What gets in the way of responding to child neglect? The development of an

innovative organisational learning package

Hannah Roscoe, Senior Research Analyst, SCIE

Jane Wiffin, SCIE Associate

DfE funded project to develop training materials on child neglect

Evidence

• Rapid review of research evidence and Learning Together reviews

eLearning

• Development of an eLearning ‘primer’ course• Focus on critical reflection on definitions of neglect, and on

‘myths and misconceptions’

Develop training

• Developed scenario-based training in partnership with London Borough of Hackney

Pilot training

• Piloting and evaluation in Doncaster, Essex and Brighton & Hove• Feedback to subgroup of LSCB in each site

Aims of this workshop session

Thinking behind the training ‘Taster’ of some of the materials – your

thoughts and feedback Feeding back some of the issues from our

pilot sites Reflections

Background and aims of the project

Significant evidence base on neglect - yet widespread challenge (for example, frequent issue in Serious Case Reviews)

Develop training materials to: Support individual learning about neglect Promote organisational learning about blocks and barriers

to working effectively with neglect Links with Munro Review recommendations:

Fostering professional judgement and reflection Creating channels for managers to hear concerns of

frontline staff

Taking a systems approach

“The crux of a systems approach... is that it examines human performance in its context and recognises that people’s competence in carrying out tasks to a high standard is influenced by the whole system around them” (Munro, 2012)

What this means in practice

Giving people information but also: Helping them think through barriers to putting

training in to practice Training as a ‘two way street’ and opportunity for

organisational learning

Using fictional case scenarios to trigger exploration of ‘real-life’ multi-agency working context

Linking back in to multi-agency Learning and Improvement activities – eg feedback

The ‘blended learning programme’

Scenario-based training day

Key messages to senior managers

Multi-agency scenario day

Time Session

9.30 – 10.00 Introduction

10.00 – 11.30 Scenario – assessment, analysis and decision making

11.45 – 1.15 Reflection on how we work together on neglect

14.00 – 16.10 Analysis of systems issues

16.10 – 16.30 Reflections and close

Scenarios

‘Composites’ of common aspects of a variety of cases

Include aspects of practice which literature and SCRs tell us that practitioners find difficult

Keeping people deliberately under time pressure

Scenario part 1

Family member Relationships Age Ethnicity

Vicky Mother 25 years White/UKKylie Daughter 3 years White/UKRuby Daughter 15 months White/UK

Robbie Son 15 months White/UK

• Family recently moved in to area, and attending a Children’s Centre

• Some concerns about Kylie who is not speaking yet, is struggling to play with other children, and has had a number of accidents at home

• Mum is under pressure with the twins, and has separated from her partner

Scenario 2 (10 months on)

Usually we ask groups to: Do an initial analysis of the information Gather more information (‘Oracle’) Write a referral to Children’s Social Care Get feedback on the referral from another group

Read the scenario and discuss with the person next to you: What issues do you think this exercise might

raise?

What came up in the sites

Who can you get information from? Confusion and inconsistency

Euphemistic language and reluctance to name neglect

Thresholds and working across interface of statutory versus non-statutory services

Conceptual framework – five areas

The form the neglect takes, and the aspects of the child or young person’s life that are affected:

Physical Emotional Educational/stimulation Medical Supervisory Social

Its persistence and pervasiveness. The impact from the point of view of the child. What has caused the caregiver to neglect the child. Whether neglect is intentional or unintentional, and

caregiver commitment and capacity to change

What came up in the sites

Thinking about omission and commission – people find this difficult

Causality never clearly articulated, even if ideas exist about it

Difficulty taking the child’s perspective

Helping people think about ‘why’

Scenarios help to create a ‘microcosm’ of practice

Highlight a number of barriers and challenges (and good practice)

Afternoon session aims to: Further understand and unpack these issues Think about underlying reasons Think about solutions – individual and

organisational

Reflections

Aim: ‘a different kind of training’ Scenarios do help to foster conversations

about ‘real’ practice Participants find it helpful to talk through

practice ‘dilemmas’ – even when no immediate answers

Helping people unpack the issues can be challenging

Next steps

Training will be available on a paid-for basis to LSCBs

Variety of options, including purchasing additional eLearning licenses

Marketing via SCIE website

Contact details

Hannah Roscoe, Senior Research Analyst Hannah.roscoe@scie.org.uk www.scie.org.uk