Best Practice Resource Pack
Workforce Development
A significant motivation for recruiting and retaining high quality staff in the sector is the opportunity for developing professional skills that are valued and which demonstrably improve the quality of practice and of the offer to children and families. Coram has developed a model of practice development and sharing which has been popular and successful amongst both VAAs and LAs – thereby also strengthening relationships both within and across professional networks.
Concurrent Planning Subscription Scheme:
The previous government’s focus on early permanence and the duty to consider adoption as an alternative for children in care proceedings resulted in a renewal of interest in concurrent planning and also Foster for Adoption which are closely related. Coram and BAAF jointly drew up the Practice Guidance on Foster for Adoption, and Coram received a high level of requests for advice on establishing such programmes.
In response to these requests we established the Coram Concurrent Planning Subscription Scheme, which LAs and VAAs were invited to join.Membership entitles subscribers to receive a menu of training and consultation for their own staff, and also to attend three Network days pa. The Network Days have proved extremely popular as a forum for sharing of experience, problem solving, ensuring that key staff are updated, and presenting research and other information.
The format for the Network days is simple:
The morning is devoted to presentations on themes – eg preparing and assessing dually approved carers (as both foster carers and adopters), specialist preparation groups for CP carers, managing supervised contact, support for carers and their support networks, early permanence options – the current legal options (CP, SGOs, F4A), liaising with the range of professionals involved – Legal Depts, Guardians, IROs etc. These presentations may be made by Coram staff, staff from other concurrent planning/ F4A programmes, invited speakers etc. Speakers from agencies may include LA or VAA legal advisers, contact supervisors, front line managers and social workers who identify cases going through proceedings as well as dedicated concurrent planning practitioners. This gives agencies and workers the opportunity to showcase their work, receive recognition and to embed learning form their own practice.
The afternoon is devoted to small group discussion where we combine agencies which have similarities in terms of size or function. These groups are led by Coram consultants, but there is no set agenda – participants bring dilemmas from their own practice and there is joint exploration and sharing of experience.
Each subscribing VAA or LA is entitled to send a number of delegates without charge, depending on the level of annual subscription paid.
Outcomes:
The Network meetings are well attended by staff from 16 LAs across the regions of England and 5 VAAs, including an agency in Scotland.
Evaluation returns by participants are enthusiastic.
A range of staff from Coram and other agencies (VAAs and LAs) have the opportunity to share their expertise and gain recognition for their own practice and that of their agency.
The events improve and embed good practice and enhance confidence.
Builds confidence and relationships between LAs and VAAs.
Over 50 children pa are being placed in concurrent planning /foster 4 adoption placements by subscribing agencies.
Jeanne Kaniuk
Coram Adoption and Permanent Families Service
July 2015.