Scottish Child-minding Association (SCMA) Community Child-Minding

Context  The aim of the project was to improve the community child-minding support scheme which North Lanarkshire Council offer to agencies involved with families at a time of crisis/leading towards potential crisis that could impact on a child’s emotional, social or physical development or to children who are looked after/looked after and accommodated or moving towards becoming looked after/looked after and accommodated. This support scheme allows agencies to interact/engage with families to achieve positive outcomes whilst also helping to build/maintain nurture and attachment between parents/carers and children. Both Getting it Right for Every Child (GIREFC) and The Solihull Approach will be used to support the process. Families will be offered a 1 to 12 week placement with a review period (this will be decided on an individual basis) where the referrer will be asked for an updated request for assistance.

Driver Diagram

Changes/Improvements What changes are you currently testing;  *Child in placement will be moving towards/achieving milestones recorded within 27 to 30 months SOGS assessment. (Where applicable - Health Visitor will be asked to share this score for each individual child accessing the service.)  *Child-minders updates using the ‘SHANNARI wheel’ will show positive progression in child’s wellbeing.  *Each individual family will be supported through a ‘Family Care Plan’ which will be reviewed at the end of each placement and family will report that service has been a positive support and facilitated engagement and interaction with agencies.  *Referrers update on family circumstances/situation, strengths/protective factors and concerns (Updated request for assistance) will highlight positive progression in ‘parent’s emotional wellbeing’ and impact on family as a result of the child-minder being in place.  *SCMA will report on number of referrals, criteria for referrals and number of families being supported.  *Child/children will have access to a child-minding placement as soon as availability is agreed. What have you learned so far;  Receiving referrals has been the biggest barrier to this test.  The test was originally set up within the area of Craigneuk, however no children from the area have been placed and we have received only one enquiry from multiagency teams in the area.  We then tested the project in other areas to assess whether this would increase the referrals – when areas where expanded to include Motherwell and Wishaw the CCDO received 1 new referral and when it was expanded to Cumbernauld and surrounding areas the referrals increased by 2.  4 children in total have accessed the service since March 2014.

Who is involved?  The Scottish Child-minding Association have linked with Early Years and Childcare within North Lanarkshire Council.  12 Child-minders from across the authority were registered with the project.  Multi-agency referrals into Community Child-minding Development Officer (including voluntary sector).  Both Early Learning Development Co-ordinator (NLC) and Community Child-minding Development Officer have attended many multiagency team/forum meetings to make them aware of service.  Children and families from across the authority.

Data! Data! Data!

The Human Factor  Breakthroughs  Referrals increased slowly as we expanded to include more areas.  Referrers and child-minders are willing to use tools to measure impact of service and can see the importance of measuring.  Once Early Learning Development Co-ordinator gave clear instructions on ‘How To’ refer the referrals increased.

The Human Factor  Barriers  Very limited number of referrals despite service being shared with a range of services.  100% of referrals have come from Health.  Referrers reporting that they find using a 3 rd party a barrier and are confused about how to refer.  Referrers are not willing to share information with a 3 rd party.  Agencies who have referred have found out through NLC and also ask to send referrals direct to Early Years.  SCMA did not use measurement tools to measure wellbeing.  No referrals from Craigneuk area.

Next Steps  The funding for this project will NOT continue into 2015/2016.  A similar service is currently available through Daycare Support within Early Years & Childcare. A test of change will be developed to measure outcomes for children in the Daycare Service.

“So What?”  Involving a third party has deterred referrers.  Childminders are enthusiastic and keen to be involved in supporting vulnerable families.  Childminders are open to training and enjoy being able to demonstrate their skills.  Childminders are keen to be supportive of vulnerable families in their community.

Investment of Resources  What have you invested into this improvement work?  We have invested financial support and training to childminders.  We have developed a wellbeing toolkit to assist with the measurement of the impact of a childminding place on a vulnerable child.  What resources would you hope to reduce/stop in the future by implementing this change?  We hope that by providing a childminder to a family in crisis  it can prevent a child being placed in care  It can improve the child’s likelihood of reaching developmental milestones  It can improve the health of the parent(s)  It can improve parenting capacity ALL OF THE ABOVE WOULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH RESOURCES

For More Information  Insert Contact Details:  Kirsty McNeill  Early Learning Development Co-ordinator/Improvement Coach (Early Years Collaborative)  North Lanarkshire Council ~ Early Years & Childcare  Municipal Buildings, Kildonan Street  Coatbridge, ML5 3BT  Tel : Mobile: