ADCS policy networks lead on policy development across all aspects of children and young people’s services. All members of ADCS are eligible to join and contribute to the work of one or more of our four national policy networks and our Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. The networks meet virtually several times a year – three substantive meetings plus additional extraordinary meetings as appropriate dependent on issues of the day.
Task and finish groups will be established alongside policy networks to ensure a focus on priority policy initiatives. These groups will feed into the broader policy networks.
We are particularly keen to secure broad regional representation on our national groups so that our engagement with government and others accurately reflects the state of play in local areas as they develop new policies and guidance.
Contact info@adcs.org.uk for more information on how to get involved.
Families, Communities & Young People Policy Network (FCYP)
Remit
The Families, Communities & Young People Policy Network cuts across a wide range of children’s services issues. The Network specifically leads on all aspects of safeguarding, child protection, poverty, early years, youth services, youth justice, family justice and community safety. The Network leads on workforce and resource matters relating to these areas of service and policy.
The Network remit includes:
- Safeguarding, including multi-agency working
- Preventative services including parenting support
- Community safety
- Community cohesion and anti-poverty work
- Early years
- Youth services
- Youth justice
- Family justice.
The Network links with a wide range of organisations across the sector including What Works centres, Cafcass, the FJO, YJB, YCS and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
Contacts
Chair: Helen Lincoln, Executive Director for Children, Families and Education, Essex County Council
Vice Chair: Jo Kavanagh, Assistant Director - Early Help, Lincolnshire County Council
ADCS Policy Officer: Katy Block supports the work of the committee. To contact Katy, email katy.block@adcs.org.uk
Chair
Helen Lincoln
Families and Education,
Essex County Council
Vice Chair
Jo Kavanagh
Lincolnshire County Council
Health, Care & Commissioning Policy Network (HCC)
Remit
The Health, Care & Commissioning Policy Network has lead responsibility for children in care and care leavers, all aspects of child health and commissioning. The Network also covers complex needs, UAS children and transitions.
The Network leads on workforce and resource matters relating to these areas of service and policy.
The committee remit includes:
- Children in care
- Adoption, SGOs, kinship care arrangements
- Care leavers
- Child health, including complex health needs
- Child and parental mental health
- Health integration
- Children and young people in care
- Young carers
- Transitions
- Commissioning.
The Network works with a range of partners and stakeholders in the voluntary and health sector such as NHS England, Council for Disabled Children, RAA leaders’ group.
Contact
Chair: Dheeraj Chibber, Corporate Director Children, Families and Education, Luton Borough Council
Vice Chair: Richard Selwyn, Service Director Children’s Commissioning, Somerset Council
ADCS Policy Officer: Maeve Tierney: maeve.tierney@adcs.org.uk
Chair
Dheeraj Chibber
Luton Borough Council
Vice Chair
Richard Selwyn
Somerset Council
Inclusive Education Policy Network (IE)
Remit
The Inclusive Education Policy Network covers all aspects of inclusive education from the early years to further education and skills, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes school improvement, relationships with academies and free schools, regional directors, the role of the local authority in education plus workforce and resource (capital and revenue) matters relating to these areas of service and policy.
The committee remit includes:
- Early education and childcare
- Primary schools
- Secondary schools
- FE and training providers
- Special educational needs and disabilities
- Support for the improvement of education standards
- Curriculum and the skills agenda
- Assessment
- Alternative provision
- School admissions and place planning
The Network links closely with national government and a range of organisations including the Department for Education, NAVSH, early years and FE groups.
Contact
Chair: Heather Sandy, Executive Director of Children’s Services, Lincolnshire County Council
Vice Chair: Jo Sullivan-Lyons, Strategic Lead for SEND and Inclusion Consultant, Barnet Council
ADCS Policy Officer: Madeline Jackson: madeline.jackson@adcs.org.uk
Chair
Heather Sandy
Lincolnshire County Council
Vice-Chair
Jo Sullivan-Lyons
Barnet London Borough Council
Regional Improvement & Inspection (RII)
Remit
The Regional Improvement and Inspection Policy Network provides the main link with Ofsted and other relevant inspectorates. The Network leads on inspection, improvement and learning including sector-led improvement and Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliances (RIIAs), performance management, research and the use of data and new technologies.
The Network remit includes:
- Links with Ofsted and all other inspectorates involved in the regulation or inspection of children’s services
- Performance management and the use of data locally and nationally
- Intervention
- Sector-led improvement
- Regional links.
The Network liaises closely with all other networks on different aspects of inspection and regulation of children’s services. Its members represent the Association on various consultative forums and sub-groups organised by Ofsted.
Contacts
Chair: Jo Fisher, Exeutive Director of Children’s Services, Hertfordshire County Council
Vice Chair: Tania Townsend, Islington Council
ADCS Policy Officer: Katy Block supports the work of the committee. To contact Katy, email katy.block@adcs.org.uk
Chair
Jo Fisher
Hertfordshire County Council
Vice Chair
Tania Townsend
Islington London Borough Council
Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
Remit
The Diversity and Inclusion Working Group leads the work to ensure that ADCS is an inclusive and diverse Association, while also identifying where partners and individual ADCS members may be best placed to help move the diversity and inclusion agenda forward.
The group acts as a sounding board for ADCS policy papers and consultation responses to ensure that EDI issues are considered across the breadth of the Association’s work. The group meets virtually several times per year.
Contacts
Chair: Jane Moore, ADCS Honorary Secretary and Director of Children and Family Services, Leicestershire County Council
ADCS contact: ADCS Chief Officer, Esther Kavanagh Dixon: Esther@adcs.org.uk
Chair
Jane Moore
Leicestershire County Council