Getting it right for every childGetting it right for every child

GIRFEC: originsGIRFEC: origins

GIRFEC has evolved over time:

• Kilbrandon Report 1964

• Children (Scotland) Act 1995

• For Scotland’s Children (2001)

• It’s everyone’s job to make sure I’m alright (2002)

• Review of Children’s Hearings (2004)

What is GIRFEC ? What is GIRFEC ?

•Getting it right for every child is a way of working which focuses on improving outcomes for all children by placing the child at the centre of thinking, planning and action

•It affects all services that impact on children (i.e. adult services working with parents/ carers)

•It builds from universal services: moving crisis intervention to early intervention

•It streamlines processes and uses IT to support best practice on information sharing

The core components of The core components of Getting it right for Getting it right for every childevery child

• Improving outcomes for children

•Common approach to gaining consent and sharing information where appropriate

• Integral role for children

•Co-ordinated and unified approach , based on the Well-being Indicators

•Streamlined planning, assessment and decision making - the right help at the right time

The core components of The core components of Getting it right for Getting it right for every childevery child

•Co-operation, joint working and communication

•A Lead Professional to co-ordinate

•Maximising the skilled workforce within universal services

•A confident and competent workforce across all services

•The capacity to share demographic, assessment, and planning information electronically

So what does this mean for children, young So what does this mean for children, young people and families?people and families?

Children will:

• feel confident about the help they are getting

• understand what is happening and why

• have been listened to carefully

• be appropriately involved

• be able to rely on appropriate help and have a streamlined and co-ordinated response.

The GIRFEC approach comprises: The GIRFEC approach comprises:

• Core components

• Principles and values

• Common understanding

• Shared language

• Practice model (needs and strengths)

• Well-being and well becoming

GIRFEC: Child at centre & a network of support GIRFEC: Child at centre & a network of support

The Scottish Government: vision for children - supported The Scottish Government: vision for children - supported by eight well-being indicatorsby eight well-being indicators

Children’s well-becoming:

•confident individuals

•effective contributors

•successful learners

•responsible citizens

Supported by the 8 well-being indicators:

Safe Healthy Achieving Nurtured

Active Respected Responsible Included

Elements of the GIRFEC practice modelElements of the GIRFEC practice model

• My World Triangle

• Well-being wheel

• Resilience matrix

Well-beingWell-being

Resilience MatrixResilience Matrix

Adapted from Daniel, B., Wassell, S. and Gilligan, R. (1999) Child Development for Child Care and Protection Workers, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd., London and Philadelphia and Daniel, B. and Wassell, S. (2002) Assessing and Promoting Resilience in Vulnerable Children, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd., London and Philadelphia. Published by kind permission of the authors and Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd., London and Philadelphia.

Planning, action and reviewPlanning, action and review

Use the well-being indicators to plan, take action and review.

Where necessary develop a plan that incorporates all elements of involvement to meet a child’s needs.

When two or more agencies are involved, action coordinated by a Lead Professional.

Review the outcome of the plan with the child, young person and family.

The GIRFEC Practice ModelThe GIRFEC Practice Model

Building electronic information sharing Building electronic information sharing solutions as part of GIRFEC practicesolutions as part of GIRFEC practice

New version of the national eCare framework structured around the GIRFEC practice model will support:

• Electronic sharing of information (all children, all needs and issues)

• Controlled messaging of information about child protection issues

• The development of a chronology and/or a child’s virtual shared record

National implementation requires… National implementation requires…

CULTURE CHANGE

•Learning together, co-operating, children at the centre

SYSTEMS CHANGE

•Streamlining, simplifying, improving effectiveness

PRACTICE CHANGE

•Appropriate, proportionate and timely help, shared materials, tools, protocols

Implementation when?Implementation when?

•Now and ongoing - rolling programme

•Pathfinders and Learning Partners - at different stages

•Highland, pan Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Edinburgh, Angus, Domestic abuse pathfinders

•Wider learning community

•Parallel tracks connected to Early Years/Road to recovery/Equally Well/ASL etc.

Early learning from pathfinders Early learning from pathfinders

• Child and family involvement is improved

• Cross agency executive sign up is vital

• Inter-agency training is key to supporting change

• Common language and understanding leads to early and appropriate action

• More appropriate referrals to the reporter and CP register

Next stepsNext steps

• Spring 2009: national implementation plan (5 – 10 years)

• Summer 2009: learning exchange document (Highland)

• Autumn 2009: initial evaluation report

• On-going: development of national electronic information sharing solutions under eCare framework

• On-going: connecting GIRFEC with inspection and workforce development

Keeping updatedKeeping updated

• SG website www.scotland.gsi.gov/gettingitright

• Partner Newsletter

• Learning Community