Presented by

Isabelle Trowler, Assistant Director

Children’s Social Care

A casual culture – The problem with

social work

• A lack of confidence, expertise and gravitas

• Calibre of social work graduates and training curriculum

• Bureaucracy – the unintended consequences

• The need for professional behaviours and creative and independent thinking

• Reclaiming Social Work – Different ways of thinking and doing

• Moving the money around

• The Social Work Unit

The Social Work Unit

CONSULTANT SOCIAL WORKER

CHILDREN’S PRACTITIONER

UNIT CO-ORDINATOR

FAMILY THERAPIST /

CLINICAL PRACTITIONER

SOCIAL WORKER

How It Works

• Weekly case review

• Supervision arrangements

• Devolved decision making (matrix of responsibility)

• Direct work

Direct Work - Systemic Approach

• LAC Therapy and Duty Services• Children are part of a wider system comprising many

relationships, we will engage with the system of concern• There are multiple points of influence within a system• Foster carers, health and school professionals are part

of the child’s system as much as friends, parents and siblings

• There are multiple perspectives to problems, this complexity is a strength

• A conceptual framework – thought, language, behaviour• Think about everything all the time

Direct Work – Social Learning TheoryEvidence Based Intervention

– Incredible Years (Early Intervention Parenting Programme (3-13))– Mellow Babies (EIPP)– Fostering Changes/Strengthening Families (3-13;12-16)– Parenting Positively and other individually tailored parenting

interventions supported through group supervision and case consultation (Lead Psychologist)

– Psychology-led parent and child assessments– Going to scale

Structure The Social Work Unit

StrategyWhole scale change, no quick fixes, prescriptive methodology, savings invested, visible and

consistent leadership Shared Values

Keeping families together safelyMinimum state intervention

Respectful and decisive practiceEmotional and organisational warmth

A political perspective on disadvantage

Shared responsibility and confidence

SkillsIFT, Tavistock, De Montfort, Kent,

Middlesex, LSE - Motivating and intellectually stimulating – a critical mass

StaffFinding a complimentary skill

set, recruitment and ownership, our most valuable resource

Style Privileging the voices of

children and families, strengths and solutions, expert in child

protection; danger of compromise

Systems Simple and flexible,

family focused, telling the story

Organisational Culture

• Reflective learning and skill development

- Openness and support (anyone can make a mistake)

- Most importantly the re-establishment of the primary focus on social work on the family

• Critical reflection is well understood and specifically applied

• Systematic recovery from error and protection for the organisation of its most serious consequences

Social Work Processes

• Better decision making• Reflective practice encouraged and enabled• Skill mix brings new perspectives• Improved interaction with families and professionals• Better consistency and continuity of care• Reduction of constraints on practice• Burden of administration on practice significantly reduced

Outcomes

• Positive benefits for other professionals and families- better communications- strong reliable delivery of information

• Value for money- 5% reduction in overall cost- Reduction(470 to 270) of looked after children- Very low numbers of children in

residential care- Over 50% reduction in sickness levels- Reduction of agency staff (50% to 7%)

• Strong performance indicators

How We Did It

• Relentless in our pursuit• Major attention to detail• Constant feedback (open communications)• Holding the line Sorted• The art of compromise vs the danger of compromise• Risk management - safe uncertainty

What To Do Next

• Knowing

• Where excellence is found, systemise it and share it

• Learn from mistakes

• Disturbance and surprise

• Total football