Northamptonshire Children & Young People’s Partnership Earlier Intervention for Families – the Common Assessment Fra

Northamptonshire Children & Young People’s PartnershipEarlier Intervention for Families – the Common Assessment Framework in Corby Sue Cordwell – Corby Excellence Cluster Coordinator Richard Ward – NCC Information Sharing & Assessment Programme Manager

= agency = worker = assessment The issue of multiple assessments Universal healthcare PCT CAMHS YOT Connexions Social Services LEA SEN EWS Universal Education All Other Agencies Healthcare Staff Health visitor Child psych. YOT worker Personal Adviser Social worker SENCO & Ed. psych. Ed Welfare Officer Education Staff All Other Practitioners Risk to parents Conduct Disorder ASSET APIR Children in Need including in need of protection Statement of SEN

Common Assessment… • Common • Assessment - not a referral form • A Framework • A toolkit to assess needs at an early stage and to prevent them escalating • Adds value • To work most effectively needs to be used in partnership • Is part of a culture change

Culture change does happen… Life on Mars

Issues raised at Early Engagement Events Children & Young People at centre & involved Trust Leadership and responsibility Making multi agency working work for all children & young people Information sharing & communication Clarity of roles and responsibilities Equalities

Feedback from service users “…I was asked lots of questions. I gave all information freely although I used to get sick of telling the same story over and over again. It was apparent there were no shortcuts it was always me repeating the full story…” “It would be good to have a standard form that agencies could use instead of having to complete long questionnaires…”(Parent A) “The first 8 years of the child’s life, many different people had assessed her. Yet, she came with no history for her to be assessed again.” (Parent F)

Feedback from service users “To gain an understanding of my family needs and our strengths and difficulties, I think the best way is to be interviewed…” “…life became a little bit easier after he started nursery school. His teacher was very understanding and patient with him. We had previously discussed his problems with her, and with lots of support from her, he did thrive. I realised that there are people who can help, which does now make me feel more positive.” (Parent D)

Supporting working in partnership • Revised Common Assessment form & leaflet • Online learning • Face to face training • What is Common Assessment? • Multi agency working • Links with other initiatives • Working in partnership with parents

Scenario 2… Exercise included in face to face training • Is neither a perfect example of best practice or an accurate reflection of reality but does cover relevant points • Will be developed to demonstrate best practice

While watching the scenario… • What would this meeting have felt like for mum and Ben? • How could this meeting have been conducted more effectively?

Contact details Sue Cordwell 01536 464954 SCordwell@northamptonshire.gov.uk Richard Ward 01604 237558 rcward@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Northamptonshire Children & Young People’s Partnership Earlier Intervention for Families – the Common Assessment Fra