Decision details

Doncaster Council’s Early Intervention and Localities Service have been approached by St Wilfred’s Academy to support the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce Pilot. St Wilfred’s have submitted a successful application to the Department for Education with a plan which includes recruitment of a Family Lead Practitioner and an Early Help Coordinator.

The request is to provide dedicated support in relation to Early Help (Assess, Plan, Do and Review), case supervision and coordination of the multi-agency approach.

St Wilfred’s have based this decision on the good practice they have observed and would like to add additional capacity into the existing team to support this project.

The Family Lead Practitioner will work directly with families, undertaking whole family assessments and focusing interventions around parental needs whilst working closely with school mentors who will work more directly with the
children. The Early Help Coordinator will provide case supervision and coordination for all children, young people and families who access the provision.

Both posts will sit within the existing service and line management responsibilities will be held by an Early Help Pathway Lead.

Funding to be provided to Doncaster Council from St Wilfred’s Academy to fund 1fte Early Help Coordinator and 1fte Family Lead Practitioner to support the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce at St Wilfred’s Academy for two years from 01 November 2021.

Externally funded through the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce fund. Line management costs will be met from within the existing Early Help team budget.
There will be no additional costs for council.

Costs for the posts are set out in the attached Officer Decision Record.

No other options were considered.