Leapwise was engaged to support West Midlands Children’s Services to develop a new model of secure care and support for the region’s most vulnerable children and young people in just five months. The project required the creation and implementation of new decision processes to support a complex multi-agency collaboration between the region’s 12 local authorities, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, two major charities, and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Work to develop the model drew on expertise from within these organisations, as well as input from service user experts and the Leapwise team’s analysis. Harnessing our subject matter experts, the team’s analysis included assessing the needs of target groups, demand for the new service, gaps in existing provision, and site options. A series of collaborative service design workshops set the high level design parameters and developed ideas, and the model was then worked up and supported by a detailed financial modelling exercise.
Focusing on ensuring that children progress to permanent and stable home environments in the region, the feasibility of implementing the new model was thoroughly assessed in a comprehensive Feasibility Study, which formed the basis of a request for £30 million capital funding from the Department for Education. The model is ear-marked to progress to its next stage of development.
