C4EO - Tailored support

This page contains information on how local Children's Trusts may request tailored support from C4EO to improve outcomes.

Sector specialists

This support will be provided by Sector Specialists; ‘experts' drawn from the sector and inducted, accredited and trained by the Centre to use the ‘what works' evidence it has collected as part of its reviews of the available knowledge and evidence.

Requesting support is entirely voluntary as Sector Specialists are not part of any field force and work by invitation only. They are not available to fulfil interim management roles.

Requesting support

Tailored support from a Sector Specialist (sector peers) can only be provided in response to requests for assistance from Directors of Children's Services. Requests should relate to one or more of the identified C4EO priorities.

The Centre will broker these requests for support to help with local improvement activity but may have to prioritise those that can demonstrate how the support will:

• Align with local priorities (as set out in the local area agreement)
• Complement any existing improvement support
• Achieve strategic, systems level change
• Accelerate the expected rate of improvement of outcomes
• Leave a sustainable legacy in terms of capacity for change and improvement within the locality
• Generate learning from which other agencies can benefit.

What will the support look like?

Examples of support could be:

• Spreading knowledge of what works for a theme (eg running a local workshop for Children's Trust staff based on the Centres reviews of the ‘what works' knowledge).
• Providing an external perspective to challenge local policy, processes and practice in the light of the knowledge base.
• Assistance in translating C4EO outputs into an appropriate local improvement plan.
• Working with key individuals who are leading local change to mentor, coach or support them.
• Facilitating the use of performance improvement or change management approaches eg outcomes based accountability (OBA) methodology.
• Facilitating local ‘learning sets' to explore and apply the evidence base on a priority issue.

Support on the other themes will be available in due course.

Applying for support

Please email the completed requesting tailored support application form (110kb Word file, 4 pages) to Sue Rowley, Assistant Director or by post to Sue Rowley C4EO, 8 Wakley Street , London , EC1V 7QE .

If you have any queries please contact Sue by email or mobile on 07917 663785.