Journey to Excellence goes alongside our other local priorities to improve health and education outcomes and increase employment and skills. We will focus on four main areas:

• Developing our integrated Early Help offer across all key agencies
• Refocusing children’s placement provision within the Bradford District
• Better response to young people in crisis
• Develop an integrated service across children’s, adult’s and health services for young people aged 14-25 years with complex health and/or disabilities

We are working closely with partners, young people and carers to deliver these changes. We are drawing on some of the excellent work and partnerships already in place.

Signs of Safety

Signs of Safety provides a consistent way of working that all practitioners can use in their work with children and families. From Early Help through to how we manage child protection plans, Signs of Safety can bring about more consistency in our work together.

Signs of Safety is an approach that always puts a child’s safety first. The model grew out of what practitioners and families reported to be effective. It leads to plans with families that include a robust analysis of strengths and risks. Signs of Safety is now used in many countries around the world. Longitudinal studies in Australia and America are consistent in demonstrating the positive impact of this approach. Over 30 local authorities in England are using the approach.

We are working with partners to develop a plan to use Signs of Safety to cut across the programme. We want a shared approach to working with children and families where the family takes the lead for their children’s safety and well-being.

We are in discussions with both local partners and the network of accredited Signs of Safety Consultants and Trainers. We plan to hold multi-agency briefings in January 2016.

Want to know more about Signs of Safety?

1.5 hour briefing sessions will take place on the 27 & 28 January 2016. The briefings will also provide an update on Early Help developments.

These are open to agencies across the district who work directly with children, young people and families. To book a place on one of these sessions please go to: www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/education_and_skills/training_and_development/workforce_training_and_development/atoz/Signs+of+Safety+-+Briefing+Sessions  

A summary of the approach and more information about Journey to Excellence can be found on BSO here 

The main website for Signs of Safety is: www.signsofsafety.net 

Any questions can be sent to: journeytoexcellence@bradford.gov.uk