About Suffolk Social Care Services

Suffolk Social Care Services forms part of Suffolk County Council's statutory services. The department supports children and families across the county with core services.

http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/social-care/

Suffolk Social Care Services' Project

The SSCS EQUIPE project was looking particularly at the needs of vulnerable children; those identified by the Children Act 1989 as 'Children in Need' and those that are 'Looked After' by the Local Authority. The project created 6 permanent jobs in the local authority and protected 9, by extending existing services and encouraging service diversification. EQUIPE events enabled individuals to enhance their skills and position. The main objectives were:

• To develop innovative ways of providing services for ‘Looked after Children’, focusing on residential services. eg. respite, holiday care, over night care, day care, extended day care & foster care.
• To providing career development opportunities for experienced childcare and playwork practitioners through social entrepreneurship opportunities, service line agreements and contracts of work.
• To signpost those working with or wishing to work with ‘Children in Need’/‘looked after Children’ to appropriate qualification & training.
• To enhance existing Family Support Work Services by tapping the potential that exists in the Early Education, Childcare and Playwork Sector.
• To research existing and potential barriers preventing positive and lasting placement of ‘Children in Need’ in the target sector.
• To provide service development opportunities for experienced childcare and playwork practitioners or those wishing to work with ‘Children in Need’ though social entrepreneurship opportunities.
• To develop networks and more clearly define the links between Social Care Services and those working in the independent sector and voluntary sector in the service of children & young people.

Project Outputs

• New learning programme designed and written - Supporting Children, Young People and their Families.
• Guidance for social entrepreneurs through a ‘Social Enterprise’ event and series of dissemination presentations.
• Promotion of social entrepreneurship including information about marketing, business support opportunities and training.
• Provided guidance and support for social entrepreneurs through liaison with the Early Years and Childcare Service. Joint funded post created.
• Operational review of social care services contracting arrangements with the target sector undertaken - and service reconfigured. Mapping exercises undertaken - results shared with key agencies that service target sector and used to inform policy and procedures.
• Principles behind social enterprise in childcare mainstreamed by Early Years and Childcare Service development team, to encourage providers to consider this approach to their business development.
• Improvements to the childcare support service and contractual arrangements with social care service – and new support structures.
• Promotion of Social Care Services amongst target sector. Promotional materials, and articles in the target sector magazine ‘All Aboard’, raised profile of Childcare Support Advisers.
• Workshops and talks delivered to the target sector designed to enhance their skills in the delivery of services to ‘children in need’.
• Training offered to encourage men into work with ‘children in need’ - workshops and talks attended.
• Childcare Support Advisers attended networks of professionals and providers to ensure a high profile for the voice of social care service and children in need.