Children's Services
A platform to improve the welfare and protection of children
In June 2010, Professor Eileen Munro was asked by the Secretary of State for Education to conduct a review of Child Protection arrangements. To date, Professor Munro has produced two reports. Munro agrees with last year findings of Baroness Morgan that there is the requirement for more flexibility in systems and a move away from the prescription of the ICS system.
We welcome this change and believe that the ‘Child’s story’ is central to a successful system. We are well placed to deliver to Munro’s findings; CareFirst has always had flexibility at its heart and now that we have been released from the constraints of ICS, we are able to model the system around the principle task of improving the welfare and protection of children.
How are we delivering our solutions around Munro’s findings?
We have developed a technology platform that enables a local authority to build, deliver and continuously evolve the delivery of social care services. The Universal Services Platform will enable Local Authorities to create and deliver information and services to multiple stakeholders anytime, anywhere. It can be accessed by multiple agencies, providers, and citizens, and will not only support traditional applications, but will also host content, collaborative services and transactions. The platform will deliver an integrated decision making tool that aids professional reasoning and improves outcomes.
By working closely with a number of social care customers, we have succeeded in simplifying ICS recording, reducing the size and number of input forms and maximising the benefits IT can bring, such as the development of a multi-functional form. This approach has already been used in Scotland where ICS did not already apply.