Timpson envisages more children's services becoming independent trusts

In an article written for CYP Now (see below) to outline the progress being made in establishing a children's trust in Slough, Timpson said he would be "surprised" if there were not more authorities that turn to the trust model to deliver improvements to children's social care services.

By the end of the month, the trust in Slough will have been set up, the scope of functions and services transferred to it from the council, and the interview process for a chief executive completed. The trust will be chaired by Elaine Simpson, the former boss of Serco's children's services arm who was appointed the chair of National Children's Bureau in September 2012.

Timpson initially outlined his intention to create a trust in Slough in July last year, before it was confirmed in October. It was prompted by Slough children’s services being judged "inadequate" by Ofsted in February 2014, and which highlighted serious concerns about the leadership, management and governance of children’s services.

Last October, Doncaster became the first council to see children's services transferred to an independent trust. It followed a number of critical inspections by Ofsted. 

On the creation of the Slough trust Timpson said: "This is a very complex project. It is not a straightforward ‘lift and shift’ of the Doncaster model. Each local authority has its own character; so each trust – and I would be surprised if there were not more of these in future – has to be modelled to the particular needs of a local area.

"As with Doncaster, it was felt that a complete break from the past was needed. Endemic failings had gone unchallenged for too long, with poor practice, poor outcomes, poor care for the children who need it most. During their last inspection Ofsted found that children in care weren’t listened to and their views weren’t being heard. They hadn’t been supported to close the achievement gap with their peers or to gain independence as they left care.

"I am determined that the team I am putting in place will change this. I have appointed a trust chair, Elaine Simpson, a professional with impressive credentials in improving the lives of vulnerable children, and in leading complex organisational change and improvment to services."

Children's minister Edward Timpson writes:

"When Doncaster faced unprecedented intervention in their children’s social care services last year, there was huge and understandable trepidation about what this might mean. The task of turning around its fortunes felt, for many, an impossible mountain to climb.

Yet, thanks to the expert leadership of the Doncaster children commissioner, Alan Wood and under the direction of director of children and young people's service, Eleanor Brazil, Doncaster is starting to turn a corner. I went to the formal launch of the trust last year – in new premises, on Doncaster High Street, a welcoming place with an entirely fresh feel, and was impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of all the staff, young people and carers I met there.

If this can be achieved once, there’s no reason why it can’t be repeated again in Slough. The experience of Doncaster should provide some reassurance that from failure, it is possible to come through the other side.

Last February, Slough’s children’s services were judged inadequate by Ofsted for the second time. The borough was struggling to maintain sufficient capacity, and there were serious concerns about the leadership, management and governance of children’s services.

I sent in an independent review team that included the respected Essex County Council executive director of people commissioning, Dave Hill. Dave and the team recommended a complete structural overhaul of children’s services, and an independent children’s services organisation.

As with Doncaster, it was felt that a complete break from the past was needed. Endemic failings had gone unchallenged for too long, with poor practice, poor outcomes, poor care for the children who need it most. During their last inspection Ofsted found that children in care weren’t listened to and their views weren’t being heard. They hadn’t been supported to close the achievement gap with their peers or to gain independence as they left care.

I am determined that the team I am putting in place will change this. I have appointed a trust chair, Elaine Simpson, a professional with impressive credentials in improving the lives of vulnerable children, and in leading complex organisational change and improvment to services. Thanks to the collective commitment of the council, the commissioner, and a team at the Department for Education, the shadow trust will exist by the end of March, as planned, with the interview process for the chief executive concluded and the broad scope of functions and services to be transferred, agreed.

This is a very complex project. It is not a straightforward ‘lift and shift’ of the Doncaster model. Each local authority has its own character; so each trust – and I would be surprised if there were not more of these in future – has to be modelled to the particular needs of a local area.

Our interventions from the DfE these past few years have not, I am delighted to say, all been about failure. We have also gone out of our way to give local authorities increased freedoms to innovate and change for the better. The £100m Innovation Programme is funding the best and brightest ideas for improvement up and down the country. What we have learned from the trust in Doncaster over the past 2 years will now benefit Slough. I look forward to a thriving children’s social care service of which the city and the local authority can be proud – and I hope that in a year’s time, a future children’s minister will be signing off Innovation Programme funding for the bright ideas coming out of Slough. It can be done – and together we will do it."