by the re-issuing of guidance to staff and business processes
have been revised to ensure that the arrangements for booking conferences
are as efficient as possible.  The activity is scrutinised through
performance workshops and close management oversight.  As a result of
these measures, the annual rolling 12 month performance has increased with
a continued positive trajectory from 58.10 year ending 2017/18 to 74.90
month ending September 2018. There is a comprehensive action plan that
sets out a whole systems approach to support these objectives which is
detailed in the children’s services plan.  

 

 

What is the expected increased cost  for each of the above years, if the
decisions have increased expenditure and what part of the overall budget
is to be used to enable increased in the efficiency required for this work
to develop each year?

This question can be interpreted variously and therefore it is not
possible to provide a response.

 

 

 

What action has been taken to implement the following within 2018/19:

a.  Develop career pathways through workforce structures b. Support
development of a corporate approach to leadership, performance and staff
well-being.

(Perhaps it would be beneficial if you could inform me of any cttee papers
that provide the DETAILS requested of how such actions are going to be
implemented.

 

Wellbeing:

 

“The Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Board leads and advises on work to
improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Derbyshire.

Derbyshire's Health and Wellbeing Board sets priorities to improve health
and wellbeing in the county and it is required to publish a strategy
setting out its key priorities and how members will work together to
improve the health and wellbeing of Derbyshire's residents.

The Council supports workplace wellbeing from the Employee Advisory
Resource to all the Corporate Wellbeing Policies and Guidance. This
includes Occupational Health Services, Health and Safety Services, Human
Resources and the Public Health Team”.

(The Health and wellbeing board strategy is attached. This is available on
our website and is public information).

 

In relation to social workers only, a pilot scheme was offered to front
line social workers in South Derbyshire who could meet a trained
counsellor and the session was focused on professional support.

 

 

Corporate Leadership:

 

We have developed a leadership framework and development programme for our
most senior managers which defines the key behaviours and core leadership
competencies required by senior managers. We are also in the process of 
developing a range of management workshops, including financial management
to provide managers with the skills and understanding to be good effective
managers. We have developed a pilot mentoring programme to assist with the
development of new and aspiring managers and a number of places and if
this is successful this will be rolled out more widely.  We also have
Council wide Leadership forums which brings managers together to promote a
consistent approach to how we work, to provide opportunities for sharing
information and knowledge and to provide a forum for networking.  Having
clear expectations on behaviours and competencies will enable us to manage
performance better and to be clearer with managers about what is expected
of them.

 

Career pathways: 

 

Children Services are currently supporting 4 employees and on the ‘Grow
Your Own Scheme’. This is an employee self-funded pathway to achieve a
Degree in Social Work working in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan
University (“MMU”).   The scheme provides 4 of our employees to undertake
a recognised professional qualification known as the BA (Hons) in Social
work.

 

Children Services has committed to offering the ‘Grow Your Own Scheme’ for
our workforce to commence the programme in September 2018. Expressions of
interest are currently being reviewed.

 

The department are hosting 5 placements to Step up to social worker which
includes 2 of our existing employees. Step Up to Social Work is an
intensive full-time, fully funded, training programme which provides a
recognised qualification in Social work.

 

Children’s Services are working in partnership with Frontline. Frontline
is an external organisation that delivers a 2-year social worker
qualification route. We have recruited to three Practice Supervisor roles
and 12 participants / students have joined the department on 3^rd
September 2018.

 

In addition we have a career pathway for Early Help Staff.

 

 

I hope this now deals with your request for information. However should
you wish the outcome to be reviewed, please follow the procedure as set
out below;

 

Stage 1:

In the first instance, please send in your comments, and wherever
possible, a copy of your request and the covering letter enclosing the
information or refusing your request to:

 

Access to Information Solicitor

Legal Services

Derbyshire County Council

County Hall

Matlock

DE4 3AG

Email: [1][Derbyshire County Council request email]

 

Please ensure that correspondence is marked as “Request for a review of my
Freedom of Information Act / Environmental Information Regulations
request”, and bears any case references you have been given.   

 

Stage 2:

After completing the above procedure, if you wish to challenge the
decision further, then you have a right to contact the Information
Commissioner’s Office as follows: 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Tel. 0303 123 1113/ Fax: 01625 524510

 

ICO Weblink: [2]http://www.ico.org.uk/complaints.aspx

 

Kind regards

 

Julie Yates

 

 

Julie Yates | Management Information Officer | SAR / FOI Team |
Information & ICT | Children’s Services | Derbyshire County Council |
County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG | Tel: 01629 538853 / 531226

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