Services
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| Policy development and implementation |
Analysis of need through to measurement of compliance |
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| Serious case reviews |
Planning, conduct and report |
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| Strategic planning |
Clarification of objectives, project design and, where required, project management |
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| Procedures and system development |
Drafting, design and construction |
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| Child protection systems |
Case audits and system checks |
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Effective case planning
and review |
System design and use of LAC |
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| Quality assurance |
Practice audits |
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| Fostering and adoption |
Independent panel chairing |
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| Quantitative & qualitative research |
All social care contexts |
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| Fundraising bids |
Central and local government initiatives |
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| Service reviews |
All functions |
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| Interim management |
All functions |
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| Training |
Programme design and delivery |
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| Service user complaints |
Independent investigation, adjudication, membership or chairing of review panels and advice |
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The Consultants
Lead consultant >>
Fergus Smith BSc (Hons), MA, CQSW, DMS, DipM.
Operational and consultancy experience of local
authorities and the independent sector which includes:
- Serious case reviews for ACPCs/LSCBs
- Child care audits for DfES purposes
- 'Best Value' and service reviews
- Interim management of fieldwork services
- Drafting Youth Justice and ACPC Annual and Children's Services plans
- Audits of staff supervision, family support, child protection, residential and after care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking
children's services
- Developing guidance for Youth Justice Board
- Conducting research for the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Youth Justice
Board and for local authorities
- Independent investigation of management concerns and service user complaints
- Co-authoring London, Sussex, Berkshire, Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton,
Kent and Medway Child Protection procedures
Associate consultants >>
Chris Brann CQSW, NVQ Management
Experience of local authorities and
private and voluntary sectors which includes:
- Practice as a field and residential social worker and fostering and adoption officer
- Management of adoption and fostering teams
- Implementation and maintenance of Looking After Children systems
- Establishment and management of case planning and independent review services for
looked after children
- Design and delivery of training in adoption, fostering, child care law and
policy and the LAC system
- Policy and procedure writing
- Consultancy for the CAE Pocket Guide to the Looking After Children system
and co-authorship of its Fostering Guide
- Complaints investigations
- Case and system audits
- Independent chairing of adoption panels
- Visiting lectureship in child protection
Edina Carmi BSc (Hons), Dip.App.Soc.Studies., C.Q.S.W., C.S.S.M.
Operational management and consultancy experience in local authority, voluntary sector and
social research which includes:
- Serious Case Reviews for ACPCs/LSCBs
- Formulation of child care and child protection manuals including co-author
of 'London Child Protection Procedures', and those being developed in Sussex, Berkshire, Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton, Kent and Medway
- Climbie audit for local authority and follow up action planning with 3
ACPCs
- Service audits and reviews including child protection, family support,
residential and after care, children's homes, family & resource centres and staff supervision
- Member of an audit team inspecting entire services provided by a LA
('shadow SSI inspection')
- Independent investigation
- Staff training and facilitation
- Operational management of area social work teams, children's homes and
fostering projects
Elizabeth Hunt BA (Hons), Dip.App.Soc.Sci., C.Q.S.W., M.Sc.
Experience in local authority, probation and the voluntary sector and in editing and
Government Relations and can offer:
- Preparation of tender responses/project planning
- Research and development
- Independent chairing of children's reviews, adoption and fostering panels
- Review of management systems
- Independent investigation of service user complaints and disciplinary issues
- Practice audits
Elizabeth also contributes to the 'Social Services Parliamentary Monitor'. See her
website: www.cadmus.co.uk.
Laura Ritchie BA (Hons), C.Q.S.W., M.Sc.
Operational and consultancy experience in local authorities and independent sector social care organisations
including:
- Residential, child in need and early years service management
- Service reviews, planning and development
- Inspection and quality assurance audits including Children's Home Regulation 33 visits
- Integrated process design including inter-agency information sharing and common assessment
- Service user participation and consultation
- Workforce development and training
- Independent chairing including secure panels
- Independent investigation of complaints and disciplinary matters
Roy Stewart BA DipASS CQSW CMS CPP
Social Work & Management Consultant with
extensive experience as practitioner and manager in local authority and voluntary
organisations in the following fields:
- Adoption
- Children with special needs
- Complaints investigation
- Foster care
- Independent chairing
- Project management
- Residential placement
- Training & facilitation
Co-author of Adoption Now (BAAF 2003, 2006)
Website: www.cqsw.org.uk
Additional services >>
Croham Services for Children (SfC)
(www.servicesforchildren.org.uk)
Fergus Smith, Laura Ritchie and Chris Brann are also directors of SfC which is based in Croydon and provides:
- High quality residential care of up to six children/young people aged ten to sixteen on admission
- Foster care with one of its twenty-plus approved foster homes.
During 2008 SfC (alreasy a preferred provider for a number of local authorities) will be develping further innovative services to meet needs expressed by local authorities, eg:
- Emergency placements
- 'Mother and baby' provision
- A venue for family group conferences
- Supervised contact facilities.
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