Principal Children and Families Social Worker network meeting

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Welcome & minutes of last meeting

Claudia Megele & Adam BirchallNational Co-Chairs

Nicola McGeown, Principal Social Worker

East Sussex County Council

“…it is time for digital literacy in social work to move beyond

the skills to send an email or update computer based records,

to more complex tasks that require an intricate and nuanced

understanding of technologies and the connected world.”

Amanda Taylor (2017): Social work and digitalisation: bridging the

knowledge gaps, Social Work Education

• Confidential info being shared and stuck

forever online

• Families and children having open

access to us all the time

• Don’t actually know how to do it and

keep my self safe online yet alone

others

Structural barriers

• The mantra of no and the risk assessment

• Not having the right technology

• Poor connectivity in large urban/rural LAs

• Slow cultural change across

the service

• Variable levels

of technical

knowledge in the

frontline

• Lack of clarity

of what digital

practice is

Top tips

for digital

practice

• Digital nerd in the frontline to innovate

• Digital nerd who gets social work practice in the backroom to accommodate

• Digital nerd champions across the service

Isabelle Trowler

Chief Social Worker for England (Children & Families)

Strengthening Families,

Protecting Children

18

Policy Update

19

What Works Centre – Appointments

20

The Board

CEO

Publication & Change Projects

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

The Panel all bring different perspectives of the child safeguarding system

gained from their range of experience in both leadership and front line roles

across children’s social care, health, education, police and law.

21

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Panel Members

Edward Timpson is Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. His career began as a Family Law Barrister specialising in children’s cases

1998-2008. He was MP for Crewe & Nantwich 2008-17, serving as Private Parliament Secretary to the Home Secretary 2010-12and as Children’s

Minister between 2012 and 2017. Currently he serves on the Board of Trade 2017- ; Chair of Cafcass 2018- ; and, he sits on the Children’s

Commissioner Advisory Board 2018;

Isabelle Trowler - took up the role as the Government's first Chief Social Worker for England (Children & Families) in 2013. Since then she has been

instrumental in the development and implementation of the Government's strategy for the reform for Children's Social Care. She is a Founder Member

of the What Work's Centre for Children's Social Care, a Member of the National Panel for Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and the National

Stability Forum. She also sits on the Ministerial led Family Justice Board and the Partners in Practice Governance Board;

Sarah Elliott - Non-Executive Director at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children

Board (LSCB) for Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset. She was previously Regional Chief Nurse for NHS England South;

Mark Gurrey - Chair of the South Gloucestershire Improvement Board and Chair of the LSCB for Devon & Wiltshire. He has a wealth of experience

working to bring about improvements at authorities in intervention;

Karen Manners – formerly Deputy Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, she has 32 years of experience in policing. She led for policing on the

Vulnerability Action Plan;

Professor Peter Sidebotham – recently retired Peter was Associate Professor in Child Health at Warwick Medical School, Consultant Paediatrician at

South Warwickshire NHS Trust and a designated doctor for safeguarding children at Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG);

Dale Simon CBE - a qualified barrister and previously the Director of Public Accountability and Inclusion at the Crown Prosecution Service. She is

currently the Non-Executive Director at the Parole Board; and

Dr Susan Tranter – Executive Headteacher of Edmonton County Schools and Chief Executive of Edmonton Academy Trust. She is a member of the

Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) Strategy Group and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Office of the Children’s

Commissioner.

22

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

What the data tells us after 5 months of operation:

Notification numbers

Number of serious incident notifications, 2014-15 to 2017-18

(Ofsted data)

In comparison:

• From July to mid-

November 2018 the

Panel has received 173

serious incident

notifications

• If this trend continues we

can expect to receive

c500 notifications in

2018-19

23

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Cases notified by region (provisional data)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

LAs who have notified LAs who have not

The Panel have considered cases from 89 out of 152 LAs.

They have not received any cases from 63 LAs.

Region

Number of LAs who

have notified over

the total in region

London 12/33

South West 10/16

South East 12/19

East 8/11

West Midlands 11/14

East Midlands 7/9

Yorks & Humb 7/15

North West 16/23

North East 6/12

24

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Types of cases considered by the Panel

The Panel has considered 195 cases

89 were child death cases

106 were serious harm cases

43 of those cases have been considered twice or more by the Panel, usually due to further correspondence or the Panel disagreeing with the LSCB decision.

32%

52%

6%10%

LSCB intend to initiatean SCR

non-initiation

non-publication

other (no SCRdecision, delay ofSCR, advice onpublication, SCR forinfo)

LSCB decision Cases

Initiate SCR 62

Non-initiation 101

Non-publication 13

Other

(no SCR decision, delay of SCR, advice on publication, SCR for info)

19

25

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Using the Right Criteria

Rapid Reviews are intended to help identify the key questions which might

need to be answered as part of a SCR, local or national review. In order to do

that you need to use the right criteria:

LSCBs should continue to use the criteria for a SCR set out in Working

Together (2015) when telling us whether or not they intend to commission a

SCR and they should indicate whether or not they think the cases raises

any issues that are complex or of national importance such that a national

review might be appropriate as set out in Working Together (2018).

Safeguarding Partnerships should use the criteria set out in Working

Together (2018).

26

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Rapid Reviews

We have seen some very good

examples:

The best provide a robust platform

from which to improve practice

Some have been thoughtful,

reflective and offered a good

analysis of the case and incident

Some have clearly set out next

steps

It should be clear about who was

involved in the decision-making

process.

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

The focus shouldn’t be on blame and

insight from relevant staff across

agencies will be crucial. This will help

you and the Panel to understand what

happened and identify wider issues

relating to safeguarding children.

It should attempt to explain what you

know about why processionals acted as

they did and look at professional

practice within the organisational

context.

27

NAAS – Initial research findings

28

They said We are doing

Candidates have said that the most valued support

available to them prior to assessment is:

information and activities that manage

expectations and answer practical questions about

what to expect on assessment day and after

learning their assessment outcome

opportunities to refresh knowledge on specific

topics – legislation, therapeutic approaches

We are building on this and creating a series of case

studies and blogs to highlight the user experience

and start building a NAAS community. The blogs

are being sent to sites and will be used for wider

communications campaigns. The first blog is

attached to this briefing.

Those closest to NAAS can describe its aims but

social workers who are not being assessed are

less aware with some unable to communicate

what it is beyond accreditation

We are looking at wider engagement activities to

help embed clear key messages of NAAS.

Current key messages are below.

We are also looking at what more Local Authorities

can do to promote NAAS themselves through

their embedded communications channels

NAAS is raising awareness of the KSS tool amongst

staff preparing for assessment.

We are looking at what more we can do to widen

this focus to ensure that all children’s social care

staff, not just those involved in NAAS, are fully

aware of and recognise the KSS as the post

qualifying standards.

There is some confusion around practice

endorsement and how it should be applied.

We are gathering evidence to set out

recommendations for practice endorsement in

phase 2.

29

The case for clear blue water: overview

• Care proceedings concluded in 2018 & 2012

• 4 local authorities across England; 100+ children

• Families’ needs the same as 20 years ago; no greater complexity

• Families living in poverty (little commentary on social context)

• 37% return home on supervision orders; 25% to extended family

• More families subject to thin red line decisions, where the decision

could go either way

Increase in care proceedings

6,7866,323 6,474

8,8319,203

10,250

11,10710,620

11,159

12,792

14,59914,223

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

Source: Cafcass

30

Supervision Orders: The National Picture

LA Supervision or

Assessment2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Supervision order 1,236 1,222 1,170 1,231 1,519 2,149 2,597

LA Supervision or

Assessment2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Supervision order 5,135 6,681 7,709 6,550 7,485 7,695 8,068

Number of children involved in Supervision Order applications made in Family courts in England and Wales, annually 2011 – 2017. Source: Ministry of Justice, Family Court Tables (Jan to Mar 2018)- Table 3

Number of children involved in Supervision Orders made in Family courts in England and Wales, by type of order, annually 2011 – 2017. Source: Ministry of Justice, Family Court Tables (Jan to Mar 2018)- Table 4

31

The case for clear blue water

32

Next steps

• Principles of the Children Act 1989: the primacy of family, the principle of

partnership with parents, the use of voluntary accommodation and the

concept of No Order – legitimate & respected in policy, practice & inspection

• Building the evidence base about most effective support for families

(targeted improvement)

• Shared care should be developed and incentivised!

• National learning programme: calibrate senior social work leaders’ decision

making within and between local authorities across England.

33

Refreshment Break

Growing up digital

Anne LongfieldChildren’s Commissioner

Artificial Intelligence and Social Work

Steve Liddicott

Interim Manager, Consultant (and Social Worker)

Uses of Technology in Social Work

Recent national media coverage about local authorities using ‘algorithms’ to predict the likelihood of a child being abused.

Should this worry us, or should we be encouraged by the possibility of improving outcomes for children?

Algorithms, machine learning and artificial intelligence tend to get confused.

A useful starting point is that algorithms don’t need computers.

An algorithm is just a list of instructions showing how to accomplish a task.

Thinking,Fast and Slow

• Daniel Kahneman in ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ shows that almost all of the time, we ‘think fast’ using limited data, without thinking about how we are thinking – working unconsciously – and then drawing rapid conclusions before taking action.

• Fast thinking follows learned responses or simple rules of thumb – where there are many complex variables or complex situations, we very often make mistakes unless we deliberately ‘think slow’ – consciously working things out so that we don’t miss the trees for the wood.

• Algorithm• A set of rules

• Machine Learning• Machine learning is a way of

“learning” which enables an algorithm to evolve.

• “Learning” means feeding the algorithm with a massive amount of data so that it can adjust itself and continually improve.

• Artificial Intelligence• It involves machines that have

the ability to carry out tasks characteristic of human intelligence. It’s a much broader concept than machine learning.

Algorithms, Machine Learning

and Artificial Intelligence

ThinkingSlow

• Conscious or ‘slow’ thinking uses complex algorithms, and in the professional world these are often codified into ‘flow diagrams’, ‘process charts’ or ‘operational descriptions’. Even the most talented professional needs an aide memoire to avoid slipping into ‘fast thinking’. (The downside is that these developments can be said to ‘de-professionalise’ practitioners, but I’d much prefer to have a surgeon who went through a checklist with their team …)

Algorithms

Following the Rules

Just Checking

Algorithms

Following the Rules

Computerised Algorithms

• So, we’ve all been using algorithms for years. What’s new is clearly the operation of computers in applying the algorithm. Computer-based algorithmic system is likely to be effective and rapid if it is fed accurate and relevant data and is properly set up to assess and take account of missing or partial data. Compared to a human decision-maker with the same data, the computer-based system ought to be better – computers don’t get bored or have off-days. However, it’s important that algorithmic systems are checked to ensure that they do not simply codify and automate human biases.

Machine Learning

Voice to textFacebookAlexaGoogle Maps

Artificial Intelligence

• The New York Times reports that the average flight of a Boeing plane involves only seven minutes of human-steered flight, which is typically take offand landing.

• Weak AI - The Spotify discovery mode, Netflix recommendations, Siri and autopilot ….

• General AI - The intelligence of a machine that could successfully perform any intellectual task that a human being can. AI can make a computer smarter and more aware of its past iterations, so it can gain new capabilities and knowledge. And it doesn’t exist yet ….

So, how does it work?

• Big Data• The more data sources the better

• Sources• Social Care

• Early Help

• Domestic Abuse

• Education

• Youth Offending

• Housing

• Revenues and Benefits

• Health

• Police

• Excluding• Ethnicity, location etc

Data Processing

• Anonymised Data Processed

• Identifies families “at risk”• Of social care intervention

• Refer to Early Help

• Where CP Plans could be stepped down

• Re-think protection plan

• Where CP Plans could be stepped up• To avoid care proceedings

• But the system only highlights concerns

• People decide whether there should be an intervention / change of plan

And What Does ThisTell You?

• Early identification• Subject to professional decision

making

• Earlier Step Down• Subject to professional decision

making

• Preventing Escalation• Subject to professional decision

making

My Conclusion?

• Computer-based algorithmic systems are the future, but so are professionals, both to ensure the algorithms themselves are appropriate, and to ensure that the output of the algorithm is reviewed intelligently and not applied blindly.

Lunch

A child centred model for assessingOnline Risks and Safeguarding Children and Young People Online

Dr Peter Buzzi

Refreshment Break

Social media and its impact

on the family courts

Anthony Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of Cafcass

PSW Network Conference

12th December 2018

A typical social media day for Cafcass

We have a statutory responsibility to safeguard

children’s welfare and inform parents of their

responsibilities. The media has a responsibility to

report on a situation accurately and honestly

before sharing on social media, to improve public

knowledge and avoid jigsaw identification. Social

media giants have a responsibility to ensure that

content being shared on their platforms is

appropriate.

Social media as evidence

• Practitioners work with unverified information every day and should assess

social media information as they would any other (excerpt from the Cafcass

Social Media Policy 2017).

• Social media increases the chances of knowing what is going on, but it has

risks that need managing e.g. children who are groomed via social media within

a few hours.

• No to fishing expeditions, yes to legitimate lines of enquiry e.g. using Facebook

to trace a missing parent; in CSE assessments, identifying adult perpetrators,

vehicles used etc.

• Authenticating online information is complex as screenshots and recordings can

be manipulated – ‘Alexa, start recording this meeting with Dad’.

• Use of social media to improve child protection assessments is crucial, but the

right consent or authority must be sought.

• Increase of digital information and potential ‘evidence’ can cause a danger of

information overload. See the wood for the trees.

• Evidence across national borders is increasingly important and needs a new

skill-set e.g. dealing with overseas governments, hostile campaigns.

• Use a corporate account when going on social media as a professional.

Is he or isn’t he? Did he or didn’t he?

A mother told the practitioner that the child’s

father is a drug user and other adults visit

his home to use drugs.

She provided screenshots of the father’s

Facebook page, where drug use was

mentioned. When asked about drug use,

the father said neither he nor his friends

used drugs, but some of them may have

made jokes about drug use on social media.

Child Impact: a new Voice of the Child app for

children to contribute more evidence

• A series of guided scenarios against which children can express their

thoughts and feelings.

• Completed using drawing, writing, scaling and sticker tools to portray people,

places and emotions.

• Upon completion, the app exports a PDF version which can be automatically

uploaded to the Cafcass electronic case file, allowing children to

communicate with their practitioner throughout the life of the case.

Matthew’s Top Tips for professionals working with

children and young people with autism

Top Tips for professionals when working with

brothers and sisters

Top Tips for professionals working with children

and young people affected by domestic abuse

Top Tips for separated parents

Child Impact Assessment Framework (CIAF)

Social media provides a support network for

families in the family court

• Social media has a strong role to play in raising issues and creating change –

‘each child is worth £200,000 to the forced adoption system: she was

snatched from the delivery suite by the Council’.

• Social media gives a degree of empowerment to vulnerable and

disadvantaged parents and other family members e.g, the Rotherham mother

who was a rape victim recently waived her right to anonymity by posting her

story on Twitter and now the Prime Minister has said she’ll ‘take action’.

• Parents can connect with other parents, to feel less alone, and to quickly

crowdsource support, even though theirs (the parent’s) is not the only

perspective the family court has to consider.

• Parents can alienate others including their children by seeking to overwhelm

the case with their own emotions or by their behaviour e,g covert recording

• “When cases such as this (Charlie Gard) go viral, the watching world feels

entitled to express opinions – whether or not they are evidence-based. A lot

of things have been said by those who know almost nothing about this case

but who feel entitled to express opinions... based on feelings rather than

facts”, Mr Justice Francis – this is a long way from ‘transparency’’.

The potential for AI and VR in practice

Sentiment analysis

• Commonly used by call centres. Software picks up on key phrases spoken by

an unhappy customer and provides guidance to the call handler.

‘Intelligent Assistants’: Cortana, Siri, Alexa

• The technology is there to install this software on phones or in meeting rooms.

The software can be programmed to pick up on tone or keywords, to then

prompt a notification to a line manager or start videoing the meeting discreetly

– this could improve the safety of social workers.

• In time we will I am sure combine AI and sentiment analysis. For example, we

will have software to generate a baseline report based on a scan of case

recording and other relevant documentation in a case.

A virtual reality toolkit

• VR can change the way parents and carers understand neglect, domestic

abuse and other high impact situations on children.

• VR can be used in training to radically shorten the time taken to learn, absorb

and apply key principles and programmes.

Pointers for the future

• As social workers, learn to be comfortable with exposure. If you practice

well, you have nothing to be afraid of e.g., imagine what ever you say or do

is being taped or filmed.

• Learn to distinguish evidence from noise, using clear thresholds for evidence

e.g., evidence of harm to a child with long-term implications and with a need

for specialist help and support.

• In our national public law reform strategy, we do need to be clearer about

grounds for adoption, the separation of siblings and the thresholds for interim

and permanent removal of children from their families.

• Social media offers new fresh opportunity to use a public health approach to

combating neglect, emotional harm and sexual exploitation, for example.

Social media and its impact

on the family courts

Anthony Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of Cafcass

PSW Network Conference

12th December 2018

WWC update

Ryan WiseSCIE

@skillsforcare

www.skillsforcare.org.uk/psw

Keep in touch

PSWnetworks@skillsforcare.org.uk