Several children’s services across the UK are benefitting from support from North Tyneside Council.
Based in the North East of England, North Tyneside Council is one of 13 Partners in Practice (PiP) – a Department of Education (DfE) programme to drive up standards in children social care services, with councils chosen to be PiPs based on their Ofsted rating.
It’s in an ‘alliance’ with South Tyneside Council as part of the programme, with both authorities able to help other councils on different aspects of children’s services.
Recently judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, with a ‘good’ rating previously, North Tyneside Council has helped five other local authorities to improve over the last two years.
And now, thanks to an extension in funding from the DfE, it’s set to help more over the coming year.
While the type of support provided is tailored to the needs of each authority, it typically involves a service review, leading to recommendations and a jointly developed improvement plan. The council supports the authority to implement and later evaluate the impact of the plan.
Cllr Peter Earley, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “The health, wellbeing and safety of children and young people is at the very heart of this council.
“We are pleased to be able to draw on our experience and expertise to help improve outcomes for children throughout the country.
“Helping to shape the future of children’s services and support others to implement changes to promote excellent children social work practice is very important to us, which is why we’re delighted to continue to be part of Partners in Practice again this year.”
Much of the focus of support so far has been on councils’ ‘front door services’ and implementation of the Signs of Safety practice model – and with Ofsted highly praising the council during its recent Ofsted visit for its work in these areas, as well the team being shortlisted for a national award, the local authority is well-placed to help others.
‘Front door services’ are an initial point of contact for anyone who has a concern about the wellbeing of a child and involves different partner agencies. With North Tyneside’s support, other councils have been able to improve their joint assessments of children at risk, as well as better forward planning.
And later in the year, the local authority will find out if it triumphs in the Team of the Year category, which received a record number of entries, for its front door service at the Local Government Chronicle Awards ceremony.
Help has also been given to others to embed Signs of Safety, an internationally renowned safeguarding framework, which Ofsted described as having a “transformational” impact in North Tyneside. The support from the council has enabled other local authorities to identify what is working well for a family as a starting point for support and planning.
Additional support has been given to other councils, too, with a national conference run by North Tyneside on Signs of Safety. Held late last year, after multiple councils asked for support implementing the model, the conference was attended by over 20 local authorities from the UK and Ireland.
For councils interested in support from North Tyneside Council as part of the Partners in Practice programme, please contact Mark Jupp by emailing Mark.Jupp@northtyneside.gov.uk.