Partnership with Plymouth City Council

Children’s social care in Plymouth had undergone considerable difficulties since local government reorganisation in 1998. A series of poor inspection reports was followed by several false dawns. The challenge was not only to lay firm foundations, but to ensure the resultant service was sustainable. 

In May 2006, Cambridge Education, with OLM Group, was commissioned to work in partnership with Plymouth City Council (PCC) over two years to achieve the necessary step change in standards. The DCSF met the main part of the bill, supplemented by a Council contribution.

The project covered every aspect of children’s social care with 11 specific themes:

• Working with elected members so they understood their roles and responsibilities
• Integration of children’s services to deliver the Change For Children (C4C) agenda
• Commissioning and financial planning
• Workforce strategy
• Safeguarding of children
• Policies, procedures and practices guidance for all areas of Plymouth City Council’s social work practice
• Service eligibility
• Quality of assessments for children and young people
• Fostering and adoption services
• CAMHS service
• Services for children with disabilities

These themes varied considerably in terms of scale and baseline quality levels. From the outset Cambridge Education and OLM developed a close relationship with the City Council. Detailed monitoring was carried out and was subject to regular review by PCC, by CSCI and by the Government Office for the South West (GOSW).  A detailed risk register was also compiled and there were close informal links among the Director for Children's Services (DCS) for PCC, Project Director and the Project Lead.

Work began with the diagnosis and identification of priorities, this included clearing backlogs.  Plymouth’s Director for Children’s Services (DCS) was very clear that she wanted leadership by example and role modelling from the strategic partner. To achieve this, fourteen Interim Managers were deployed alongside the consultants.

The next stage involved the development of secure systems, of policies and of staff at all levels. Considerable attention was paid to the Joint Area Review in September 2006, but not to the detriment of long term aims. As the project drew to a close, the consultants oversaw the appointment of permanent staff. Between January 2007 and March 2008, external support was gradually and systematically withdrawn, and responsibility handed over from the Interim Managers to staff.

Cambridge Education added value:

The project was highly successful and transformed children’s social care in Plymouth.  The budget, though always a challenge and the subject of appreciable cuts, is now firmly under control. The serious case reviews were closed and lessons learned and disseminated.  Most of the senior posts have been filled, although front-line social work is still dependent on agency staff. 

• The 2006 Joint Area Review found that service had improved considerably and there was capacity to improve still further;
• The 2008 APA rated service as Grade 3 (good) level;
• Staff morale is far higher and front-line services have improved considerably.
• Above all, children and young people in Plymouth are safer and better looked after.