Eden Brown Service Delivery were commissioned by a South Yorkshire Service to provide a Managed Service Assessment Team.
The Challenge
Facing unprecedented challenges created by increasing demand, diminishing budgets and a continued commitment to improving services to vulnerable children and adults, South Yorkshire Children’s Services needed highly experienced, qualified social workers to help reduce the pressure on their existing team.
The Solution
South Yorkshire Children’s Service commissioned Eden Brown Service Delivery to provide an ongoing Assessment Team consisting of one Team Manager and five Social Workers.
An initial consultation took place with the Service Manager to understand the Local Authority’s aims and requirements. The proposal, pricing, duration and KPIs were agreed, following which, the team of six were mobilised within two weeks, with a clear project delivery plan in place.
An implementation day was held prior to the project commencing, ensuring effective team integration and IT set-up.
- Swift implementation of an Assessment Team to address lack of capacity within the service.
- EBSD Management Team provided daily performance and tracking of the team’s progress.
- Themed audits and dip-sampling were undertaken by the Team Manager and Quality Assurance Manager.
- Weekly performance reports were provided, evidencing good performance and throughput.
- Regular Senior Management ‘Risks and Issues’ Meeting were held throughout the project, to ensure effective communication and to identify and resolve any emerging issues swiftly.
- Midway and End-of-Project Meetings were held to evaluate progress and outcomes against agreed KPIs. Comprehensive reports were provided at these stages.
- A helpful and collaborative working relationship developed between the EBSD senior manager and the sponsor, in which suggestions and feedback were shared and explored. These ideas were taken forward by the sponsor to further develop their service delivery.
Results
As a result of the successful delivery of the service, within seven weeks the Local Authority requested Eden Brown Service Delivery to provide additional support (a pilot team) to trial a new approach within their assessment service. The second team was implemented and has proven to be a success. This support is ongoing at present.
- 100% of 5-day case management reviews have been completed on all cases.
- 100% of 15-day review can be seen on every child’s file.
- 100% of case supervisions are recorded on children’s files within the permitted timeframe.
- 100% of case allocations allocated on day on referral
- 80% of audits rated as ‘good
"I would definitely promote Eden Brown Service Delivery's social work service. Their approach has been very supportive, delivering good quality assessments and outcomes. The additional capacity provided has been helpful to the assessment service while the feedback provided has been helpful informing future service delivery. The quality of the practice audits completed for the midway review have been insightful and has evidenced timely assessments and a good level of direct work with children/young people."
- Service Manager, Doncaster Children’s Service