Community Leadership Conference - Everyone's Business Presentations
Howard Kennedy's Presentation
Maggie Farrar's Presentation
Winsford Education Partnership Presentation
Pat Collarbone's Presentation
“Community Leadership – Everyone’s Business”
On 12 March and 23 April 2007, Community Leadership Conferences were held at the Holiday Inn, Runcorn.
National speakers presented stimulating and challenging ideas to delegates from across a range of multi-agency organisations. The speaker presentations can be downloaded for wider dissemination.
Feedback from the Conferences was equally interesting and challenging for all working with children, young people, parents and families to deliver the Every Child Matters Agenda across local communities.
This brief report summarises the policy and practice messages from the events.
Key messages – key levers
The overall message from delegates was a clear consensus that an outcomes focused integrated service agenda for children, young people and families is the right approach.
There was a shared feeling that communication from Government about policy and strategies needs to be more consistent and integrated across departments and themes. For example, there was concern about the perceived conflict between the Every Child Matters and Standards agendas.
Concern was expressed about the pace and scale of change which often led to insufficient time to absorb and reflect on policy and practice guidance, resulting in a sense of information overload. Several delegates expressed concern that the right information was not getting to the right people, including front line workers, children, young people and families themselves.
The importance of engaging middle managers was highlighted. Middle managers were seen as being bound by organisational constraints and they needed empowering.
There should be a common and integrated “induction” into children’s services across all agencies. Getting the skills mix right is essential for integrated working.
Messages about funding are contradictory. The Government’s short-term funding streams can undermine stability and limit progress.
There was a general consensus that the kind of joining up and collaborative working that the agenda now demands can only be delivered at the local level. Therefore a break from the “top down strategy” approach would be helpful and enable the development of a local dynamic to reform.
Needs are different in different areas but the key challenge is seen as the development of local drivers for change and improvement across multi-disciplinary teams. This will require a shared sense of purpose and clear understanding of local issues and priorities.
New community governance models e.g. social enterprises require development to devolve service delivery, accountability and assets. Greater support should be given to the third sector to support local solutions.
Sue Egersdorff
County Manager – Children and Families
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