Will the Extended Services Coordinator become extinct?

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Jo 16 October 2009, 4:15pm	As we hurtle headfirst toward September 2010, there appears to be a rise in the levels of anxiety and tension of Extended Services Coordinators and Cluster Managers as many come to the end of their fixed term contracts. This significant workforce makes up over 1200 individuals, working within childrens services, who have developed a shared understanding and underpinning knowledge across a broad range of cross cutting agendas including health, education, social care and community cohesion. With such diversity and scope across the workforce one wonders what the pathways for progression are for those in the role and how this might look post 2010? With the launch of the Integrated Qualification Framework in 2010 there are a range of accreditation routes on offer from the Foundation degree in Integrated working with Children, Young People and Families in Children’s Services: Health and Social care – University of Chester, to the BA Honours (with work based learning) Professional Practice: Early Years, Mentoring in the workplace, Extended Children’s Services offered by Leeds Trinity. However without a clear vision of what the current Extended Services workforce might look like, it’s hard to consider pathways for progression. The white paper highlights the continuing need for collaboration and maximising the opportunities to widen partnerships to help schools deliver the Parent and Pupil Guarantee; is this an opportunity for the Extended Services co-ordinator/cluster manager to use their expertise and take collaboration to the next level? So what are you thoughts? What do you see as your role post 2010?
Paddy 21 October 2009, 5:16pm	Jo, hi - I just posted a link to your forum on the Training page - where users might often go in an effort to direct them towards your forum. Hope it works!
Paddy 21 October 2009, 5:18pm	what do you think 'the next level of collaboration' is Jo?
Jo 27 October 2009, 5:24pm	The next level of collaboration for me is, Integration. Personally I see the role as being very valuable in helping schools develop their wider community cohesion strategies so that they focus more on the broader ECM outcomes (which of course in turn affects attainment and narrows the gap etc etc). From my own experience, the role is more a community development/ community partnerships development one. I think it was Ann Longfield of 4Children who picked up an expression from one of the political party conferences she attended; " turn schools inside out" - Schools are certainly starting to turn inside out (some more than others!)and I don't think they have done this on their own. Having a good coordinator to drive the integrated working agenda forward is key to getting it to work effectively. Collaboration has been at the forefront of the ES agenda however in some areas this collaboration is quite weak and there might be a danger of schools saying, "well we've ticked the box and got full core offer, now we can get back to what we do best, teaching". Without a person driving the agenda forward some of the fabulous examples of collaboration may start to wain. It's like any community development process, it takes years to build trust, develop strong integrated partnerships and start sharing the work and resources. It takes a long time to build capacity and change working behaviour patterns and culture so that we actually move from collaboration to integration. However it can be undone in the blink of an eye. Look at regeneraion schemes that had mass funding over a limited period? Initially communities had initiative overload, but once the people and funding left, the communities were left dazed and confused with a "what the heck was that all about" look on their face! It might be the same for Extended Services if they have not been properly embedded in practice or if schools havent quite got to grips with the whole integrated working agenda and how it involved them. Are Clusters of schools considering where they want to go and how, post 2011? If they can see the benefit and feel the impact of working with others to improve outcomes for children young people and families, how will this continue without coordination? I think the work of the ES Coordinator/cluster manager is just starting. The ground work done, the preparation made and now the real work begins. However before all that, there is a need to value and give credit for the work that has gone on before. Just how that is going to happen is anyones guess.
Paddy 28 October 2009, 2:40pm	Looks like it's you and me on this forum Jo! :-)) Anyway, I'll make a big effort to get the message out there so others will join! 'Turning schools inside out' - I like that! I agree with you Jo. It's the squandering of effort, built-up trust and integrated partnerships that happens when people don't work effectively in an integrated way that is upsetting. Your comment really highlights the need to plan well, to build in the monitoring mechanisms that help correct mistakes and help embed good practice so it is passed on. If this happens, hopefully we won't see so many of those 'what the heck was all that about' looks on people's faces! It sure is anyone’s guess which way things will go. An article from Issue 10 of Schools ETC magazine, called All things being equal, shows how, in Coventry, a strong impetus for the development of effective inclusion and integrated working has grown out of the need to make extended services and activities accessible to SEN children and young people. Basically, Coventry’s solid approach to: partnership-working joined-up thinking improved access to information, and providing a continuum of support have all contributed to ensuring access to extended services for everyone. View attachment
Paddy 29 October 2009, 11:47am	People might want to check this out, if they haven't already done so: Integrated working: monthy update, for real life examples and updates on integrated working policy and practice, you can sign up at the Children's Workforce Development Council or visit the archive to catch up on previous issues. Here is the URL: http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/integrated-working/monthly-updates
victoria asprey 01 November 2009, 3:01pm	An interesting read by both Jo and Paddy. I feel alittle 'lost' at the moment as to what i would like to do next. I would be very grateful if either of you could let me know of any distant learning (due to home committments) or something nearer Derby/shire, that you may be aware of, as i need to be able to move onto something before my role as ESC ends!!! I already have a FdA in Community Regeneration and Development, so would like to progress onto a BA (final year) or even a MA (as i would be eligable as a mature student!). Any ideas and suggestion would be much apprecaited. Thank you V
Mark Scarborough 01 November 2009, 9:13pm	I think what you are saying is very true, integration is the next part of our work, sooner rather than later! With initiative overload we need to start joining up the dots and making everyone understand that ES is the delivery vehicle for ECM. Thus the role of ES Coordinators could potentially become ECM Coordinators as schools would value this more and the hard to reach schools would see the need for being involved fully. The only sustainable model is a cluster approach, but the drive now is to integrate this with early intervention and preventative services, thus taking the agenda into the wider community and taking some burden of responsibility off schools. If ECM is going to work it requires ownership from the community and all the services and opportunities available. 21st Century Schools is the wrong title...21st Century Learning is the title I would choose as if we are going to engage all cyp then it has to go beyond just schools. We need universal services, but in the future funding is going to be significantly tighter (if any at all), so we will need to demonstrate the impact they have and do much more focused and targeted work thus ensuring progressive universalism. I am a great believer in clusters, but with no standardisation and an embryonic approach to this agenda, there are many who are falling behind or don't understand the benefits. How many legal entities do we have in clusters around the country and where is the research to demonstrate the role and impact they could have? Why have Children's Centres a Red book, which they have to conform to and can be measured against? I am not a believer in league tables, but we do need to demonstrate the impact of our area of work to promote to others. With ESDS just about to hit the streets everywhere, how many will understand and see the immediate effect it can make and grasp the opportunity even though it is only a short term fix. No use having visions if we cannot help vulnerable cyp today!
juliaeveritt 02 November 2009, 8:19am	Can you explain what the IQF is?
Paddy 02 November 2009, 3:50pm	Julia, hi! Thanks for joining the forum. The IQF is the Integrated Qualifications Framework (IQF) - a set of approved qualifications that allows progression, continuing professional development and mobility across the children and young people's workforce. You can find out more at this website: http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/iqf
Paddy 02 November 2009, 4:02pm	Victoria, welcome to the forum! I'm going send a message to Dave Burley, a ContinYou Regional General Manager who is also a member of the Learning Exchange and he'll contact you. (I think he's responsible for your area). In the meantime, I think the Children's Workforce Development Council may be helpful to you - try them at 0113 244 6311. Otherwise, please get in touch again - just send me a message on the Learning Exchange and I'll dig around more for you.
Paddy 02 November 2009, 4:39pm	Hi Mark, Welcome to this forum too! Certainly the concept of ‘Every Child Matters’ is an easier one than extended services to get one’s head around. I think you’re right that the idea of Every Child Matters as an agenda is a much clearer concept to promote and for schools to therefore buy into. And the same would go for people and organisations in communities. People understand immediately what 'be safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve, achieve economic well-being, make a positive contribution' all mean. Perhaps cluster managers should start from that end of the extended services strategy when working with schools that aren't yet on board?? You make a good point too, about 21st Century Learning being a better concept to move forward with - so when I guess people could also simply talk about that instead of emphasising schools. It IS about how we'll all be learning now and on into the 21st Century - and of course, making it easier for people who aren't involved in learning to get into it! Funding will indeed be tighter – but it could end up being more focused on early intervention - well, that's if the people testing the waters out there are right. Here’s an interesting piece by Amelia Gentleman in the Guardian (Oct8), in which it’s clear that Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Tim Loughton (Shadow Minister for Children) are right behind early intervention. My concern is where they’ll decide to focus their energies - and will they see the good work that has already been done through the extended services agenda! Here it is anyway: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/08/conservative-society-broken-britain A couple of points for you to clarify for us please: Not sure what you mean by ‘no standardisation and an embryonic approach to this agenda’ – can you expand on that a bit? And you ask: ‘How many legal entities do we have in clusters around the country and where is the research to demonstrate the role and impact they could have?’ Can you expand a bit more on that idea? Thanks for your input – hope to see you here again soon. Paddy
Paddy 02 November 2009, 4:46pm	Hi Victoria - have a look at my reply to Julia - a little further below your post. cheers, paddy.
victoria asprey 02 November 2009, 8:02pm	Julia, there is also a Integrated Quality Framework (IQF) that we as a Cluster Full Service Extendeded school are currently looking into completing. Its a tool for progression and an award if completed. More information can be found at: www.continyou.org.uk/files/documents/documents/doc_771.pdf. However i understand from our Continyou regional manager, that this has been put on hold until further consultation has taken place. Sorry if this isn't what you needed to know!!!! V
victoria asprey 02 November 2009, 8:04pm	Thank you for the Reply, David is fab and will be seeing him soon, so hopefully will be able to ask him also. Thanks again V
Paddy 03 November 2009, 10:05am	Victoria & Julia: gulp.... I should have known that the IQF has been put on hold! Sorry if I gave you a wrong steer there. But Dave may be able to point out other options, so perhaps both of you should chat to him. I'll try and find out more for you about where the IQF is at... cheers Paddy
Paddy 03 November 2009, 4:15pm	Hi Mark... it's interesting that you suggest in some cases the ES Coords might potentially become ECM coordinators. In one of the schools I know of they had people doing both roles with little opportunity initially for shared dialogue or working which seemed complete madness to me. However I think at that point some schools still saw Extended Services as another additional initiatve, rather than the vehicle by which they could deliver their ECM outcomes. I think now that things have moved on for many schools and they do see the bigger picture however the capacity building that was done in schools to move them forward now needs to overspill into the wider community so that the stakeholders can also buy into the concept. In terms of standardisation are you thinking that there could be standard frameworks for governance etc that can then be modified to suit local need? If so who is best placed to lead on this? As for progressive universalism thats a tough one, as its all about offering universal services for all with more support for those who need it most. So there is likely to be a delicate balancing act between schools and their partners to ensure that funding is maximised. Its going to be even more difficult for those that are still not yet up to speed with the fit between Extended Services, ECM and Integrated Working.... definitely a niche for a workforce with coordination and leadership skills!
Paddy 04 November 2009, 10:08am	just to untangle any confusion here - Mark - the last post addressed to you was from Jo Galloway. For some weird reason her name didn't appear on it.
Dawn Gilderoy 08 November 2009, 7:18pm	QiSS has updated the Integrated Quality Framework (IQF) for Extended Services and the whole document is now called the Quality Development Framework (QDF). The revised document focuses on consortia, i.e. schools working with partners or clusters of schools and multi-agency partners, in order to reflect the way that Extended Services are being strategically developed at local level.You can find more details at www.canterbury.ac.uk/education/quality-in-study-support. Hope this helps. Dawn
Mark Scarborough 08 November 2009, 9:15pm	second bit..hopefully you got the bit around a more standardised approach which is required to take all schools and LA's forward. The Legal Entities that I mentioned is something that need more investigation, especially when looking at governance and accountability of partnership working. Most Schools are still taking all the burden of responsibility, and sometimes they dont understand that the best approach to supporting the child would be a more multi agency approach. With Children's Trusts also developing at variable rates, there needs to be a more coordinated approach to developing effective partnerships to demonstrate the impact they can have to support a range of agendas and initiatives. At present we see some partnerships of schools that have no governor representation or lines of accountability within their management structure and are also too school centric. The new Sustainability toolkit helps schools to look further than just the school for support and collaboration. I would hope that a future govt sees that effective partnerships are the way forward but does give them some guidance to help develop best parctice nationally rather than just small pockets!

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