Scotland’s Local Practitioner Forums

Tokenism or Collective Advocacy ?

Liz Snodgrass – LPF RenfrewshireMary MacLeod -LPF East Lothian 10/9/09

Aims of Presentation

To share knowledge & experience which will assist in the development of LPFs across the 32 Local Authority areas.

To give a brief overview of existing structures & to consider where LPFs “fit in”.

To consider what the future might hold for LPFs .

Renfrewshire Local Practitioner’s Forum

Launched 6/2/07

What are we saying?Networking & resources

Consultation papers

Developing local, regional & national links.

Raising awareness & contributing to good practice.

PR/Media

PitfallsPitfalls

• Just another talking shop?

• Little enthusiasm for Changing Lives agenda.

• Work can leave little energy to believe in change and leads perhaps to a feeling of disempowerment/apathy.

Pitfalls cont.Pitfalls cont.

• Frontline workers i.e. face to face work has to take priority.

• Proactive team – already campaigns on issues that affect us.

• Lack of admin support.

• Lack of middle management backing

BenefitsBenefits

• Receiving and responding to consultations on various issues e.g. personalisation, role of CSWO etc.

• Information coming directly from the Scottish Government and others without being filtered.

• Freedom to discuss any topic.

BenefitsBenefits

• Taking part in National Practitioner Meetings

– Gives us a national voice

– Enables us to share ideas and best practice with other LPF’s.

BenefitsBenefits

• Forging stronger links at the frontline.

• Information coming directly from the Scottish Government and others without being filtered.

• A collective response which uses staff experiences, expertise and knowledge

Helpful hints to setting up an LPFHelpful hints to setting up an LPF

You will need:–

1. At least 2 people who are motivated and committed.

2. To negotiate support from your line manager, your middle management and your Director or CSWO.

3. Support from your colleagues.

Helpful hints to setting up an LPFHelpful hints to setting up an LPF

4. To preserve your energy and to look after yourself.

5. To establish an agreed aim.

6. To organise the practicalities – rooms, time, parking, how often etc.

Helpful hints to setting up an LPFHelpful hints to setting up an LPF

7. To make links locally e.g. with your PR (media) representative and others in your authority and, in the wider context, residential workers, Voluntary Agencies etc.

8. To develop and maintain links with the community of local practitioner at an inter authority and at a national level.

Making the pieces fit – where do LPFs “fit in”?

LOCAL AGENCIES

Communities of Practice

BASW

UNISON

Vol Orgs

Private Sector

Learning Networks

Community Planning Partnerships

21st Century Review of Social Work - 5 Change Programmes

User & Carers

32 LA/ LPFs

National Forum

National SW Services Forum

ADSW

Cabinet DeliveryGroup

Elections

Local &NationalIssues

NationalRep

LPFs – Looking ahead Can LPFs be built into the foundation of services to ensure

they have a contribution to make in the transformation of public services? What can I do to promote this?

• All 32 councils to have an established practitioner led LPF which will have a representative on the National Practitioner’s Forum.

• Election of future chairperson of NPF & secure funding for it to be a seconded post.

• Develop & improve links with wider networks locally, regionally and nationally.

Looking ahead continued

• Communication strategy & co-ordinated action.Nationally• Making the best use of technology to improve

communication across each LPF eg tele conferencing, website for LPFs.

• SW- PR strategyWithin teams Role of middle management in contributing to

staff’s involvement in ensuring the frontline’s voice is sought, heard and acted upon.