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Social workers reveal frustrations in Munro report

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By Camilla Pemberton, journalist, on May 23, 2012 1:03 PM | No Comments
judy-100.jpgSo the much-anticipated Munro progress report has finally been published. One of the most interesting parts of it, in my humble opinion, is the feedback Munro got from councils trialling the absence of statutory assessment deadlines - because this is where the real nitty gritty of change is going to loom large for everyone in social care, writes Judy Cooper.

From the comments listed one gets the impression that social workers are itching for change, but their managers are, perhaps, not so keen. 

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Wandsworth reported: "Some social workers stated in their audit interviews that there was limited feel of significant change in the way they felt they were assigned assessments with a plan of work by managers - they felt that their managers remain preoccupied with timescales, as opposed to timeliness and quality."

Knowsley's reports seemed to chime with this. "It is our view that the increased flexibilities have brought with them both the awareness of the importance of first line managers (and their oversight and scrutiny of case work to ensure there is no delay in the provision of help to a child and their family and all decisions are made in a timely fashion) and the clear need for social work practitioners to be skilled and confident in exercising their judgment."
Continue reading Social workers reveal frustrations in Munro report.

The storm surrounding Working Together

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By Camilla Pemberton, journalist, on April 5, 2012 3:46 PM | 1 Comment
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Last week we reported serious concerns from a number of social work sources about the government's ongoing review of Working Together to Safeguard Children. 

For anyone who isn't familiar with the story so far, here's a quick recap: Eileen Munro, in her review of child protection systems in England, said bureaucracy needs to be tackled. So the axe started to fall on Working Together, a 300-plus page guidance document, which social workers have often called 'cumbersome'. The government is working its way through the guidance to see what can be cut/revised and, from what we've heard, the revisions will be radical. 

And this is where it gets complicated. While some social workers and academics are deeply concerned about the revisions (specifically the scale of them), for others, they can't be radical enough. Two interesting blogs on the subject caught my eye this week. They're good so I've quoted from them fairly extensively, but there's much more via each of the links below.

Chris Mills, on the Chris Mills Child Protection Blog, writes: "Whatever way forward is adopted I remain firmly of the belief that 'Working Together' can be drastically pruned...Even if the Government has gone about the process of re-writing 'Working Together' in a ham-fisted way, I would urge everyone to stick with the vision. Munro's ideas are absolutely right. Procedural manuals that have been amassed as a result of risk-averse responses to various enquiries are not the way to go forward. Detailed procedural manuals are appropriate in some circumstances (for example where a piece of equipment or closed system has been carefully designed) but we are deluding ourselves if we believe that they make child protection any safer. On the contrary child protection is a very uncertain sphere. It does not operate like a well-oiled machine. That makes writing the rules in advance a pointless, and sometimes a dangerous, exercise."

But Abe Laurens, on the Not So Big Society blog, writes: "There is no escaping the complications of enabling all the agencies potentially involved in the care and protection of our children to co-operate and share information. Whilst nominally having the same goal in mind, each has not only different processes and procedures, they also have long-established and very different cultures that have proved highly durable and change-resistant. By all means cut out some of the more esoteric 'what ifs' but do not severely undermine the substantial core of Working Together...Let's also not forget where Working Together came from. It was forged in the heat of successive child death enquiries that from Maria Colwell onwards found fault in the system of inter-agency communication and condemned the blindness to reforms that sadly were ignored and unimplemented. This world hasn't changed, yet suddenly the system can apparently be streamlined. I fail to see how this will help abused children and young people.

Supporters of radical revision (even if they'd prefer a slightly more conservative cull than reported) told me they worry the government could lose its nerve and not revise Working Together at all if there's too much criticism, considering how slow progress on Munro has been.

But there are three important points everyone appears to agree on: 

1). There are ways of revising Working Together that could (probably) keep everyone happy. For example, a streamlined version for social workers and a longer easily-navigable online version for other professionals less familiar with the guidance.
2). There should be frontline social workers on the professional advisory group. 
3). The public consultation on Working Together is more important than ever. 

So where is the consultation? It was due any day now, ahead of the final guidance in July, but it's nowhere to be seen. It may have got lost fighting its way out of the Department for Education, a fate that's befallen a few consultations in the past. (Or maybe they've lost Working Together itself. If it really is just 10 pages, as sources have indicated, that wouldn't be hard. Perhaps it's in Michael Gove's pocket masquerading as a handkerchief.) 

In reality, it's probably been delayed while ministers and members of the professional advisory group challenge each other about just how, and where, Working Together should be culled. Whatever the reason and whatever your view, the consultation is critical. The latest info I have from the DfE is that it will be launched in July. So keep your eyes peeled. (Picture credit: Slawek Puklo)

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Eileen Munro to publish interim progress report in Spring

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on November 18, 2011 12:44 PM | No Comments
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Just another update on something the DfE's been keeping quiet about --
Professor Eileen Munro has been commissioned by the government to publish an interim report on progress made on the implementation of her recommendations about child protection in England. Due to be published in the Spring, it's going to include the progress made and unexpected challenges. Should be a good read -- keep an eye on our site for the latest.

Eileen Munro says thank you to ComCare readers

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on August 23, 2011 11:36 AM | No Comments
By Professor Eileen Munro, London School of Economics
and Dr Emily Munro, Loughborough University

thumbs up rex features.jpgCommunity Care helped the Department for Education gather the views and unique insights of frontline social workers, managers, and the community and voluntary sector to inform Munro's review of child protection. Over 600 professionals provided thoughtful and detailed responses to a series of questions about reducing bureaucracy, performance and accountability, and early help and support. The messages they conveyed were analysed by Emily Munro from the Child Wellbeing Research Centre and made a substantial contribution to the thinking of the review.

The resounding messages from frontline practitioners and other professionals were that:

•    Within existing structures they have not been able to spend as much time as they would like working directly with children and their families ("Social workers... spend more time writing about children and families and arranging for services to work with them")

•    Compliance and rigid timescales were distorting priorities and taking attention away from children ("Assessments are run like time trials with penalties for failure. Quality is sacrificed for 'completion of assessments'")

•    That relationships are central to effective practice ("When I began in social work many years ago, the emphasis was very much on building relationships with parents and children. It seems to me that now the emphasis is about targets and outcomes and children are getting lost within this")

•     That professionals were frustrated by the lack of recognition of their  professional expertise (one professional gave the vivid analogy of feeling like a skilled carpenter who was just asked to put together flat pack furniture)

These important messages are reflected in the overall conclusion of the Munro Review, which signals the need to move away from a compliance culture with excessive statutory prescription to a learning culture where professional expertise can flourish. It also stresses that timeliness is important, but that this needs to be applied to the whole of the child's journey from needing to receiving help, not just focusing on segments of that journey. Rigid timescales make it difficult for workers to have the flexibility needed to respond to the great variety of children and families' needs and circumstances.

Endorsing the recommendations of the Social Work Taskforce, the Review took the view that radical reforms are needed to social work career options, with much greater value being given to the expertise developed when people remain in direct work with families. It recommends that all local authorities should appoint a principal social worker at senior management level who still carries some caseload and who brings the voice of practice to management discussions.  

The responses also had a more general influence on the Review. The large number and the quality of the thinking in the responses was impressive and helped to give the Review confidence that, while some may feel safer in a compliance culture, there are still many professionals who are keen to get rid of this strait jacket and take more responsibility for their practice since it is the way that they can maintain a clear focus on helping children.

photo credit: Rex Features

Ofsted appoints Munro adviser as new social care manager

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By Camilla Pemberton, journalist, on August 16, 2011 1:21 PM | No Comments

munro review cover.gifA former Munro adviser has been appointed Ofsted's new divisional manager for social care development, it was announced today.

Jacky Tiotto, who led the team of advisers for Eileen Munro's review of child protection, will help to develop and improve the watchdog's inspection of children's social care, beginning her post on 1 September. 

She was previously a senior deputy director at the Department for Education and headed up the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit. She was also a professional adviser to the 2009 Laming review of child protection.

John Goldup, Ofsted's national director for inspection development and strategy, said Tiotto would be joining the organisation "at a crucial time as we consult on the future shape of the inspection of local authority children's services".

Want to know what the government response to Munro means for your job?

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on July 14, 2011 4:01 PM | No Comments
Look no further. We've spent all morning updating a refreshing our Munro Special Report, giving it a fresh lick of paint, breaking down Munro's recommendations, what the government is planning to do about each, and when. Consider it a glimpse into Tim Loughton's diary for the next 12-18 months...

Government acceptance of Munro recommendations: for real or just bull?

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on July 14, 2011 3:48 PM | No Comments
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Overall, we've all breathed a sigh of relief because the government hasn't turned around and said, "Eileen, it's been great, but this just isn't going to work", as many, including Munro herself, feared they might. With the possible exception of her recommendation about serious case reviews, and with varying timescales and degrees of commitment, generally, the government has agreed to move forward with Munro's vision...kind of.

There are parts of the government response, published on 13 July, that just don't sound quite right though..

First of all, there's Munro's recommendation that the government place a duty on local authorities and statutory partners to secure early intervention provision, which the government has accepted "in principle" (two words that never fail to raise an eyebrow).

According to the response, "during the summer of 2011" (so er, quite soon then lads?), the government will consider further "whether alternative approaches would be more effective in securing an increase in the range and number of preventative services on offer to children and families". In other words, whether the statutory duty, called for by Munro, is necessary. In other other words, at this point in time, they haven't accepted this recommendation at all.

The other big question mark in the response is over Munro's recommendation that the DCS role not be tampered with, leaving it free of additional responsibilities.

Again, the government has accepted "in principle" only and follows up with a load of waffle:waffle by Qfamily.jpg "While final structures are matters for local determination, it is likely that the guidance [the government is putting together about this] will make very clear that in reviewing the span of responsibilities, there should be a local test of 'assurance' so that whole councils and corporate teams are able to consider the merits and possible risks of planning additional duties on the DCS."

This government's favourite phrase seems to be "final structures are matters for local determination", as it reliquishes any responsibility to implement anything nationally. I understand that the point of this review is to move away from prescription and bureaucracy, but how is publishing guidance for people to read better than saying, "Unless you can make a case for doing otherwise, you are required to do this"? Seems simpler to me.

The other shady area is around Munro's recommendation that every local authority should implement a principal child and family social worker. Again, the government is very reluctant to push local authorities too hard in any direction, saying: "We envisage most local authorities will choose to designate a principal child and family social worker by April 2012 and that all will have chosen to [do] so by July 2012."

It's like when your mom says it's up to you whether you go to the party instead of studying maths, but that you should remember how disappointed she'll be when you fail your exam. An odd approach for a national government, but perhaps not an entirely stupid one in terms of safeguarding themselves against fall-out from the next child protection scandal..


Ps. You're probably sick of me pushing this page, but just to let you know -- we've updated and refreshed our Munro Special Report, and if I do say so, it's looking pretty sexy (and by sexy I mean informative -- we've taken the government response and put it into a ridiculously easy to read and interpret format (what? I think that's kind of sexy..) Regardless, it's a lot more user-friendly than the somewhat jumbled government response (though we also have a link to that, if that's what you're into). Enjoy!)

photo credits: Oli R
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Child protection assessment deadlines to be scrapped by end of year: government responds to Munro

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on July 13, 2011 11:00 AM | No Comments

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Children's social workers will no longer be held to prescribed timescales for assessments and the distinction between inital and core assessments will be removed by the end of this year, the government has said in its official response to Eileen Munro's review of child protection.

Local authorities are expected to appoint a practising senior social worker as the principal child and family social worker in their department, as recommended by Munro.

By the end of 2012, the government will implement a Chief Social Worker, a sector plea supported by Munro, who will provide a permanent professional presence for social work in government, covering children and adults.

Local authorities will also be expected to "assess and redesign child and family social services, based on feedback from children and families".

The ministerial statement in response to Munro makes no mention of funding sources for any of this.

The DfE has promised to establish a joint programme of work with the Department of Health by September 2011 to ensure children's safeguarding is a central consideration of the health reforms.

It has also said it will undertake further work with the sector to consider the evidence anid opportunities for using systems review methodology for serious case reviews (SCRs) to help local service providers learn lessons effectively.

The government says it plans to reform child protection inspection as well, saying that all services -- health, education, police, probation and the justice system -- will be officially assessed in this area.

Children's minister Tim Loughton said: "Today's response is the first stage of a journey which will fundamentally change the child protection system -- we're not just tinkering at the edges and fixing short-term problems. We are freeing hardworking social workers and other professionals from structures, procedures and rulebooks so they can do their best for vulnerable children and their families."

In need of a Munro refresher? Take a look at our Munro Review special report, which breaks down her recommendations and gives you access to all our Munro coverage.

Government response to Munro due on Wednesday

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on July 11, 2011 9:45 AM | 1 Comment
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The Department for Education has told Community Care that the formal government response to Eileen Munro's review of child protection will be published on Wednesday the 13th of July. The response comes after a longer wait than expected by many in the sector and will finally confirm what the government plans to do with Munro's recommendations.

It will be interesting to see whether Tim Loughton sticks to Munro's request to accept her review in full, or not at all. Munro herself has expressed fears that the government might not have the courage to implement everyting. In a meeting with the implementation group for the Munro review, however. Loughton indicated that he was considering whether phasing in Munro's recommendations would be a solution to resource restraints.

We shall see. In the meantime, if you're looking for a refresher on the recommendations, take a look at our special report on Munro.

Munro's removal of bureaucracy: at a cost?

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By Molly Garboden, senior journalist, on June 29, 2011 2:28 PM | No Comments
The Education Select Committee had a good evidence-giving sesh with Professor Eileen Munro this morning. Details of all the best bits she said can be seen here, but something that got me thinking was her discussion of the ongoing pilots, initiated by her review, in which local authorities have scrapped statutory deadlines in child protection work (if you're not up on this, click here).

Cumbria, Knomunro3 crop.jpgwsley, Westminster, Hackney and Gateshead are currently piloting the concept and at the Select Committee meeting this morning, Munro said all was going well.

"Over the past few decades, the reliance on government guidance has made a lot of places quite passive," she said. "But the biggest lesson I've learned from these pilots is that there is enthusiasm and confidence in some areas to take control and redesign the way they work.

"If you give people more bureaucratic freedom, they really do rather intelligent things."

This is all very heartening, but one can't help but wonder what would happen if the programme went national. The NSPCC was quoted at this morning's meeting as expressing concern that the pilots weren't being officially assessed, with Munro instead relying on documentation supplied by the LAs themselves as proof of how things were going. Munro, quite logically I think, responded by saying that an official assessment wouldn't be appropriate, as the point of the system was that each local authority did its own thing -- how could you asmunro review cover.gifsess them all based on a certain benchmark when the point of the trial was that there were no benchmarks?

Which is fair enough. But really, if every local authority did its own thing, surely there would be a higher risk of children falling through the cracks? Take ICS. With absolutely no standards or requirements, how will children moving from one local authority to another stay in the system and on professionals' radar?

I'm not saying it isn't possible, but it's something to consider carefully in our eagerness to de-bureacratise social work.

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