1 joint area review of children’s services in lincolnshire (jar) every child matters in...

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Joint Area Review of

Children’s Services in Lincolnshire

(JAR)

www.lincolnshirechildren.net

Every Child Matters in Lincolnshire

Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)

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Joint Area Review of Children’s Services in LincolnshireJoint Area Review of Children’s Services in Lincolnshire

This guide is about the JAR and what it means

for the children, young people, their families

and the support services and agencies

across Lincolnshire.


The Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board (CYPSP) is the project board for the JAR and will have an overview of the whole

process.

The Director of Children’s Services for Lincolnshire is the Chair of the CYPSP.

Should you have any questions or queries in respect of the JAR, please contact:

Senior Project Officer – Sue Bennett [email protected]. ukProject Officer – Jo Sims [email protected]

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ContentsContents

What is the JAR? How will the JAR differ from other inspections? The difference between the CPA/APA and JAR What are the aims of the JAR? When will the Lincolnshire JAR take place? How will the JAR affect me? How will the judgements be made? Self-assessment Surveying the views of children and young people The Analysis Stage The Fieldwork Stage Neighbourhood Studies What will happen during a neighbourhood study? Case Tracking Reporting the findings When will the report be published? JAR Grades Appendix A – Outcomes and Judgements

Joint Area Review of Children’s Services in Lincolnshire


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This is a new inspection process that will involve all agencies providing children’s services in Lincolnshire. Grades will be given on our performance in improving outcomes for children and young people.

The JAR will focus on the extent to which children, young people and ourselves achieve against the 5 outcomes identified in the “Every Child Matters” agenda, which define well-being as:

• Being Healthy• Staying Safe• Enjoy and Achieve• Making a Positive Contribution• Achieving Economic Well-being

The JAR will make a judgement about what life is like for children and young people in Lincolnshire and how, collectively, all the services contribute to the five outcomes.

What is the JAR?What is the JAR?



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How will the JAR differ from previous inspections?How will the JAR differ from previous inspections?

The JAR is an integrated inspection of all services for children and young people in Lincolnshire, whether they are provided by public, private or voluntary and community services.

The JAR will replace the existing separate inspections of council education and children’s social services departments (both now integrated into the newly formed Children’s Services Directorate). It will incorporate the inspections of the Youth Service, Connexions and provision for students aged 14-19.

Evidence from other inspections, such as schools, early years settings, further education colleges, youth offending service and residential settings will contribute to the findings and judgements of the inspection reports.

The JAR will take place at the same time as Lincolnshire County Council’s Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA).



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Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA)Three yearly assessment that measures the County Council’s provenability to engage with and lead their communities, deliver community priorities in partnership with others and ensure continuous involvement across the range of council services.

Annual Performance Assessment (APA) An annual assessment (carried out jointly by Ofsted and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)) that focuses on the County Council’s contribution to children’s services and to agree action required to improve the quality of children’s services.

Joint Area Review (JAR)A three yearly multi-agency inspection to describe what life is like for children and young people growing up in an area. It will evaluate and make a judgement about how well, collectively, all services improvethe well-being of children and young people in that area.



The difference between the CPA, APA and JARThe difference between the CPA, APA and JAR

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The JAR will look at how well we are improving outcomes for

children and young people by:

asking what life is like for children and young people growing up in Lincolnshire

examining how well the council’s children’s services, youth services, health services, youth offending teams, Connexions, police, the voluntary and community sector and others, contribute to the five outcomes

asking us to identify our priorities for children and young people seeing whether our plans and policies are implemented and reviewed asking how well we engage with children and young people.


What are the aims of the JAR?What are the aims of the JAR?


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When will the Lincolnshire JAR take place?When will the Lincolnshire JAR take place?

From September 2005, every Children’s Services Authority must have a JAR once every three years.

In Lincolnshire, our JAR will take place in November 2006.

Multi-agency JAR working groups have been set up to prepare for the various aspects of the review.

Updates on the preparations and progress on the JAR can be found on the website: www.lincolnshirechildren.net



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How will the JAR affect me?

You may be asked to contribute by:

providing information about your service attending JAR working groups providing input to the self-assessment process participating in the neighbourhood studies(s) being interviewed by inspectors participating in focus groups completing questionnaires.



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The JAR will gather evidence from:

a self-assessment of all children’s services provided in Lincolnshire existing inspection reports and performance data policies, plans and strategies, including the Children and Young

People’s Plan a survey of 600 children and young people in primary and

secondary schools across the county a review of one (or possibly two) neighbourhood areas an in-depth review of 10 child case studies interviews with children and young people, their parents and carers interviews with front line staff and managers, including teachers,

social workers, community workers, youth workers, police and health professionals, local and county councillors.


How will the judgements be made? How will the judgements be made?


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Self-assessmentSelf-assessment

The Director of Children’s Services will be asked to coordinate the completion of a self-assessment with key partners.

The self-assessment will allow the services in the local area to identify strengths and weaknesses.

The inspection team will use our self-assessment to:• gain information on the provision of services and local priorities• follow up issues in fieldwork• make judgements in areas where no fieldwork is taking place.

The inspection team will make judgements against those shown on pages 22-27 of this guide.



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Children’s and young people’s views and experiences of services will be gathered.

Some 600 children and young people will be asked to participate in a national web-based survey. They will be selected in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services, on the basis of age and on the location of their school or college.

Children and young people will be asked to complete the questionnaire and their responses will be collated and presented in a report for use by the inspection team during the analysis period.

Surveying the views of children and young people



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The Analysis StageThe Analysis Stage

This stage is scheduled to last for up to a week.

The inspection team will analyse the full range of existing inspection

findings, read a selection of local plans, evaluate the area’s self-

assessment and make judgements on aspects which do not require

fieldwork.

Inspectors will also draw on existing performance data and evidence

from recent inspections.

Inspectors will read case files highlighting services provided to a

selection of children and young people.



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The Fieldwork Stage The Fieldwork Stage

Fieldwork is scheduled to take place over a two week period.

This stage of the inspection will include:• at least one neighbourhood study• meetings with with councillors, officers and managers across all

agencies• meetings with front line practitioners• meetings with children and young people, their parents and carers.

It may involve visits to some settings, with some fieldwork always being conducted on safeguarding children and young people.



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Neighbourhood StudiesNeighbourhood Studies

Neighbourhood studies will enable inspectors to gather first-hand evidence of the views and experiences of children and young people, and how local services work together to improve outcomes.

The Local Authority and partners must identify 3 neighbourhood areas. The inspection team will choose one or two to visit and look at in more detail.

A neighbourhood study should take place in an area where:• the percentage of children and young people who live in the area is in line with the average for the county • indicators of economic, social, cultural and health disadvantage are above average for the county• initiatives are underway to improve outcomes for children and

young people• examples of active youth work can be evidenced• there are examples of coordinated working between agencies such

as SureStart, health and child care providers.


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Neighbourhood Studies continued….Neighbourhood Studies continued….

The three area of Lincolnshire identified for consideration are:

Boston Mablethorpe Lincoln - Moorland estate

The inspectors will choose one or two of these areas for a detailed

neighbourhood study

Multi-agency working groups have been set up to begin the preparations.



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What will happen during a neighbourhood study?What will happen during a neighbourhood study?

The Inspection Team will visit the neighbourhood to learn what life is like for children and young people in the area. They will seek to do so by:

• touring the local neighbourhood, with young people as their guides• meeting with, and listening to, the the views of children and young

people, parents and carers• meeting with front line staff, including teachers, social workers,

community workers, youth workers, police and health professionals• visiting a wide range of service providers, which may include schools,

youth and community centers, health centres, children’s centres etc.• meeting with local councillors, and• learning about local partnership co-operation and working.



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Case TrackingCase Tracking

The purpose of case tracking is to assess the nature and effectiveness of agencies’ involvement with children and young people and the contribution which they make to improving outcomes.

The lead inspector will select a small number of cases for in-depth study.

Case tracking will involve: • the reading of relevant case files • the analysis of questionnaires completed by key workers• discussions with the children and young people, if possible, and • interviews with parents and carers, key staff and managers.

The early stages of preparation are being undertaken by a multi-agency working group.



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Reporting the findings Reporting the findings

A report will be produced which will include a clear expression of

findings and judgements. It will highlight:

the outcomes for children and young people and the extent to which local services work together to contribute to their achievements and well being

whether there is effective protection for those children who are most vulnerable

how Lincolnshire County Council and its partners seek and respond to the views of children and young people and their parents and carers, and

whether the services know their strengths, weaknesses and capacity to improve.



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When will the report be published?When will the report be published?

A draft report will be published within eight weeks of the review.

A summary report, written especially for children and young people will also be produced and published locally.

In response to the report, the Local Authority will be required to consult with its partners and write an action plan, within 70 days, showing how it will address the issues identified in the report.



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JAR Grades:JAR Grades:

Grade 4: A service that delivers well above minimum requirements for users

Grade 3: A service that consistently delivers above minimum requirements for users

Grade 2: A service that delivers only minimum requirements for users

Grade 1: A service that does not deliver minimum requirements for users



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Appendix A

Inspection Framework (Outcomes and Judgements)



Joint Area Reviews –

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1.1. parents and carers receive support to keep their children healthy 1.2. healthy lifestyles are promoted for children and young people 1.3. action is taken to promote children and young people’s physical health 1.4. action is taken to promote children and young people’s mental health 1.5. looked after children’s health needs are addressed 1.6. the health needs of children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are addressed

(Children and young people are: physically healthy; mentally and emotionally healthy; sexually healthy; have healthy lifestyles; choose not to take illegal drugs)

Outcome 1 - Being Healthy



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2.1. children and young people and their carers are informed about key risks to their

safety and how to deal with them

2.2. children and young people are provided with a safe environment

2.3. the incidence of child abuse and neglect is minimised

2.4. agencies collaborate to safeguard children according to the requirements of the

current government guidance

2.5. services are effective in establishing the identity and whereabouts of all children and

young people aged 0 –16

2.6. action is taken to avoid children and young people having to be looked after

2.7. looked after children live in safe environments and are protected from abuse and

exploitation

2.8 children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities live in safe

environments and are protected from abuse and exploitation

(Children and young people are: safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation; safe from accidental injury and death; safe from bullying and discrimination; safe from crime and anti-social

behaviour in and out of school; have security and stability and are cared for)

Outcome 2 - Staying Safe



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Outcome 3 - Enjoying and Achieving

3.1. parents and carers receive support in helping their children to enjoy and achieve

3.2. early years provision promotes children’s development and well-being and helps them

meet early learning goals

3.3. action is taken to ensure that education provision for 5–16 year olds is of good quality

3.4. children and young people are encouraged to attend and enjoy school and enabled to achieve highly

3.5. educational provision is made for children who do not attend school

3.6. all children and young people can access a range of recreational activities, including play and voluntary learning provision

3.7. children and young people who are looked after are helped to enjoy and achieve

3.8 children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are helped to enjoy and achieve

(Children and young people are: ready for school; attend and enjoy school; achieve stretching national educational standards at primary school; achieve personal and social development and enjoy recreation; achieve stretching national educational standards at secondary school)



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4.1. children and young people are supported in developing socially and emotionally

4.2. children and young people, particularly those from vulnerable groups, are supported in managing changes and responding to challenges in their lives

4.3. children and young people are encouraged to participate in decision-making and in supporting the community

4.4. action is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour by children and young people

4.5. action is taken to prevent offending and to reduce re-offending by children and young people

4.6. children and young people who are looked after are helped to make a positive contribution

4.7 children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are helped to

make a positive contribution.

Outcome 4 - Making a Positive Contribution



(Children and young people engage in decision-making and support the community and environment; engage in law-abiding and positive behaviour in and out of school; develop positive relationships and choose not to bully and discriminate; develop self-confidence and successfully deal with significant life changes and challenges, develop enterprising behaviour).

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(Children and young people: engage in further education, employment or training on leaving school; are ready for employment; live in decent homes and sustainable communities; have access to transport and material goods; live in households free from low-income)

5.1. action is taken by partners to support families in maximising their economic

well-being

5.2. young people aged 11-19 are helped to prepare for working life

5.3. action is taken to ensure that 14–19 education and training is planned and

delivered in a coordinated way, and to ensure that education and training

(for 16–19 year olds) is of good quality

5.4. community regeneration initiatives address the needs of children and

young people

5.5. action is taken to ensure that young people have decent housing

5.6. children and young people who are looked after are helped to achieve

economic well-being

5.7. children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are

helped to achieve economic well-being.

Outcome 5 - Achieving Economic Well-being



1 joint area review of children’s services in lincolnshire (jar) every child matters in...

Documents

lincolnshire jar

jar gradesappendix

lincolnshire children

director of childrens

community services

support services

jar corporate perfo

netthe children