The review’s Call for Evidence attracted more than 200 comprehensive responses, according to chair Josh MacAlister while the Call for Advice attracted 932 replies.
Both have now closed with a summary of responses to the Call for Advice available here.
However, there are still many ways in which professionals working in the sector, foster carers and adoptive parents and care experienced adults and children can get involved:
Plan for engagement
In his ‘plan for engagement’, chair of the Review Josh MacAlister vows that “everyone who wants to, will be able to have their voice heard by, and contribute to, the review”.
This is aimed to be achieved through a series of measures laid out by MacAlister’s Experts by Experience panel:
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Workshops and events led by the review, and delivered in partnership with charities and other organisations
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Local discussions led by people with children’s social care experience
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Focus groups and one to one conversations
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Online surveys
Workshops and events
The Review has laid out plans for road-show style events targeting specific cohorts of people including young people and care leavers.
Details of upcoming events can be found on the review website with the next one taking place online on 11 May for care leavers.
Local discussions
The plan for engagement states that “some children’s social care experienced people would feel more comfortable sharing information with someone who has a shared experience” and has shared plans to hold discussions in local areas led by someone with experience of children’s social care.
Details of such discussions will be advertised on the review’s website.
Focus groups and one to one conversations
The review board has also released plans to offer bookable slots for individuals and small groups to take part in discussions with members of review.
“Alongside an offer which allows individuals with children’s social care experience to contribute in larger groups at workshops and events, the board also decided that there should be a specific offer for those that would rather speak in very small focus groups, or with the review team on a one-to-one basis,” MacAlister has said.
Online Surveys
Throughout the course of the review online surveys will be published to gather individual views on specific topics through writing.
Social workers and other professionals are asked to take part in surveys including the Expression of Interest survey for Local Authorities and Organisations and the Expression of Interest survey for individual workforce members.
To access both surveys and for more information, click here.
Other ways to get involved
Sector organisations and charities are also feeding information into the review through research projects and online surveys.
Those with experience of foster care are asked to take part in The Fostering Network’s State of the Nation survey which closes on 11 July.
Take part in the survey here.
Meanwhile, What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) is funding a series of rapid reviews and is seeking proposals from research teams with expertise in undertaking rapid systematic reviews, and with knowledge of the sector.
According to WWCSC: “These reviews will be used specifically to inform the decisions and recommendations of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, and more broadly, to help build the evidence base in children’s social care.”
More information is available here.
Other reviews
A raft of other reviews are taking place alongside the Care Review, however, it is not yet clear if these will all feed into the review.
They include:
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SEND review; Department for Education
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Study of children’s social care provision; Competition and Markets Authority
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Children in care homes inquiry; education select committee
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Spotlight inquiry into the care system; APPG for looked-after children and care leavers
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The role of public services in addressing child vulnerability; House of Lords
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The Childhood Commission; Children’s Commissioner for England
