Cross cutting themes
There are a number of cross cutting themes which are priority areas for development and impact on all areas of the children’s services workforce. These will involve the Change for Children Workforce project team working in partnership with a number of other groups and forums.
Action plans will be developed to address these areas and these may be managed by different groups and every effort will be made to ensure all areas of work relating to the various sections of children’s services workforce development are joined up to avoid duplication and gaps.
Workforce data and skills analysis
It is not currently known how many people make up the children services workforce in Knowsley. There is some quantitative data available, although the accuracy and accessibility of data and information varies between sectors, institutions and organisations. This situation mirrors the national picture and as such, there is a clear need to undertake a thorough analysis of the workforce profile. In conjunction with this is the need to gain a clear understanding of the current levels of skills and qualifications across the children and young people’s workforce in Knowsley in both a paid and voluntary capacity. This will help us to plan for the future and ensure Knowsley’s children’s workforce continues its great work.
A project sub group has been established to progress this work linking in with the North West Regional Children’s Workforce Strategic Planning Group who have developed an agreed framework for both workforce data and skills analysis.
It is the intention of the project group to undertake a workforce data and skills audit via a web and paper based questionnaire, allowing individuals to answer the questions at their own speed. An action plan has been developed and is being implemented. For further information on the skills audit please visit the skills audit web page.
A project sub group has been established to progress this work linking in with the North West Regional Children’s Workforce Strategic Planning Group who have developed an agreed framework for both workforce data and skills analysis.
It is the intention of the project group to undertake a workforce data and skills audit via a web and paper based questionnaire, allowing individuals to answer the questions at their own speed. An action plan has been developed and is being implemented. For further information on the skills audit please visit the skills audit web page.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a responsibility that belongs to everyone. However, it is the work engaged in by the children’s services workforce that forms the epicentre of safeguarding. There is a core partner representation on Safer Workforce Development Group (SWDG) and vice versa to ensure agendas are focussed and avoid duplication of effort.
Through links with Knowsley Safeguarding Children’s Board (KSCB) a number of key working groups have been established. This includes the Safeguarding Training Strategy Group, which is currently supporting the development of a Safeguarding training strategy. The strategy covers multi agency and single agency training around issues such as Safer Recruitment, Safeguarding Child Protection, Domestic Violence, Working Together, Anti Bullying, and Equality and Diversity.
There are other identified areas of training that are yet to be developed, these include bereavement and loss, allegations management, de-escalation, positive handling and safeguarding risk assessment. This strategy is currently based around training needs of staff in education, however it is intended to link into the wider children’s workforce provision. Also as part of the training strategy there is the development of a training manual, which will enable schools to plan their training for the following academic year, alongside a training database that will allow access to training to be monitored accurately.
Safeguarding gaps have been identified in a number of areas, most significantly around the interface of both early years and extended schools provision. In order to address this, work has begun by an identified group of project partners and sponsors, on a safeguarding protocol between independent providers and the leadership teams of the schools they access. One of the key areas of agreement will regard Criminal Records Bureau declarations and a protocol discussion paper is to be submitted to the next KSCB Executive meeting for further comment.
Another area of development around safeguarding is looking at creating a Safeguarding Risk Assessment to be used in a number of ways. It is envisaged that such a document and process will enable the LA with partners to look at the possible safeguarding risks around work experience. It will also support schools with decisions around safeguarding, for example the management/suspension of a member of staff about whom an allegation has been made, or the management of the potential risk a child who has abused other children might present.
Through links with Knowsley Safeguarding Children’s Board (KSCB) a number of key working groups have been established. This includes the Safeguarding Training Strategy Group, which is currently supporting the development of a Safeguarding training strategy. The strategy covers multi agency and single agency training around issues such as Safer Recruitment, Safeguarding Child Protection, Domestic Violence, Working Together, Anti Bullying, and Equality and Diversity.
There are other identified areas of training that are yet to be developed, these include bereavement and loss, allegations management, de-escalation, positive handling and safeguarding risk assessment. This strategy is currently based around training needs of staff in education, however it is intended to link into the wider children’s workforce provision. Also as part of the training strategy there is the development of a training manual, which will enable schools to plan their training for the following academic year, alongside a training database that will allow access to training to be monitored accurately.
Safeguarding gaps have been identified in a number of areas, most significantly around the interface of both early years and extended schools provision. In order to address this, work has begun by an identified group of project partners and sponsors, on a safeguarding protocol between independent providers and the leadership teams of the schools they access. One of the key areas of agreement will regard Criminal Records Bureau declarations and a protocol discussion paper is to be submitted to the next KSCB Executive meeting for further comment.
Another area of development around safeguarding is looking at creating a Safeguarding Risk Assessment to be used in a number of ways. It is envisaged that such a document and process will enable the LA with partners to look at the possible safeguarding risks around work experience. It will also support schools with decisions around safeguarding, for example the management/suspension of a member of staff about whom an allegation has been made, or the management of the potential risk a child who has abused other children might present.
Communication and engagement
There are a number of work strands and cross cutting themes that are inter-related and inter-dependent. To support these, a communications plan has been prepared that will address the milestones for all strands chronologically rather than having a separate plan for each strand. However, for clarity, the plan will indicate which strand an action refers to.
Integral to this plan is the need for effective engagement with children and young People adhering to the Participation and Engagement Standards launched in January 2007. Engagement of the workforce, key stakeholders and partners will be managed in conjunction with the Change for Children Programme team and the Directorate of Children’s Services communications team to ensure all communications are effectively implemented, monitored and evaluated.
One method which the project team will be using, following the success of last year’s inaugural CYP (Children and Young People’s) Workforce conference, is a second event planned for November 2007 and it is hoped that this will become a permanent annual event. We hope to have a high profile guest speaker to open the conference, market place stalls, work shops and, of course, the opportunity to meet and network with colleagues from across the public, private and voluntary. If you would like to receive information about this future event then please join our mailing list by emailing alastair.child@knowsley.gov.uk or call 0151 443 3246.
Integral to this plan is the need for effective engagement with children and young People adhering to the Participation and Engagement Standards launched in January 2007. Engagement of the workforce, key stakeholders and partners will be managed in conjunction with the Change for Children Programme team and the Directorate of Children’s Services communications team to ensure all communications are effectively implemented, monitored and evaluated.
One method which the project team will be using, following the success of last year’s inaugural CYP (Children and Young People’s) Workforce conference, is a second event planned for November 2007 and it is hoped that this will become a permanent annual event. We hope to have a high profile guest speaker to open the conference, market place stalls, work shops and, of course, the opportunity to meet and network with colleagues from across the public, private and voluntary. If you would like to receive information about this future event then please join our mailing list by emailing alastair.child@knowsley.gov.uk or call 0151 443 3246.
All agencies, services and organisations are committed to equality and diversity provisions, both in terms of meeting the needs of children and young people and in terms of meeting the needs of employees, workers, volunteers and supporting adults.
The project team will be using the Equality Standard for Local Government as a framework to evaluate its actions, policies and practices.
The project team will seek to ensure consideration of provision in terms of access to activities, time, travel, venues and catering requirements in respect of training and development provision as well as project events and meetings. A common language will be sought and an attempt to reduce acronyms and explain service specific language will be made for all multi-agency delivery.
The project team will be using the Equality Standard for Local Government as a framework to evaluate its actions, policies and practices.
The project team will seek to ensure consideration of provision in terms of access to activities, time, travel, venues and catering requirements in respect of training and development provision as well as project events and meetings. A common language will be sought and an attempt to reduce acronyms and explain service specific language will be made for all multi-agency delivery.