Developing National Guidance on the Role of the External Manager

1. Developing National Guidance on the Role of the External Manager Neil Gentleman, Scottish Government & Dr Louise Hill, Policy Officer, CELCIS National Launch, Stirling 18 June 2013

2. The Background

3. Children (Scotland) Act 1995 – Regulations and Guidance – Volume 2 • When an establishment is managed by a local authority or agency an external manager should be designated. • This is a person who holds overall responsibility for the services provided by the establishment….The primary responsibility, in conjunction with the person in charge, is to ensure that acceptable standards are maintained.

4. The person or group of people, sometimes a board or committee, identified by providers as responsible for the work of the residential child care establishments but not involved in full-time day-to-day management. The person in day-to-day charge is responsible to the external manager(s).

5. Important Messages

6. Developing Guidance • Scoping exercise to ascertain current policy and practice across sectors • Engagement with external managers and unit managers across local authorities, third sector and independent providers across Scotland. • Other relevant organisations and agencies. • Literature review and policy analysis • Workshop at the National Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) conference

7. Participants in the Scoping study

8. Range of participants

9. Framework of the Guidance • Context- Legislation and Regulations, Policy, Research& Existing Practice • The External Management Tasks • Monitoring the experiences of children • Ensuring that practice is compliant • Supervising and supporting the ‘person in charge’ • Ensuring that staff are properly prepared • Ensuring that resources are sufficient • Identifying the need for and instigating change • Reporting to the managing authority or agency • Principles of Practice, Requirements & Responsibilities

10. Key messages • Positive engagement in the process – shared view that National Guidance is needed • Role of informing the sector about key requirements and responsibilities • Recognition of the diversity of external management structures and roles • Value of ‘Sharing learning’ and good practice across Scotland

11. Key References Hicks,L., Gibbs, I., Weatherly, H. & Byford, S (2009) Management, leadership and resources in children’s homes: what influences outcomes in residential childcare settings?, British Journal of Social Work39:828-845. Kent, R (1997) Children’s Safeguard Review (‘the Kent report’) Edinburgh: Scottish Office. Langeland, R., Bayes, K. & Davidson, J. (2009) Higher Aspirations, Bright Futures: Overview of the National Residential Child Care Initiative, Glasgow: SIRCC. Scottish Executive (2005) National Care Standards: Care Homes for Children and Young People, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive. The Scottish Office (1997) Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Regulations and Guidance, Volume 2, Edinburgh: The Stationary Office. Whipp, R., Kirkpatrick, I., & Kitchener, M. (2005) Managing Residential Child Care, Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

12. Thank you for listening! Contact details: Neil.Gentleman@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Louise.Hill@strath.ac.uk