Achieving collective impact in a regionalised context CVAA workshop: June 2018

Purpose of today’s session To explore: What is the VAA space - where are we unique and what do we offer? How can we work effectively with statutory partners, particularly in the context of a regionalised system? How can we build partnerships within the VAA sector to achieve greater impact? Purpose of today’s session

Where is the VAA space in a regionalised system? VAA impact Choice for families Consistency of service – a national network Strength of leadership Lifelong support for all parties to adoption Professional expertise Memory and legacy – system resilience Where is the VAA space in a regionalised system?

Sector Promise We’re here for you. We’ll provide support and reassurance. We are an expert who listens. We’re child-friendly. Our service is aimed to meet your needs (not one-size fits all). Our staff are passionate about creating families. We provide a national network with local & regional delivery, increasing access to choice and quality.

VAA share has been around 15% until recent years

Context and problem analysis Vision (May 2015)… Reality (June 2018)… “local authorities and/or voluntary adoption agencies coming together to operate at a larger scale” “We are particularly keen to consider models that have an element of cross-sector collaboration, bringing together the best of the voluntary and statutory sectors… We want local authorities to acknowledge and use the potential of the voluntary sector to provide services at a regional level and have the confidence to take forward these partnerships.” Regionalising Adoption, DfE, 2015 LA-led Some strong relationships based on pre-existing partnerships Sequential matching Decrease in shared recruitment Commissioned work: decrease in contract value; provider risk increasing has decreased in value Context and problem analysis

In Wales… Welsh experience of regionalisation since 2012… Focus on representation rather than direct market engagement Limited commissioning, particularly in North Wales Little sharing of children’s pipeline data Shorter average timescales for children – but regionalisation has not made it easier to place complex children In Wales…

What type of involvement in early planning and adopter matching should we seek? What do we want from engagement with RAA governance? How could voluntary sector organisations work together through cooperation or more formal alliance working? What would good RAA practice in commissioning and contracting look like? Could we have greater impact by agreeing some elements of a collective approach?

25 years of working collaboratively…1993-2018

VAA experience: A small number of examples of sharing children’s pipeline information and involvement in child planning meetings; A few examples of involvement in adopter profiling processes; Most RAAs currently offering little opportunity for either. Adoption West – CCS Adoption and Action for children Discussion: what type of involvement in adopter planning and early matching do we want to see? 1. What type of involvement in adopter planning and early matching do we want to see?

2. What do we want from involvement with RAA governance? Wide range of different experiences: some RAAs have formal VAA involvement on management boards, as partners. Some have place for VAAs – and many in between… A range of options: a. Representation on strategic governance boards Downsides: time; commissioner provider split. Benefits: relationships, profile b. Involvement in other strategic planning forums c. Operational engagement only Discussion: what do we want from involvement with RAA governance? 2. What do we want from involvement with RAA governance?

What are the strengths of different approaches – what have we learned? What are the success criteria? Are there models we should describe and publicise? What behaviours – ways of working – could we adopt collectively to increase our impact and reduce the strategic burden? 3. How could voluntary sector organisations work together through cooperation or more formal alliance working?

Yorkshire and Humber Voluntary Alliance (VAA)

Response to Regionalisation

History One Adoption Yorkshire and Humber Previously a regional consortium with history of collaboration with Voluntary Adoption Agencies Now arranged into 3 RAA’s all at different stages of development One Adoption West Yorkshire ( 5 LA’s) One Adoption North and Humber ( 4 LA’s) One Adoption South Yorkshire ( 3/4 LA’s) Development of the Alliance with shared commitment to work collegiately in pursuit of better outcomes for children and ensured continued business growth

VAA Members

Joint working and collaboration Been a key member in the Cross Regional Board, the Centre of Excellence Board and each RAA Development Board Supported the development of One Adoption website Agreed adopter recruitment targets and the sharing of adopters available at approval and at Stage 2 Joint commissioning of Independent Adoption Support to birth parents, adopted adults, the AT-id group and Adopter Voice Confirmed rollover of existing contracts Cross working on the 2 Practice Improvement Projects Developing expertise around adoption support - Shaping practice with Foster to Permanence and Concurrency pilots

Our challenge is to……. Maintain position in One Adoption through strategic and operational relationships and ensuring adopter representation Recognise that our multi faceted strengths as providers of adoption placements and adoption support services creates real opportunities Develop models of evidence based support, peer mentoring and EPP to map against gaps in the RAA Encourage LA/RAA/VAA working to achieve suitable matches quicker Collaborate to create an entity that can respond to new commissioned opportunities

But systems change is slow…..

Benefits to children and families Greater choice and speedier placements through targeted and transparent recruitment of adopters A comprehensive and evidence based adoption support offer in response to need Listening, learning and developing together with adoptive family experiences at the heart of what we do Work together to improve outcomes through practice development and innovation Offering flexibility, creativity and responsiveness to our customers

What are the strengths of different approaches – what have we learned? What are the success criteria? Are there models we should describe and publicise? What behaviours – ways of working – could we adopt collectively to increase our impact and reduce the strategic burden? Discussion: What would be the advantages of: a. an Alliance approach? b. a less formal partnership arrangement? 3. How could voluntary sector organisations work together through cooperation or more formal alliance working?

Level of risk: balance of contract/spot-purchase model? Commissioners setting requirements for VAA collaboration/or not: is this acceptable? Clearly designed contracts with budget attached Commissioners working with voluntary sector to produce market position statements No organisations optimally reaches all of its targets independently – why would you want to be in-house? There’s something in the market that’s already been developed and you can buy it! For VAA innovation to continue some conditions need to be in place… Discussion: What would good RAA contracting and commissioning practice look like? 4. What would good RAA contracting and commissioning practice look like?