Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) Rod Burns Getting it right for every child/ Children’s disability team NMCN for Children with Exceptional Healthcare Needs: GIRFEC and Children’s Disability September 29, 2010

Why Getting it right for every child? Long-term programme of change, foundation for work with all children and young people Well-being of children and young people at the heart of thinking, planning, action Strong emphasis on flexibility Transformative - shifting the way services function in regard to children Involves major culture, system, practice change

Equally Well Young Carers Early Years Framework Achieving Our Potential Domestic Abuse Child Protection Children’s Hearings Youth Justice Parents and carers Parental substance abuse Looked After Children Public Services Reform Disabled children Workforce Skills Young runaways Additional Support for Learning More Choices More Chances Curriculum for Excellence Why is the GIRFEC approach necessary?

GIRFEC and Children’s Disability Traditionally, policy affecting disabled children fragmented Disconnect between education, social work, health, housing, third sector and so on Added to challenging landscape Occasionally impenetrable, even within SG! Opportunity in late 2009 to fuse children’s disability remit into GIRFEC team, approach to children’s services

GIRFEC and Children’s Disability, contd But much more than structural change Fundamental compatibility between the GIRFEC approach and needs of disabled children Strongly child-centred Children’s individual needs determining flexible approaches Streamlining, minimising bureaucracy

GIRFEC and Children’s Disability, contd Improved assessment, info-sharing – reducing need to constantly retell information Focused on outcomes – positive change and better lives Leadership at all levels essential – strategic, operational, practitioner, family Not a new system, initiative or structure but redesign, refocusing of existing processes Culture change perhaps most important, challenging

Wider Work – FSDC Work with FSDC Liaison Project – key to assisting better lives Significant achievements so far Charter for Scotland’s Disabled Children Diary Project, Baseline Survey Large membership, supporter base New challenges as first project manager moves on, but also new opportunities within rapidly developing context

Wider Work – National Review PSR bill process, large interest in children’s disability amendments Negotiation, consensus Opportunity to work in partnership – SG, CoSLA, FSDC – during influential time (late 2010, into 2011) Commitment to broad look at children’s disability services, better outcomes for children Working through 2010 to end of year report on progress

Wider Work – Moving and Handling In addition to strategic work, leading practical change Ministers accepted all but two recommendations, Handle with Care Currently running four drafting groups Programme of meetings, work through winter Drafting process into 2011, with launch and communications activity to follow

Wider Work – Organisational Support Perhaps ‘old-fashioned’, but still hugely important Directly sponsoring a range of groups providing direct support to families Advice, advocacy, maximising resources Very well known, large – Contact a Family, Family Fund, Capability Also smaller – Butterfly Trust, Sleep Scotland

Care Co-Ordination/Lead Professional Not dwell on this issue (detailed Highland, D&G and Borders experiences to come) Important to stress that key working/care coordination already established (with relevant skillsets) prior to GIRFEC; by doing one you’re doing the other GIRFEC not about replacing, or displacing, existing good practice which works Key balance – holistic approach to supporting child and family, drawing on specialist expertise around children’s complex needs

Going Forward Excellent position for children’s disability At heart of long-term vision for flexible child-centred services in Scotland Not complacent – transformation GIRFEC seeks must also happen in support for all children across all agencies As GIRFEC rolls out, momentum for change will boost children’s disability agenda, including focus on children with complex needs

Contact Details Rod Burns Getting it right for every child/ Children’s disability team 2-B North, Victoria Quay Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ (0131)