On Friday June 23rd, Martin Routledge presented at a two day seminar titled: Innovative Social Investment, Reforming Public Services. Manchester Metropolitan University is leading a Horizon2020 project Innovative Social Investment: Strengthening Communities in Europe. This project comes to an end in October 2017. The Manchester team convened a UK seminar to explore some of the themes that have emerged from the project and that are of particular interest to the UK. The seminar focussed on public service

At In Control we have a national advice line and have done surveys using our Personal Outcomes Evaluation Tool (POET) - both tell us that too often people are struggling to make policy on choice and control a reality in their lives. Lots of people and organisations at local level contact us and we try to use our experience and position to help, but sometimes we are limited by our capacity. We also believe that "together we

By measuring people's experience of accessing support and featuring outcomes structured around the domains of wellbeing, the POET (Personal Outcomes Evaluation Tool) provides local authorities with a clear and simple framework to measure how well they're meeting the requirements of the Care Act and to demonstrate the impact they're having on the lives of local people who need support. Key Findings The report includes responses to the POET from 4,300 people, more than half of

John Waters from In Control has researched and authored a new report for the Independent Living Strategy Group (ILSG). Based on Freedom of Information returns from all English councils with statutory social services responsibilities, the report reveals major concerns about payment card practice and makes recommendations on how councils can properly comply with Care Act guidance. The investigation was sparked by the experience of a member of the ILSG who had to fight hard to

‘Good intentions, good enough?’ 6 November 2017 – Residential special schools and colleges: support for children, Dame Christine Lenehan and Mark Geraghty. This Government commissioned report by Dame Christine Lenehan and Mark Geraghty sets out:  How children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are currently supported in residential special schools and colleges. Recommendations to support children, young people and their families to improve their experiences and outcomes. The report’s overall message

It can be no coincidence that the two reports were published within a week of each other and this briefing consequently considers them alongside each other... Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission inspect how well local areas fulfil their 'Special Educational Needs and Disability code of practice' duties. The Care Quality Commission and Ofsted have published a summary report of their main findings from the first 30 local area SEND inspections. ‘Local Area SEND Inspections -