1. Halton Inspection Planning - Journey of the Child Unannounced Ofsted Inspection Mark Grady Principal Policy Officer, Children & Enterprise

2. Background Halton was last inspected in February 2011 – rated ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ across all 22 judgements. Intention was for a multi-agency Framework from 2013. April 2013 – Ofsted announced plans for a single combined framework September 2013 – Final guidance published November 2013 – Launch of the new framework

3. Basis of new Framework – Munro Review Critical of target driven performance management Emphasis on professional expertise Focus on early help Troubled Families (Inspiring Families) Supporting effective practice/supervision Strengthening accountabilities Child's perspective and journey through the system Outcomes focus (how do we know it's better?)

4. Inspection will be unannounced 7 inspectors Telephone call the night before arrive on site. Duration of 1 month – equates to 11 days on site. 3 inspectors in week 1. 7 inspectors from week 2.

5. Practice Review Team of 16 multi-agency inspectors, led by respected independent consultant reviewed Halton’s services in July 2013. 4 day inspection, involved assessing almost 100 case files. Findings are informing inspection planning. Project plans in place to direct work within inspection planning structures.

6. Single Framework Will be known as –‘Inspection of services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers’ (ISCNHPCLACL) –Ofsted are referring to it as SIF – Single Inspection Framework –In Halton we are using ‘HIP’ branding – Halton Inspection Planning for what is to be known locally as the ‘Journey of the Child Inspection’

7. Focus and Scope Focus - children and young people’s own experiences Scope - children and young people who are: –at risk of harm – covers both Early Help and Child in Need (Levels 2 and 3 of Levels of Need Framework, see overleaf). –in need of protection and provided with a multi-agency child protection plan –no longer needing a child protection plan but still require some help and support –in need of CSC support but below the significant harm and looked after thresholds –Missing from education or offered alternative provision –looked after or care leavers

8. Halton Levels of Need Framework

9. Key Judgements The overall effectiveness of services and arrangements will be derived from 3 key judgements: protecting children looked after children and achieving permanence leadership, management and governance

10. Graded Judgements The inspection will also include graded judgements: adoption care leavers effectiveness of the Halton Safeguarding Children Board (guidance to follow)

11. Judgement Scale A new 4-point judgement scale will be introduced that removes the ‘adequate’ grading inadequate requires improvement (to be good) good outstanding

12. Inspection will Evaluate The impact of the help given The focus on the interests of the child Inter-agency working Meaningful, consistent and direct contact with the child and their family The experiences of particularly vulnerable children how well services take account of children’s wishes and feelings Whether services are accessible to everyone and that there is equality of opportunity and outcomes