Education Resources
Validated Self Evaluation
Theme group – Quality Assurance
Case Study
Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)
June 2011
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Case Study
Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)
Summary of activity:
Co-ordination of activity to promote and embed self evaluation across Children’s Services in East
Kilbride and Strathaven which contributes to improvement planning.
How was this area of work undertaken?
Integrated Children’s Services (ICS) Area Co-ordinators were tasked with delivering multi-agency
locality events which would contribute to gathering evidence towards the national and local
performance frameworks in Children’s Services. A series of events were held in the East Kilbride
locality which were aimed at practitioners and managers involved in delivering services to children
and families. These interactive events improved knowledge of national quality improvement
frameworks, raised awareness and built skills in self evaluation, allowing practitioners to work
collaboratively and develop the ability to draw up action plans to contribute to service
improvement.
To date nine of these events have taken place in the locality involving over 200 practitioners and
managers. Following the first event, it became apparent that the collaborative work could
simultaneously gather evidence which would contribute to a number of different performance
frameworks, depending on the indicators chosen. Banks of evidence have therefore been
gathered which have contributed to performance frameworks in Children’s Services, Community
Learning and Development (CLD), How good is our School, Services to Protect Children and
Young People and performance frameworks in Health. The evidence has been used to contribute
to positive inspections, for example, of the Strathaven Learning Community and the Joint
Inspection of Services to Protect Children.
The methodology at these events asked practitioners to focus on 4 basic issues:
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highlight examples of good practice within individual services
highlight examples of good practice in multi-agency activity
record the nature of the evidence and where it is located
identify areas for improvement.
In addition to the large events which attracted up to 40 people, the activity has also encouraged
individual practitioners to use and promote the methodology within their own services and
workplaces.
The sub group leading the activity has been responsible for gathering and summarising the
evidence in folders held at accessible locations. The group has ensured that the information is
reported and fed back to local managers through the Area Co-ordination Group and disseminated
across services. The group has also ensured that the improvement action plans are monitored and
reviewed regularly, either through small or larger group discussion and evaluation.
Who was involved in taking this work forward?
The initiative was led by a sub-group of the Area Coordination Group, chaired by the ICS Area
Coordinator and including representation from CLD and youth learning, Education QIO1, the health
improvement manager, and participation by the fieldwork manager from Social Work Resources.
The group reports regularly to the Area Co-ordination Group.
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QIO – Quality Improvement Officer
What impact and benefits are evident for service users?
Building of networks has helped to streamline processes to meet the needs of vulnerable children
in line with the GIRFEC principles.
By highlighting examples of good practice, it has been possible to replicate these in other local
areas and establishments, for example a ‘21st century families initiative’ and also a DVD to support
early years transition.
Service users have become more involved in child protection processes.
There has been more effective targeting of resources, for example to children with additional
support needs and their families
Additional information:
The benefits to practitioners include:
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Increased knowledge of a variety of performance improvement frameworks;
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Improved partnership working and building of networks;
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Better understanding of the work of partner organisations;
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Improved skills relating to self evaluation and reflective practice;
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Increased confidence in describing and celebrating achievements;
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Increased ability to identify areas for improvement and draw up action plans.
Contact for further information:
Val McIntyre, Integrating Children’s Services Area Co-ordinator
Val.mcintyre@ics.s-lanark.org.uk