Team around the Child Update, July 08

The Team around the Child model of integrated working is coming to the end of its pilot phase in the area of Plas Madoc and Ruabon.

TAC Training

TAC training is delivered to multi-agency groups of practitioners by the TAC co-ordinators and by 26 practitioners from a wide range of agencies, who have been trained as TAC trainers and champions for the model. The full TAC training programme involves 1 ½ days training; an introduction and the three modules, one on information sharing, the common assessment and one on the role of the lead professional. To date, 168 have completed the TAC training and many more have attended an introductory presentation. There have also been introductory presentations for managers of children and young people’s services and for peripheral groups[1]. Some teams have also attended ‘refresher’ and ‘update’ sessions.

Feedback from Training

Feedback from TAC training has been overwhelmingly positive.

For example:

94% found the training useful or very useful

88% found the training practical or very practical

95% found the training appropriate or very appropriate

Table to show the extent of the TAC training programme in Wrexham

Type of Organisation / Number of organisations and teams / Introductory Presentation / Information Sharing / Common Assessment / Lead Professional
Numbers of professionals completing this training
Local Authority / 24 / 188 / 80 / 82 / 82
Health / 8 / 43 / 18 / 18 / 17
Schools / 9 / 38 / 31 / 31 / 31
Voluntary sector / 22 / 76 / 41 / 41 / 41
Peripheral groups* / 14 / 42 / 4 / 4 / 4
Managers / 37 / 74
Totals / 461 / 174 / 176 / 175

TAC Cases in Wrexham

In any area where TAC is introduced, cases are few in the early days as practitioners are getting used to a new system, and then build up gradually over time. This has been the case in Wrexham as elsewhere. The first TAC cases started in December of last year as practitioners were beginning to finish their TAC training programme. At the time of writing this report therefore we are looking at 6 months activity in the TAC in Wrexham.

To date, 12 cases have been opened. Common Assessment Framework Assessments (CAFs) have been prepared and the first TAC meeting held in each case. Five of these cases have also had their first review and one, its second. All of the children and young people live in the pilot area. A further 4 are being prepared for their first TAC Meeting. TACs are currently open on 6 girls and 6 boys, all white British. Ages range from 1 to 16, with 2 being pre-school, 6 being primary school age and 4 being secondary school age. The lead professional role has been taken by school staff in five cases, by voluntary organisations in five cases and by youth service staff in two. The main needs include behaviour, housing, safety, home routines, engagement and participation in schooling, family support, emotional health and family relationships and boundaries.

Multi-Agency Events

For TAC to be successful, different agencies of the children’s workforce need to know about each other. TAC staff therefore have organised regular events, taking place every three months, to help raise awareness of the vast range of services available for children and young people.

These events give staff an opportunity to

  • Find out about other agencies working in Wrexham
  • To meet their staff and find out exactly what they do and
  • To share news, ideas and good practice

These Multi-agency Networking Events have proved very popular and highly valued and the most recent event was attended by Jane Hutt, the Welsh Assembly Government’s Minister for Children, Education and Skills, who has a particular interest in the TAC. Attendance at these events varies from 42 to 100 practitioners.

For further information please contact Tricia Jones TAC Co-ordinator

Tel: 01978 - 317611

Comments from practitioners after TACMulti-agency Networking Events

Feedback from children, young people and parents about being involved with the Team around the Child.

[1]Peripheral groups are those whose work brings them into contact with children but for whom children are not the primary focus of their work (transport, leisure, adult services etc).