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CIPFA children's social care risk tool

This survey aims to test out the risks of an individual local Authority facing unsustainable financial pressures on its children's social care. 

Answer each question with an answer ranging from Not at all to Very strongly and click Submit when completed.

NB: The final average scores of the completed submissions (but not individual council scores) may be publicised on the CIPFA website and in our health newsletter


Savings
Are there high percentage savings since 2010/11 - local authority as a whole?
Are there high percentage savings since 2010/11 – children’s social care (i.e. excluding Education)?
Is there low relative spend per head of population compared with similar authorities - Council as a whole?
Is there low relative spend per head of population compared to similar authorities – children’s social care?
Is there a lack of a detailed children’s social care savings plan for 2018/19?
Is there a lack of a detailed children’s social care savings plan beyond 2018/19?
Has delivery of previous savings plans been unsuccessful?
If there is a detailed children’s social care savings plan, are a high proportion of the savings speculative (i.e. there is a lack of clarity about how the savings will be made in practice?).
Local Pressures
Are children’s demographic pressures (the trend in number of children requiring help) above average?
To what extent does the Grant fail to cover the costs to the authority of the services provided to Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers?
Has there been an increase in organised gangs / child sexual exploitation
Has the authority planned for demographic changes in care leavers (and extended age range) and UASC care leavers?
Are there problems in recruiting Children’s Social Workers?
Is there a disproportionate change in the number of Child Protection cases and Children In Need, compared with similar authorities?
Is there a disproportionate increase over time in Looked After Children?
Is there a high proportion of assessments that lead to no social work action?
Looking at children in either residential or foster care, are a comparatively high (more than 70%) proportion in internal provision?
Are there problems recruiting enough internal foster carers / adopters?
Does the authority make “good” use (DCS judgment) of fostering, adoption, SGOs instead of residential placements?
Has the proportion of Looked After Children placed into residential care remained static, or else increased, in recent years?
Is the Provider market for Placements competitive?
Does the Director of Children’s Services believe the local Mental Health provision is sufficient?
Does the Director of Children’s Services believe the local Domestic Violence/Drugs %26 alcohol offer sufficient?
Has Children’s Services been judged inadequate within the past year or is the Local Authority due an inspection within the next year?
To what extent is the authority putting resources into assisting another local authority?
Does the authority have pressures in other Children’s budgets (beyond Social Care), e.g. Home to School Transport?
Culture and relationships
Have there been recent changes or use of interim arrangements in the senior management of Children’s Services?
Is a high proportion of the corporate leadership team new to their role?
Are there significant challenges to the Council as a whole - critical inspections; leadership change in challenging circumstances; significant restructuring?
Is there difficulties in agreeing objectives between Director of Children’s Services and Chief Executive and / or Chief Finance Officer?
Are there difficulties in agreeing objectives between Councillors or between Councillors and officers?
Are there difficult or complex relationships with Education services / groups of schools?
Are there difficult or complex relationships with Housing and Benefits providers (whether District Councils or other departments)?
Are there difficult or complex relationships with the Police?
Are there difficult or complex relationships with Health?
  • Questions 1-5 require local judgement of trends compared with broadly similar authorities, implying that there is a view of that available (if there isn’t, that is a matter of concern). As such, no guidance is given in the model on what constitutes ‘high’ or ‘low’ answers.
  • Question 9 can be answered by assessing what proportion of current savings plans might be considered undeliverable (5) / Red (4) / Amber (3) / Green - on track (2) or / have already been delivered (1), and if only a minority of savings are and categories (1) and (2), then the overall assessment will be (5) highly speculative or (4) speculative.