SERVICES
SERVICES OVERVIEW
We provide a targeted range of specialist services to local authorities and providers of children’s services. We are experts in supported accommodation, ensuring quality in an unregulated market, whilst simultaneously preparing clients for the eagerly anticipated upcoming regulation by Ofsted
SERVICE DESIGN
The design of a service is paramount to the outcomes achieved for young people. We offer bespoke consultancy packages to support organisations to design (or redesign) services for 16+ looked after children and care leavers. This includes full or part design of supported accommodation services, or services defined under ‘other arrangements’ in the Children’s act (1989). Our design service includes infrastructure development, adherence to compliance against current legislation and local authority expectations, and a bespoke programme of support tailored to the organisations end user group.
Examples of our work include
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Development of trauma informed programmes for complex needs young people
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Creation of staffing models to cater to service needs
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Redesigning service delivery procedures to meet client’s needs
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS
At Raising Standards, we believe when it comes to quality, there is always room for improvement to achieve the best for young people. Our quality assurance programmes are designed to help, not hinder, and look at services with renewed focus. We can be instructed to inspect and report on service quality, to give recommendations for areas of improvement, and to monitor how outcomes are measured. We either provide this service on behalf of the Local Authority to their commissioned services, or directly to providers who wish to assess practice and improve outcomes.
Examples of our work include
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In depth case reviews including reviewing risk assessments and support plans to consider usability and provide creative solutions to complex situations
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Reviewing accommodation quality, making recommendations for changes to meet the needs of the end user
INSPECTION PREPARATION
Being audit ready means focus is on ensuring quality work is being delivered and recorded. We support local authorities to prepare for Ofsted inspections, with a specific focus on 16+ young people placed in ‘unregulated’ provision. Our goal is to ensure the local authority and subsequently Ofsted are satisfied with the support and accommodation in place for those children, and that appropriateness of placement is considered.
Examples of our work include
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Provision of a complete and effective 16+ monitoring framework and service to the Local Authority, satisfying the requirements of Ofsted
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Design of bespoke packages to ensure all criteria are properly and objectively assessed, producing simple but effective reports for each provider
COMPLIANCE REVIEWS
We understand authorities and providers want to ensure they are compliant with practice guidance and legislation. Our compliance solution packages are designed to use swift and effective methods to check organisational compliance, on a broad or specific issue basis. We pride ourselves on integrating seamlessly into services to ensure minimal disruption and inconvenience. Compliance reports are produced in a specific timeline, producing an agreed action plan for development areas and training needs within the provision.
Examples of our work include
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Monitoring compliance against contracts and service level agreements, supporting the local authority to monitor service delivery effectively
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Producing compliance reports for the local authority ahead of an Ofsted inspection to detail compliance issues and action plans in place to address these
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
We acknowledge the complexities of hiring, training and retaining a workforce in the 16+ and supported accommodation sector. We have widespread experience of delivering solutions to local authorities and providers alike, tailoring training and retention programmes to their needs.
Examples of our work include
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Provision of organisation-wide statutory training solutions to cover a range of service specific issues including child protection and contextualised safeguarding
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Training children’s services workers on understanding supported accommodation remit, function and specifications
ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The strength of an organisations leadership and structure is paramount to positive outcomes, perhaps even more vitally in the children’s services sector. We work with services to support organisation transformation, whether it be full restructure or a shift in focus. We believe that a strong leadership competency framework should be at the heart of supported accommodation and assist services to achieve this.
Examples of our work include
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Using proven change management methodology to implement leadership culture changes
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Developing a framework of values for organisations refocussing their efforts on improved outcomes
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
We understand that crises can arise when supporting vulnerable people. It’s our belief that challenging events don’t need to equal poor outcomes, with the right management and follow up. We provide a crisis management service to help practitioners and services navigate complex issues to provide ultimate safety and success for the end user and stakeholders involved.
Examples of our work include
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Reviewing incident reports to challenge thinking and generate creative and robust safety plans for risk mitigation and reduction
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Provision of debrief services for those involved in challenging events to promote staff wellbeing, retention and reflective practice
