National Corporate Parenting Training Programme Evaluation

7 Future Delivery

7.1 The first phase of the Corporate Parenting training delivered by Who Cares? Scotland will complete in March 2013, and the Scottish Government is currently considering the commissioning of a second phase of this training programme. If commissioned, this second phase of the National Training Programme would have a focus on officials within the wider public sector (eg those in the police, health services, voluntary agencies).

7.2 This chapter of the report outlines suggestions for changes to delivery of the training programme and ascertains which additional audiences would benefit from this.

7.3 Almost all the qualitative respondents participating in this evaluation felt there was value in this training and that it should continue to be delivered by Who Cares? Scotland. While there were suggestions from one or two respondents that this could be delivered by their authority, most respondents were supportive of the continued provision by Who Cares? Scotland because of the advantages outlined in the previous chapter. Furthermore, there were some queries as to whether local authorities have the resources to be able to deliver this training internally.

7.4 Training needs to be supported at a senior level in authorities and partner organisations. One or two respondents wondered if low attendance levels were partially attributable to a lack of support from senior staff.

Audiences for the training programme

7.5 Given that there can be significant changes to EMs after an election, respondents continue to see EMs as a priority audience for the training and there were suggestions that this training programme should be made compulsory for all newly elected members within a few months of an election. Commenting on a lack of awareness among new councillors of their role as a corporate parents, an EM from Glasgow said: "I don't think that as you come in as a new councillor that potentially you are aware of that", they also said that "I think probably I would make it mandatory".

7.6 While there was a preference for the training to continue to be delivered by Who Cares? Scotland, one respondent queried whether The Improvement Service⁴ should play a role in facilitating attendance, given their involvement in other aspects of training for EMs.

7.7 Although EMs are still perceived to be a key audience for this training, respondents also suggested a number of other types of individual who would benefit from this training, and these included a range of people in within the wider public sector:

• Staff within the police and fire & rescue services.
• Teaching and support staff, particularly those involved in pastoral care and guidance, in schools who may have very little contact with looked after children but who nonetheless need to be able to understand the issues relating to them.
• Staff within further and higher education, particularly those involved in pastoral care and guidance, who may have very little contact with looked after children but who also need to be able to understand the issues relating to them.
• Students training to become social workers / teachers.
• Individuals on the periphery of social work / education / healthcare who might occasionally come into contact with looked after children e.g. GPs.
• Foster parents / potential foster parents.
• Community partnership groups.
• Third sector / voluntary groups who have an involvement with children and young people e.g. those offering children's community services.
• Employers.

7.8 Many online respondents felt that a second phase of the Who Cares? Scotland programme would be beneficial, not simply for themselves but also for others:

• Yes - for me (16)
• Yes - for colleagues (28)
• Yes - for my organisation (28)
• Yes - for partner agencies / organisations (22)
• Yes - for the Looked after Children in my area (15)
• No (5)
• Don't know (9)

7.9 Online respondents were also asked: 'which types of staff / others within your area / organisation would most benefit from Who Cares? Scotland Corporate Parenting training'? The findings show that respondents felt the training would be helpful to a wide range of individuals.

• Elected Members (30)
• Directors / other strategic decision makers (29)
• Managers (30)
• Department staff (21)
• Front-line staff (24)
• Don't know (6)

Key elements of the training programme

7.10 Respondents outlined a number of elements that they would like included in the training programme. First and foremost, local information is important, so any training offered needs to be tailored to each local authority area.

"If it's tailored to the city, it gives us a better feeling for it. If it's not tailored to the local authority it would maybe be a bit of, not complacency but maybe 'that doesn't happen in our local authority'".

7.11 Second, inclusion of a looked after child who can provide their perspective is a powerful element of the training. The training should continue to include a care leaver who can present their viewpoint and also include looked after children from the local authority where possible. Where this has happened, it was very well received and the debate between the two young people was praised for the level of information it provided and the amount of debate it encourage. Inclusion of a local young person increases the credibility of the presentation.

7.12 Respondents see the benefit of local information but also want this set in the context of national information. The provision of statistics is a useful element of the training programme, although it is important that these are up-to-date.

7.13 The provision of exemplars, good practice and case studies is also a key element for respondents who like to see what works in other areas and what might work in their own area. It is also helpful for Who Cares? Scotland to provide critiques on existing good practice and outline what works, what does not work, what might need to be modified and so on. Some respondents also requested regular updates on any changes affecting looked after children, although others said they already receive this. While there is a suggestion that some issues will be area-specific, there are also acknowledgements that many local authorities are likely to have to deal with similar issues.

Future training programme

7.14 While the depth of information provided by Who Cares? Scotland is suitable for EMs and some staff with little or no knowledge of looked after children and corporate parenting, the findings show that the depth of information is not enough for individuals already working in this area. Those who have a looked after children background did not feel they learnt anything from the session, which was described as 'basic'. However, they would welcome more in-depth training, particularly if this incorporates examples of good practice, exemplars, case studies and so on.

7.15 While qualitative respondents were aware of SG initiatives such as GIRFEC, Curriculum for Excellence and so on, there were some suggestions that there could be better links with these initiatives within this training. Not all EMs were aware of the Changing Lives Agenda or felt there was a fit with other training they get such as the Improvement Service training programme for EMs.

7.16 The delivery of training to EMs has specific logistical issues in that some EMs will have employment alongside their role as an EM; some will sit on a number of committees. Most EMs participating in this research commented on the difficulties of setting up training for EMs. Indeed, our experience of recruiting EMs to participate in this research supports the logistical difficulties of setting up a meeting that can be attended by a number of EMs. As such, consideration needs to be given as to the optimal time for delivery of training. We are aware of a recent training session that was appended to a council meeting attended by all EMs and this may well be one way to ensure higher rates of attendance from EMs. One respondent also commented on the need for a condensed version of the training programme for EMs so that this could readily be part of the agenda for a council meeting.

7.17 There were also some suggestions that Who Cares? Scotland could set up events across local authorities; for example, in Glasgow, EMs suggested that the next phase of training might incorporate sharing good practice events or other opportunities to learn from other local authorities.

7.18 One senior council official suggested there needs to be more training on how corporate parenting fits in with other work being done and commented that it needs a higher profile. They suggested that Who Cares? Scotland could run a conference to enable delivery to a wider range of people in one location; they also noted the need to include other audiences. They also suggested involving other partner organisations in the training programme to demonstrate good practice they undertake and how this could apply to other areas. One respondent noted not only the need to share good practice but to benchmark this against indicators.

7.19 There were also suggestions that Who Cares? Scotland could take on a networking role; acting as an 'introducer' or intermediary between different organisations with an interest in corporate parenting. One respondent queried whether Who Cares? Scotland could provide a central resource on their website outlining good practice and case studies. This respondent is a member of a learning hub where they can access case studies by theme or by area and felt something like this could be very useful for the area of corporate parenting. Again, if this role is adopted by Who Cares? Scotland, it will be important that it is regularly updated and contains a wide range of examples of good practice; as well as suggestions for how good practice could be adapted or improved upon. As one EM commented,

"We need to know what interventions are being used, what works, what is happening in different areas, and can this be translated to all areas? We need a format that includes background on how looked after children end up in care; need to consider attachment issues and behaviour."

7.20 One respondent suggested the need to look at performance in relation to indicators. They noted,

"What we want is more than just an information hub. We need to look at performance in relation to indicators. WCS could take a lead co-ordinating role. We want a forum where the information can be shared. It needs to be updated every year so we can get a sense across all 32 authorities on what their corporate parenting plans are."

7.21 Some respondents commented on the need for any data or statistical information included in the training programme to be updated on an on-going basis.

7.22 There were comments on the format with some EMs suggesting that an auditorium or lecture style might be replaced with a more interactive format, two Glasgow EMs discussed this point: "I think maybe working with a small group, sitting round a table, encouraging a more conversational type " - "yes, like a workshop almost" - "might be quite useful".

7.23 One respondent noted the importance of keeping the momentum going as well as undertaking other work to help promote corporate parenting across a wide range of organisations. They noted the need to ensure this sustains and reinforces on an ongoing basis.

In summary, almost all the qualitative respondents participating in this evaluation felt there was value in this training and that it should continue to be delivered by Who Cares? Scotland.

Potential audiences for the training programme

Qualitative respondents continue to see Elected Members as a priority audience for this training, although a wide range of other potential audiences were also noted by both qualitative and online respondents. These included:

• Staff within the police and fire & rescue services.
• Teaching and support staff, particularly those involved in pastoral care and guidance, in schools and further and higher education establishments.
• Students training to become social workers and teachers.
• Individuals on the periphery of social work / education / healthcare who might occasionally come into contact with looked after children e.g. GPs.
• Foster parents / potential foster parents.
• Community partnership groups, e.g. those offering children's community services.
• Third sector / voluntary groups who have an involvement with children and young people.
• Employers.

Key elements for the training programme

Respondents outlined a number of elements that they perceived to be essential as part of this training and these included:

• Information tailored to their local area and set in the context of national information.
• Inclusion of a looked after child; ideally one from the local area.
• Provision of good practice, case studies, exemplars, with critiques / suggested modifications.
• Updates on any changes in the area of corporate parenting.

Potential changes for a future training programme

While the depth of coverage was perceived to be right for Elected Members and individuals with little or no experience of corporate parenting, there were some suggestions that the depth of information is not enough for individuals already working with looked after children. These individuals would welcome more in-depth training, including more information on good practice and case studies.

There is a need to ensure flexibility in the delivery of this programme because of the logistical issues facing Elected Members in attending training sessions. Thought needs to be given to the optimal time for delivery of training. There is also a need for any data to be up-to-date and continually updated.

There are some suggestions for additional roles that could be adopted by Who Cares? Scotland, and these included:

• Setting up events across local authorities, for example sharing good practice events.
• Adopting an intermediary role, helping councils and partner organisations to network.
• Setting up a central web-based resource identifying examples of good practice and case studies; along with ideas for how good practice can be adapted or improved upon.