Bedford Borough Audit Commission Review

Further to the audit commission's review conducted in the summer, using the Ofsted framework for the announced inspection of safeguarding and looked after children services, you and colleagues from your agencies took part in a range of focus groups. An editied version of the report is now available to you,which highlights findings which are of relevance to partnership working and which you may find helpful in your ongoing preparations for the anticipated Ofsted inspection. Please note that through the editing process, there are some format issues which could not be resolved - it is hoped that this does not detract from the content and its usefulness to you. Click here to download. (10.11)

Bedford Borough Council Transition Tools

Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce the development of three new Transition Tools. The first is a new Protocol and pathway which identifies three priorities:

1.  To provide information to young people and their families about what will be available to them when they become adults
2.  To provide information to adult services at a statistical and strategic level about the numbers and types of people who will need support and the nature of the support they will require
3.  For both children’s and adult services to support young people and their families in the transitional period and ensure that appropriate services are available at each stage of the journey

The second is a Multi-agency assessment tool for transition (MAAT). This document will replace the need for multiple assessments and is based upon the recently published booklet "Pathways to Getting a Life". There are five questions:  (i) Employment and Learning, (ii) Housing, (iii) Health, (iv) Friendships, Relationships and Community, (v) Parent/Carer needs.   The MAAT is a person centred tool which will help capture data on young people in the Borough and will help to plan their future aspirations.  

The final tool is a Transition Information Folder which aims to help families organise some of the information they will gather during the transition process.  
If you require any further information on Transition in Bedford Borough please contact Abbey Woolgar (Children's Services Interim Transitions Co-ordinator) on 01908 792916, email Abbey.Woolgar@Bedford.gov.uk or click here for a useful PDF document. (27.10)

Bedford Borough Engagement and Development Team

Click here to find out more about the team, their role and their current successes. (6.7)

Announced Ofsted Inspection of Safeguarding and LAC – further briefings

Three Year Announced Ofsted Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children’s Services. Following the initial briefing document which was sent out in April, Bedford Borough Council have prepared four new briefing documents.  These briefings cover:

• Effectiveness of Partnership working across Bedford
• Children’s Trust arrangements in Bedford Borough
• Bedfordshire and Luton Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and
• Supporting Families – integrated working (review of CAF and MAAG)

They anticipate that this important inspection of their services is likely to happen in the very near future and it is important that anyone working with children, young people and their families across the borough are well briefed in advance. Partners are asked to forward these briefings on to staff within their organisation – it really is very important that all staff working with children, young people and their families across the Borough are briefed on these important Inspections, so we are very grateful for your help with this important communication process.

Partnership Briefing

This briefing outlines a review of assessment in Bedford Borough and they are keen to share it with colleagues from the voluntary yand community sector. Click here to download. If you have any questions regarding this briefing, please contact Beth Bowmer on 01234 228411 or email beth.bowmer@bedford.gov.uk. (6.7)

One Children's Workforce Integrated Learning and Development Programme 2010/2011

This programme is available in CD format from nicki.healey@bedford.gov.uk. This programme contains details on all the learning and development opportunities available to staff working in Bedford Borough Council Children's Services Scools and Families and is FREE to the voluntary sector. (11.8)