From Telford and Wrekin’s DCS and our outgoing chair:
I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed, but this will be my final introduction to the Regional Update as Chair of the DCS Network. In July, Nigel Minns from Warwickshire will take over, bringing a wealth of experience and steady leadership to the role. As the region’s longest-serving DCS and Vice Chair for over four years, Nigel has certainly had a more extended warm-up period than I did. When I stepped into the role, unforeseen movement within the Network meant my time as Vice Chair lasted just a month before I took on the Chair position. It was a challenging period, with half a dozen key members of our core team moving on in quick succession.
Despite these transitions, the Network remained strong, thanks to thoughtful succession planning by many of our predecessors and the appointment of experienced DCSs by local authorities. This stability has allowed us to maintain momentum on key priorities and deliver real impact across the region.
The Regional Team has played a vital role in preserving organisational memory, ensuring that critical initiatives such as the Safe Centre, the regional care leaver offer, and our agency social worker Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have not only continued but are now starting to show meaningful results.
The Agency Social Worker MoU has proven its value, saving money for all local authorities while also bringing much-needed stability to our workforces. The West Midlands Care Leaver Offer has been recognised as an example of best practice, with other regions now looking to replicate our approach. The Safe Centre has progressed from an aspiration to a reality, with a site secured, plans in place, and building work set to begin in the near future.
Each of these initiatives still has work ahead, and we will undoubtedly face challenges, but we have moved forward far more than we might have hoped at the start of 2023.
Over the past two years, several key issues have shaped our work across the region. Changes in Government and the evolving policy landscape, including the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the Families First Partnerships, have been at the forefront of our collective efforts. However, our Principal Social Workers, with their strong connections to the national network, continue to drive best practice and inspire through their annual conference.
There are of course, many challenges that we continue to grapple with. SEND remains a persistent issue. While the conversations may not have moved on as much as we’d like, we have ensured that the voice of the West Midlands is being heard in Whitehall in a way that perhaps it wasn’t before. Similarly, academisation of Schools remains a hot topic, with uncertainty around the new government’s approach. However, our Education and Skills Group plays a crucial role in shaping and informing the discussion. And of course the Financial Climate has made our work more difficult, but DCSs and their senior leadership teams continue to rise to the challenge, ensuring that the voice of the child remains at the heart of every decision.
So, as I step down, I do so with confidence in the future of the Network. We have a clear set of priorities, an outstanding new Chair in Nigel, and a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to making a difference. With the continued support of our networks and the Regional Team, I know the West Midlands is in safe hands.
Thank you for your support and collaboration over the years, it has been an honour to serve as Chair, and I look forward to seeing all that the Network will achieve in the years ahead.
Kind regards
Jo Britton
Understanding the emerging use of AI in social work practice and social work education:
Research in Practice is working with Social Work England to find out more about how AI is being used by social work employers and social work educators in social work education and practice.
As a region we are also embarking on a piece of work which will consider how we might move forward collectively with AI applications. As such it is important that we contribute to this piece of national research too. So would encourage you all to both complete the RiP survey here, and forward the link across your own organisation, as appropriate.
SEND Leadership Programme:
SEND Leadership Capacity remains a key priority; not all WM LAs have permanent, stable strategic SEND leadership. Peter Gray’s financial review in the West Midlands and his work with ten LAs nationally highlights this as a key factor in terms of risk. Securing high quality interim SEND leaders is challenging. Growing capacity and supporting aspiring leaders within the region is essential.
The joint NDTi / RIIA SEND Leadership programme has run for several years in the Midlands, is well-respected and continues to be over-subscribed. The 2024 cohort had a good mix of Education and Social Care leaders, one Parent & Carer Forum Chair, and seven WM NHS leaders, a mixture of Designated Clinical / Medical Officers, ICB and NHS England staff. Several have cited the programme as key in supporting their career development and securing promotion.
We are in the process of commissioning the Staff College to run a programme for the West Midlands in 2025. For further information or to make nominations, please contact Jane Carter.
West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative - relaunch of Integrated Residential Outreach Care (IROC): Ahead of the relaunch of the Integrated Residential Outreach Care (IROC) model, West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative are hosting a series of 15-minute bite-sized information sessions for social care colleagues working with young people with complex mental health needs, who are living in residential care settings. Sessions will cover:
A brief overview of the changes to the IROC service
How IROC will support young people in residential care who are subject to a DoLS order.
How to refer and what to expect
For more details and to book a place, please click here.
Upcoming Conferences and Events
Celebrating Coproduction with the Parents Voice – 1st April - FREE:
Telford & Wrekin would like to invite professionals from across the West Midlands to this event.
This in-person gathering will take place at the Mercure Telford Centre Hotel. Come together with other parents to share experiences, insights, and ideas on how we can work together to support our children's growth and development. It's a time to celebrate the power of collaboration and the importance of the parents' voice in decision-making. Let's make a difference together
For further information, please find the webpage here.
Regional participation training – 2nd April – FREE: Our care experienced network of young people across the West Midlands have co-produced some training with their Participation leads. They invite you to attend their online 2-hour introduction session on Teams. This training covers some of the basic principles of good participation, based on lived experience from across the West Midlands.
For more details, please follow this link.
Click here to book.
West Midlands Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway - Webinar and Training Dates:
Please see attached the Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway Webinar and Training dates for this year, is available here - this workstream is being led by Solihull Children's Services, in collaboration with all regional Children's Services, Policing and other agencies.
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