Getting it right for every child Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)(GIRFEC)
Rod Burns
Getting it right for every child/Children’s disability team
NMCN for Childrenwith Exceptional Healthcare Needs:
GIRFEC and Children’s Disability
September 29, 2010
Why Why Getting it right for every childGetting it right for every child??
• Long-term programme of change, foundation for work with all children and young people
• Well-being of children and young people at the heart of thinking, planning, action
• Strong emphasis on flexibility• Transformative - shifting the way services function
in regard to children• Involves major culture, system, practice change
Equally Well
Young Carers
Early Years Framework
Achieving Our Potential
Domestic Abuse
ChildProtection
Children’sHearings
Youth Justice
Parents and carers
Parental substance abuse
Looked After Children
Public Services Reform
Disabled children
WorkforceSkills
Young runaways
Additional Support for
LearningMore Choices More Chances
Curriculum for Excellence
Why is the GIRFEC approach necessary?
GIRFEC and Children’s DisabilityGIRFEC and Children’s Disability
• Traditionally, policy affecting disabled children fragmented
• Disconnect between education, social work, health, housing, third sector and so on
• Added to challenging landscape• Occasionally impenetrable, even within SG!• Opportunity in late 2009 to fuse children’s
disability remit into GIRFEC team, approach to children’s services
GIRFEC and Children’s Disability, contdGIRFEC and Children’s Disability, contd
• But much more than structural change• Fundamental compatibility between the GIRFEC
approach and needs of disabled children• Strongly child-centred• Children’s individual needs determining flexible
approaches• Streamlining, minimising bureaucracy
GIRFEC and Children’s Disability, contdGIRFEC and Children’s Disability, contd
• Improved assessment, info-sharing – reducing need to constantly retell information
• Focused on outcomes – positive change and better lives
• Leadership at all levels essential – strategic, operational, practitioner, family
• Not a new system, initiative or structure but redesign, refocusing of existing processes
• Culture change perhaps most important, challenging
Wider Work – FSDCWider Work – FSDC
• Work with FSDC Liaison Project – key to assisting better lives
• Significant achievements so far • Charter for Scotland’s Disabled Children• Diary Project, Baseline Survey• Large membership, supporter base• New challenges as first project manager moves
on, but also new opportunities within rapidly developing context
Wider Work – National ReviewWider Work – National Review
• PSR bill process, large interest in children’s disability amendments
• Negotiation, consensus• Opportunity to work in partnership – SG, CoSLA,
FSDC – during influential time (late 2010, into 2011)
• Commitment to broad look at children’s disability services, better outcomes for children
• Working through 2010 to end of year report on progress
Wider Work – Moving and HandlingWider Work – Moving and Handling
• In addition to strategic work, leading practical change
• Ministers accepted all but two recommendations, Handle with Care
• Currently running four drafting groups• Programme of meetings, work through winter• Drafting process into 2011, with launch and
communications activity to follow
Wider Work – Organisational SupportWider Work – Organisational Support
• Perhaps ‘old-fashioned’, but still hugely important• Directly sponsoring a range of groups providing
direct support to families• Advice, advocacy, maximising resources• Very well known, large – Contact a Family, Family
Fund, Capability• Also smaller – Butterfly Trust, Sleep Scotland
Care Co-Ordination/Lead ProfessionalCare Co-Ordination/Lead Professional
• Not dwell on this issue (detailed Highland, D&G and Borders experiences to come)
• Important to stress that key working/care coordination already established (with relevant skillsets) prior to GIRFEC; by doing one you’re doing the other
• GIRFEC not about replacing, or displacing, existing good practice which works
• Key balance – holistic approach to supporting child and family, drawing on specialist expertise around children’s complex needs
Going ForwardGoing Forward
• Excellent position for children’s disability• At heart of long-term vision for flexible child-
centred services in Scotland• Not complacent – transformation GIRFEC seeks
must also happen in support for all children across all agencies
• As GIRFEC rolls out, momentum for change will boost children’s disability agenda, including focus on children with complex needs
Contact DetailsContact Details
Rod Burns
Getting it right for every child/Children’s disability team2-B North, Victoria QuayEdinburgh, EH6 6QQ
(0131) 244 0253
www.scotland.gov.uk/gettingitright
Top Related