Changing Futures Learning Event April 2024

Changing Futures Stoke-on-Trent is now entering its final year and we wanted to celebrate our achievements and learning so far. The packed Learning Event was held in the Catalyst Building at Staffordshire University on Thursday 11^th April 2024 and attended by our partners from across the City and further afield.

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The event was hosted by Gemma Finn, Strategic Manager, for Changing Futures Stoke-on-Trent who welcomed the audience and gave a brief introduction to the day’s proceedings. The first activity of the morning was led by Dozie Mbah, Programme Manager for Changing Futures Stoke-on-Trent.  Attendees took part in a fun quiz which highlighted some of the projects key achievements.

Gemma then Highlighted the key achievements from the Changing Futures Stoke-on-Trent programme to date.  The Insight Training Academy has been a huge success, which was echoed by many of the speakers throughout the day.  The Insight Academy has provided 218 free training sessions to 3220 attendees since the project began in August 2022.  132 services have been supported, by theses highly sought after training sessions, including the local authority, police, health services, support services, housing providers, volunteers and community organisations.

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Gemma also discussed the success of the Multi-Agency Resolution Group (MaRG), which has supported 48 individuals with complicated cases, the importance of co-production adopted within ‘business as usual’ ethos, the upskilled Workforce aiding consistency of practice, sharing risk management via the MaRG and the benefits of the Communities of Practice forums offering tangible solutions to service and system barriers.

Jenny Ewels; Head of Changing Futures Programme for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Jennie Thompson; Head of Funding at The National Lottery Community Fund, gave an update on the national context and policy development, as well as some early insight into the national changing futures evaluation. Highlights included the importance of small caseloads and embedding trauma informed working through the caseworker model, alongside sharing learning in forums and activities to support the workforce.

Peter Tomlin, Director of Adult Social Care, Stoke-on-Trent City Council discussed the importance of embedding principles and learning from the programme within Stoke-on-Trent’s Adult Social Care Strategy.

Gina Grimes, Strategic Manager – Principal Social Worker (Adults) and Safeguarding, discussed working with the Changing Futures team, reinforcing the importance of person-centred trauma-informed care.

Social Work Practice, Safeguarding and Workforce Development

Gemma then discussed the ongoing challenges within the Adult Social Care system which included, the implications of staff burnout and high caseloads; competing risk priorities and the impact on the individual at the central; barriers to data sharing; Excessive use of hotel accommodation to plug gaps in provision and inconsistency in knowledge and skill set within the sector.

Jude Hawes, Specialist and Equalities Services Operational Manager at Citizens Advice Staffordshire North & Stoke-on-Trent (CASNS), discussed working with Changing Futures customers to provide welfare benefits and housing specialist advice.  Achievements including 76 successful outcomes for 23 customers, with total financial gains of £275,523 over 19 months, with an average financial gain per customer of £11,849.

In the afternoon Andy Meakin, Director Expert Citizens, delivered a workshop for the attendees, which outlined the current Changing Futures model and allowed participants to explore what a future Changing Futures model would look like if funding was not an option.  A full report of the workshop will be available here on Expert Citizens website soon.

Gemma rounded out the successful day with a look ahead at Changing Futures year ahead.

Highlights of the year to come including:

• Revised staffing structure to embed the case co-ordination principles within Adult Social Care
• Additional funding to enable the addition of a social work team to undertake Care Act Assessments
• Continuation of lived experience via the Communications role and Peer Recovery Co-Ordinators with Expert Citizens
• Consolidation of evaluation findings and recommendations to shape future sustainable models of the programme
• Case Co-Ordinators to lead on targeted workstreams to address prevalent barriers to promote system change.
• Independent Chair of the MaRG to continue
• The continuation of the Insight Academy to ensure the workforce are upskilled and lived experience is driving this forward.
• Citizens Advice Bureau to continue to provide resource to ensure individuals maximise their income

Feedback from the day was very positive with everyone praising the work of the Changing Futures team with many attendees reiterating the themes of the day, including the importance of lived experience in shaping practice and informing system thinking and how beneficial the Insight Academy training has been to everyone who has attended one of the courses.

 

Jenny Ewels; Head of Changing Futures Programme for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said of the day:

“It was great to see everyone again and I really enjoyed celebrating with you all! I also came away with lots of really good learning re your highlights, challenges, adult social care perspective etc. You come across as a really strong, committed and passionate partnership.”

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