In appointing Locality Managers is there a danger that the job will be made to fit the available candidates, rather than getting the ‘right’ people for this massive and challenging job?
The role of the Locality Manager is absolutely essential to the successful integration of Children and Young People’s Services. The question rightly makes reference to a ‘massive and challenging job’ and we will only appoint very special people who are equal to the task.
The final structure of Integrated C&YPS is likely to result in some posts at management level no longer being required in the same form. Any individuals in these posts will be ringfenced as ‘at risk’ in line with RMBC and PCT procedures and will be entitled to interview for any newly established post at the same or similar level.
Are there adequate premises for all this?
We are currently looking at all available locations and premises which can be used for Locality Services. The ideal might be one ‘super centre’ per locality, which is able to house and accommodate all elements of Locality Services. However some of our area assemblies contain diverse communities and we are mindful of the commitment to deliver services at a local level and to engage communities in the development of services. Everyone will have a base, but we must be innovative in our thinking about the best ways and locations in which to deliver services.
Where do schools fit in?
Schools are essential partners in the integration of Children and Young People’s Services. The proposals that are being drawn up about the structures for C&YPS at all levels, includes representation from schools in localities. One of the Core Development Areas for integrating services is that of the relationship between schools and the remainder of the C&YPS. What is an absolute given is that as a common universal service to all children as well as a vitally important link within communities and a resource for the delivery of services, schools remain essential to the success of establishing Children’s Trust arrangements.
Where will the locality managers be based?
Locality Mangers are the senior manager within each locality responsible for operational delivery, and as such they will be based within their locality, with easy access to locality management teams and staff and personnel.
Do you envisage virtual teams or locality based teams?
It is the intention that each locality will have multi-agency integrated services sitting and based together and working in a planned and joined up manner providing services around the child.
Is there going to be a chance to test this out, in one locality example?
To an extent we have had a degree of testing for the last year or two in the Clifton Project. A great deal of learning has come out of the work within Clifton and we await the publication of the final review of the project. There is no intention currently to test this out in a single locality between now and full integration, although this is an interesting idea and we remain open minded. It could actually be that some localities are ‘ready’ before others, and in those instances we would envisage them rolling out as soon as is practicable.
Will schools be organised to align with Assembly areas?
There are no plans at present to change the way in which schools are organised and one of the things that we are currently looking at in the schools CDA group is how we ensure that these differing structures work effectively.
How will GP’s and Headteachers be encouraged to play a full part in locality teams?
The incentive for GPs and Headteachers to become actively involved with locality services is two fold: firstly by being able to influence to high level strategic priorities for action within each locality and secondly as a way of securing services for the children and young people they are most concerned with. The locality teams will need to work hard to encourage these key standards and that this is worthwhile. To date, Heads and GPs have been very welcoming of locality teams and I am sure will be keen to work with us as they roll out.
My post is externally funded by a Government grant. How does it fit in to the plan for integrating services? [Briefing Session 20th June]
This is an important issue which we are fully considering and planning for within the Integration process. A significant number of posts and projects across Children and Young People’s Services are whole or partly funded from external sources, and many of those sources are only guaranteed until March 2008. We have a responsibility to consider the effectiveness and value of all work delivered within C&YPS and if that work is externally funded and is at risk then we could look to mainstream or subsume the work within current resources. At other times though, the decision may well be taken to stop the funding of the particular post / project or to seek further funding from other sources. We must remember that the integration is happening within current resources and the decisions around the use of valuable resources will be based upon assessments of value for money and effectiveness in achieving positive outcomes for young people. The Joint Leadership Team of the C&YPS are engaged in financial planning for next year and beyond and we will ensure that any staff / projects who are potentially affected by future funding issues are consulted with at an early stage.
How do we intend to ensure true cohesion across 7 Localities, for example consistency of governance, response, professional practice issues etc? [Briefing Session 20th June]
As far as professional and clinical governance issues are concerned, we will ensure that the current routes for staff accessing those remain in place – so, for example, Health Visitors currently have a line of clinical governance accountability to the PCT and that will remain the case.
We have given a commitment that each Locality will have representation from Social Care, Health and Education backgrounds within their its Management Team. There will be close liaison between the Locality Managers and all will report directly to a Director, who sits within a discrete Senior Management Team for Provider Services. We will be moving toward consistent joint supervision arrangements which will be undertaken within Locality Management Teams.
Ultimately this Integration Agenda is about closing the gaps between services and bringing people and professionals together to improve outcomes for young people most importantly including their safety.
A move to Localities based on Area Assemblies brings some boundary problems with it, for example schools are not organised along the same lines. [Briefing Session 20th June]
Yes there will be some tensions caused by boundary issues and the one related to schools is an example. We are fully aware of these, but we have to be pragmatic. Ultimately everything that we do should be based on whether it is best for the child and young person, not based upon which area they happen to live in. Colleagues within schools and others, for example within Health and the Voluntary & Community Sector, are fully committed to being in partnership to making the integration a positive development for the children of Rotherham.
It isn’t just boundaries within the Borough, there are of course potential challenges ahead concerning cross Authority boundaries. Remember all Local Authority and PCT’s are going through similar developments to Children’s Trust arrangements and Sonia meets regularly with other Directors to discuss cross Authority issues. There are some excellent examples of cross border protocols in many areas of C&YPS already – for example within the PCT and within Education (where the issue of children living in one Authority but being educated within Rotherham, or vice versa, presents a particularly interesting set of challenges), and we will ensure that good practice and best examples are used to replicate such protocols across the whole range of C&YPS by March 2008.
What about admin and support services within this Integration, have they been considered? [Briefing Session 20th June]
Absolutely, and colleagues within all forms of support services are a vitally important cog to the successful running of an integrated C&YPS. Initially admin and support services will stay with the professional staff that they support. From September we intend to undertake a full review of all admin and support services to ensure that the services we have in place are fit for purpose to the future model of fully integrated (and increasingly localised) C&YPS. All colleagues within support services and admin will be involved in that review.
What about admin and support services within this Integration, have they been considered? [Briefing Session 20th June]
Absolutely, and colleagues within all forms of support services are a vitally important cog to the successful running of an integrated C&YPS. Initially admin and support services will stay with the professional staff that they support. From September we intend to undertake a full review of all admin and support services to ensure that the services we have in place are fit for purpose to the future model of fully integrated (and increasingly localised) C&YPS. All colleagues within support services and admin will be involved in that review.
Joint commissioning needs to be in place by March 2008. Is that new? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
The legal requirement is for joint commissioning by March 2008. We already have some joint commissioning in place. Processes and practices will be in place by March 2008. Some services are already jointly commissioned.
How will we know if has made a difference? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
We will be looking for improvements across most, if not all, key outcomes for C&YPS e.g. obesity rates, safety, education, breastfeeding and achievement. A quick gain could include more time for prevention and early intervention and the amount of time spent on assessment and identification of need. The Common Assessment Framework will improve assessment and reduce duplication. Initially there will be plus’s in the medium term and minus’ on longer term gains.
How do you reduce waiting times without further investment? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
The key is investment in early intervention and prevention. Over time this will reduce referral rates and therefore waiting times.
How do Practice Based Commissioners get involved? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
By involving GPs and PBC in the planning processes locally and by them feeding into Borough wide processes. GPs will feed into the main area plan for strategic commissioning
With multi-agency working how would financial issues around complex situations be solved? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
Each Locality will have a budget and on the ground there will also be a budget. We can have aligned budgets managed by 1 person. We would be looking for opportunities to pool/align budgets at strategic level where possible.
What are the practical steps around integration of information? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
The National Programme partly addresses this. Information on every child will be shared and accessible locally. Health Visitors and Social Workers should be able to access information they need at any base (with appropriate safeguards in place).
Work is taking place to solve issues around IT connectivity.
What is happening in relation to the Foundation Trust? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
A member of the Foundation Trust sits on the Joint Leadership Team currently. There is a working collaboration. The Foundation Trust is being pro-active around midwifery etc. and how services fit together.
Is there still a place for a wider Public Health role for Health Visitors? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
There is a public health role in relation to children and young people, with a change in emphasis to look at work with families.
How will incidents be reported? [Consultation Meeting 17.7.07]
We will develop a common approach as in education and social care currently. We will look at existing processes/procedures. If a family makes a complaint we manage the process whereby it’s dealt with by one process. New Government Departments are keen to work with streamlining and merging processes.
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