application pack for pilot collaboratives · web viewnational prospe ctus grants programme 2015-16...

Application pack for pilot collaboratives

SLCN Outcome Tool:

Working with me, my family and services to:

Track my progress Measure the outcomes

that matter to me and my family

Grow the evidence base for interventions

The National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16:

The RCSLT SLCN Outcome Project

Application pack for pilot collaboratives

National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Introduction

Dear colleague

The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced the most significant reforms to the way support is provided to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England in the last 30 years.

To support implementation of the reforms, the RCSLT has been funded through the Department for Education (DfE) National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 to deliver the SLCN Outcome Project, a 12-month project which will develop a web-based application to support practitioners and services to measure outcomes for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Our funding has been awarded under Theme 2, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and aims to support the DfE priority of encouraging innovation. The RCSLT is the lead accountable body for the project.

We are now looking for six pilot collaboratives (groups of settings/organisations who work with children and young people aged 0-25 years who have SLCN) in England to work with us on this innovative project.

Why should I apply?

Taking part will support your collaborative to:

Understand your population needs and where you need to target services and resources

Track the impact of the services you provide or that partners provide on your behalf

Examine the national evidence base for 'what works', using it to inform and review the services that are provided (working with The Communication Trust in the use of the What Works database)

Evaluate the outcomes in relation to your aims and objectives ensuring that services are responsive to needs and local and national priorities

Engage partners, including governors, advisory boards, and parent forums in service design and planning at a local level

Demonstrate the value you add and your value for money

Provide a robust evidence base for commissioners

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National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Introduction

Find out more

If you are interested in working with us, please read the rest of this document, which includes the following sections:

About the RCSLT SLCN Outcome Project includes essential information about the commitment required and support available (Annex A )

Application timeline (Annex B )

Eligibility checklist (Annex C )

Application form (Annex D )

To help you complete your application and gain a better understanding of the SLCN Outcome Project we have also developed the following documents which you may find useful:

Supporting information pack

Includes an introduction to Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs) and the Children and Families Outcome Framework (CFOF) which the RCSLT and pilot collaboratives will be using throughout the SLCN Outcome Project

Key policy and research reference pack

Provides an overview of the policy context and latest research in the field which underpin the development of the SLCN Outcome Project

These documents can be downloaded from the RCSLT website: www.rcslt.org

How to apply

Please complete the eligibility checklist (Annex C) and application form (Annex D) and submit to RCSLT by noon on Monday 11 May 2015.

For more information about the application process, please see the application timeline (Annex B) and the application form (Annex D).

Thank you on behalf of RCSLT for your interest in the RCSLT SLCN Outcome Project; we look forward to receiving your application.

Kamini Gadhok

CEO, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

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http://www.rcslt.org/

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National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Annex A

Annex A:About the RCSLT

SLCN Outcome ProjectIncludes essential information about the commitment required and support available

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Annex A: About the RCSLT SLCN Outcome Project

Background

Through the National Prospectus Grants Programme, the Department for Education (DfE) seeks to help improve outcomes for children and young people (particularly those who are disadvantaged) and provide support for their families. For 2015-16, the DfE identified seven policy themes to fund and invited voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to bid for funding in support of one of the themes.

The RCSLT has been awarded funding under the theme of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to deliver the SLCN Outcome Project.

Aims and objectives

The key aims of the project are to:

Improve data collection and measurement of outcomes for children and young people with SLCN and SEND.

Facilitate greater collaboration and collation of data across education, health and care.

Increase the involvement of children and young people with SLCN, and their families, in agreeing their outcomes in education, health and care plans (EHC plans).

To achieve these aims, the RCSLT will collaborate with six geographically diverse collaboratives (groups of settings/organisations who work with children and young people with SLCN) over the period from June 2015 to March 2016. During this period we will work with the pilot collaboratives to develop and test a web-based application, and scope the scalability of the project.

The tool will build upon the Children and Families Outcome Framework (CFOF) which has been tested and proven effective in children’s centres and primary schools (see Supporting information pack). The tool will meet the needs of all children and young people with SLCN, whether or not they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

Benefits of taking part

The RCSLT SLCN Outcome Project is a high profile project with national significance. As a pilot collaborative you will have the opportunity to work with the RCSLT Project Support team and national colleagues to co-produce, test and evaluate an innovative web-based SLCN Outcome Tool.

Taking part will support your collaborative to:

Understand your population needs and where you need to target services and resources

Track the impact of the services you provide or that partners provide on your behalf

Examine the national evidence base for 'what works', using it to inform and review what services are provided (working with The Communication Trust in the use of the What Works database)

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DRAFT


Evaluate the outcomes in relation to your aims and objectives ensuring that services are responsive to needs and local and national priorities

Engage partners, including governors, advisory boards, and parent forums in service design and planning at a local level

Demonstrate the value you add and your value for money

Provide a robust evidence base for commissioners

Commitment required

We recognise that the success of this project will require commitment from both pilot collaboratives and the RCSLT. Please see below for more detail about the commitment that will be expected of pilot collaboratives:

You will work alongside the RCSLT Support Team and other pilot collaboratives to develop, test and evaluate the SLCN Outcome Tool including the tracking of interventions and outcomes.

Two representatives from the collaborative will attend the induction day on 11 June 2015, and up to three further network days over the course of the project.

You will have strategic and operational support from both your Local Authority and the Health provider with responsibility for delivering relevant services e.g. Speech and Language Therapy.

You already work in partnership with children, young people, families and frontline practitioners across agencies and at different levels. We anticipate that work involved in this project may require your collaborative to commit dedicated time to building new partnerships.

Speech and language therapists will use TOMs as a core outcome measure alongside other measures of their choice. SLTs in pilot collaboratives will need to commit to a half day training which will be provided by RCSLT (please see Supporting Pack: Introduction to TOMs and CFOF).

You will complete quarterly reports on achieved outcomes relating to the development, testing and evaluation of the SLCN Outcome Tool.

You will participate in pre- and post- evaluations, and support RCSLT to share the learning from the project.

Support provided

The RCSLT Support Team will provide you with: One-to-one and group support to:

o access a range of practical tools to measure and evidence how the work of your collaborative is contributing to the field of research and influencing national policy and practice

o broker mutually beneficial partnerships o use the SLCN Outcome Tool including a personalised training programme embedding the

tool in your pilot collaborative Free training in Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs) for speech and language therapists

The Project teamPage 5 of 18

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Support will be provided by a highly skilled RCSLT Project Support Team, including the developer of the Children and Families Outcome Framework (CFOF) and the RCSLT Outcomes Team, and will provide expertise in the following areas:

Assessing need, tracking progress, measuring outcomes and evaluating impact

Growing an evidence base for ‘what works’ to improve outcomes for children, young people, families and communities

Research and evidence-based practice

Involving children, young people and families in agreeing outcomes

Brokering multi-agency partnerships (national and local level)

Project management

Project timeline

Please see below for information about the expected timescale of the project. A more detailed project plan will be provided to pilot collaboratives on commencement of the project.

High Level Project Plan Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Activity April May June July Aug SeptOct Nov

Dec Jan Feb Mar

Scoping and options appraisal Specification developed

Pilot collaboratives recruited Pilot collaboratives consultation Alpha version developed

Alpha version tested

Beta version developed

Beta version tested

Final version developed

Final version tested

Final tool delivered

Summary report on scalability of project

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National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Annex B

Annex B:Application timeline

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National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Annex B

Annex B: Application timeline

Date Activity

17 April 2015 RCSLT publish application pack for pilot collaboratives

1 May 2015 Deadline for queries to guarantee an answer before the application deadline

11 May 2015 Deadline for receipt of application forms

12 May 2015 –18 May 2015

Assessment of applications by RCSLT

w/c 18 May 2015Applicants notified of RCSLT decision, and letters of agreement issued to successful collaboratives

5 June 2015 Signed letters of agreements returned to RCSLT

8 June 2015 Project commences

11 June 2015 Pilot collaborative induction meeting at RCSLT HQ, London

All applicants should be available to start working on the project from 8 June 2015, and two key contacts must be available to attend the induction meeting in London on 11 June 2015.

The project will run until 31 March 2016; a detailed timetable of activities will be provided to participating collaboratives at the induction meeting.

Applications must be received by noon on 11 May 2015 and must include the following:

i. the eligibility checklist (Annex C)

ii. the application form (Annex D)

iii. a letter of support from the strategic leads across the Local Authority and Health (including for speech and language therapy services)

Two paper copies of each of the three documents above should be sent to: RCSLT, 2 White Hart Yard, London, SE1 1NX

Please mark the envelope with the heading ‘SLCN Outcome Project Application’

One electronic copy of the three documents above should also be emailed to [email protected]

Please note: incomplete applications may not be considered; the completeness of an application will be determined at the discretion of the RCSLT – so please ensure you have completed all relevant sections prior to submission.

The selection of the six pilot collaboratives will be a competitive process. The RCSLT reserves the right to revise the process based on the quality of the applications received, ensuring an appropriate spread across age ranges and geographical areas are included in the project.

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mailto:[email protected]

National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Annex C

Annex C:Eligibility checklist

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National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Annex C

Annex C: Eligibility checklist

The checklist has been designed to help you decide whether your collaborative is eligible to apply for the RCSLT SLCN Outcome Project.

Please tick each box to confirm you can answer yes to each of the following statements:

Eligibility statements

You have the support of the provider and commissioner strategic leads across the local authority and health (including for speech and language therapy services) ☐You can demonstrate a proven track record of collaborative working and influencing change at all levels to enact service and system change to improve outcomes for children and young people, particularly those with a SLCN

☐

You are already part of, or can form, a collaborative with other settings and/or organisations in your local area.

☐

You and your collaborative settings/organisations work with children and young people aged between 0-25 years with SLCN (this may include those with and without an EHC plan).

Note: you do not have to work across the full age range 0-25 years; in the application form you will be asked to specify which age groups you work with.

☐

The lead school, children’s centre or early years setting involved in the collaborative has been rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted at the most recent inspection.

☐

The impact of the activity and any direct delivery of services are in England. ☐

Lead contact name:

Local authority/NHS Trust:

Signature:

Date:

If you can answer yes to all of the above statements, we would welcome an application from your collaborative so please proceed to the application form (Annex D)

Please ensure you include this page with your completed application.

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National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 The RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication pack for pilot collaboratives: Annex D

Annex D: Application form

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Annex D: Application form

Section 1: Contact details Please describe the collaborative partnership arrangements for your application including which partner you have chosen to be the lead contact/representative.

LocationPlease state the geographical area (e.g. Local Authority and/or NHS Trust) within which your pilot collaborative is based.

Collaborative detailsLocal authority/NHS trustTotal number of settings / organisations who will be part of the collaborative

Lead contact/representativePlease identify a lead contact/representative for your collaborative who will be the primary contact for your application and further communication.

Lead contact/representative detailsNameJob titleTelephone numberMobile number (optional)Email addressTotal number of settings / organisations within the collaborative

Please tell us which age range your collaborative will be working with as part of this project. Please note: we welcome applications which work across age ranges.

Age range Please tick

☐ 0-5 years (Early years)☐ 5-11 years (Primary)☐ 11 – 16 years (Secondary)☐ 16 – 19 years (Further education)☐ 19 -25 years (Young people with SEND)☐ Children and young people with SEND (Special school/Alternative provision)

Please state age range:

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Section 2: Reason for applying

Please explain your key reasons for applying to be part of this project (300 words max.)

Maximum Score 20

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Section 3: Collaborative partnerships

3a) Collaborative WorkingPlease tell us about who you will work collaboratively with on this project?

Please state the number and type of settings that will form the collaborative.

You should consider your local community, multi-agency partners, the third sector, HEIs/researchers, and any national partnerships you have developed. (300 words max.)

Maximum Score 20

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Section 3: Collaborative partnerships (continued)

3b) How do you assess need at a local level?

Outline how you currently work collaboratively with partners to assess levels of need and target interventions to improve outcomes, particularly for those with SEND/SLCN. (300 words max.)

Maximum Score 10

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Section 4: Outcomes

4a) How do you currently measure outcomes and track progress?How do you currently measure and track outcomes for children and young people and families across your service area, particularly for those with SEND/SLCN? (300 words max.)

What outcome measure tools are you/your partners currently using or planning to use? (300 words max.)

Maximum Score 20

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Section 4: Outcomes (continued)

4b) How do you co-produce outcomes with children, young people and families?How do you currently engage children, young people and families in stating what’s important to them including development of outcomes for Education, Health Care (EHC) plans? Please ensure your response to this question includes children and young people with and without EHC plans. (300 words max.)

Maximum Score 20

Application Scoring

DRAFT

National Prospectus Grants Programme 2015-16 THE RCSLT SLCN Outcome ProjectApplication Pack for Pilot Collaboratives

Application Area Maximum score Score awardedSection 1: Contact details Yes/No N/ASection 2: Reason for applying 20Section 3: Collaborative partnerships 30Section 4: Outcomes 40Total 90

How to apply

Thank you for taking the time to apply for our SLCN Outcome Project.

Applications must be received by noon on 11 May 2015 and must include the following:

i. the eligibility checklist (Annex C)

ii. the application form (Annex D)

iii. a letter of support from the strategic leads across the Local Authority and Health (including for speech and language therapy services)

Two paper copies of each of the three documents above should be sent to: RCSLT, 2 White Hart Yard, London, SE1 1NX

Please mark the envelope with the heading ‘SLCN Outcome Project Application’

One electronic copy of the three documents above should also be emailed to [email protected]

Please note: incomplete applications may not be considered; the completeness of an application will be determined at the discretion of the RCSLT – so please ensure you have completed all relevant sections prior to submission.

The selection of the six pilot collaboratives will be a competitive process. The RCSLT reserves the right to revise the process based on the quality of the applications received, ensuring an appropriate spread across age ranges and geographical areas are included in the project.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the project or application form please send your queries to [email protected] providing an email address and phone number. In order to ensure we can answer your query before the application deadline, please contact us with any queries by Friday 1 May.

Please note, we can only respond to queries that directly relate to clarification about the project or what is being asked on the form; we can’t provide help or advice in completing your application.

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