Every Child Matters

Every Child Matters in Manchester Integrated working guidance to support early intervention and prevention in Manchester Common Process Introduction:

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT Every Child Matters, Children Act 2004, CAF, Children’s Trust Arrangements Feedback from JAR Feedback from practitioners Work progressed via MSCB

PRINCIPLES THAT UNDERPIN THE MODEL The child’s welfare and safety is paramount Safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children is everyone’s responsibility All Manchester children should have a good quality of life and be full and active members of the community. Services will be provided that optimise the potential and life chances for all children, and balance children and young people’s rights with their responsibilities Children are the responsibility of their parents and, where possible, children should be brought up by their parents in families and communities. Parents need to be supported and challenged to bring up children and young people responsibly in a stable and happy environment using statutory powers when necessary

All agencies will support this philosophy initially through the provision of universal services, which are child focused in their delivery and which explicitly aim to assist good parenting Intervention at the first sign of need to help the family find their own solutions to their problems Information should be shared with consent whenever possible

WHAT DOES IT AIM TO ACHIEVE? The model will support practitioners to work together to enable every child and young person in Manchester to achieve the five Every Child Matters priority outcomes Be healthy Stay safe Enjoy and achieve Make a positive contribution Economic well-being and to promote the well-being of and safeguard every child and young person in Manchester so that they are Protected from harm and abuse and Have a secure sense of belonging in a family, school, and local community

How will we do this? The provision of high quality universal services whatever the level of need of children and young people in Manchester Early identification of and targeted/integrated support for children/young people with additional needs, underpinned by the Common Assessment Framework, to ensure that needs are met as early as possible and do not escalate Effective assessment, planning, implementation and review (APIR) at whatever level of need Integrated support co-coordinated by a lead professional for children with additional and complex needs The effective application of MSCB and LAC procedures

KEY CONCEPTS Children’s needs lie along a continuum and need to be identified and met at the first sign of difficulty in a coordinated and planned way Shift in language – request for support, acknowledging universal services stay with children along the continuum of need, rather than referral with its pass the parcel connotations Planned transfer of lead professional rather than case closed, NFA to ensure children and families receive a seamless service until can be held at universal service level

Challenges Turning the model into practice Changes in culture and thinking Levels of need in Manchester

Overcoming these challenges Working together to meet the needs of children and families CAF and lead professional Consultation Good practice in information sharing Shared understanding and common language Practitioner and agency commitment to the model Using existing structures e.g. District Safeguarding Fora and CAF Steering Groups to review progress