Somerset Schools Forum

12th May 2015

Agenda Item 5

What is SSE?

• A newly formed internal trading unit within SCC providing a variety of support services for Education. – Gross expenditure budget for 2015/16 of £20m– Circa 300 staff

• Its creation supported the following County Plan targets for 2013-17– Better Schools providing better results for our children

– Work more effectively with partners for a smaller, leaner and more customer focused public sector

• SSEs vision is to… ‘improve outcomes for all children and young people by working in partnership with others’

SORLS and (Dillington)Somerset Music

Resources for Learning Education Welfare Service

Admissions and Entitlements Commercial Development

HR H&S

Finance Contract Support

SCIL and (Nurseries)(SCITT)

(Highbridge Nursery)

Head of Educational Effectiveness (Neal Chislett)

School Improvement EY Improvement

Governor Support eLIM

Narrowing the gap

(Circles Nursery)

Head of SSE

(Ian Rowswell)

Enrichment and Entitlement (Vicky Thomas)

SEN Support Services

(Rick Beaver)

Ed Psych’s - including EY SENCOs

STC(Learning/Sensory/Medical/Physical)

(Autism & Communication

Advisory Service )

Business Services (Ian Mosley)

( ) indicates service areas that aren’t in scope but SSE provide the line management

Service Scope changes

Agreed• Somerset Total (STC) • Business Support

Proposed• Early Years – from

Commissioning April 15• Admissions and

Entitlements – to Commissioning

• Narrowing the gap – to Commissioning (contract budgets)

Managed Services• Circles and Highbridge LA

Nurseries – from Sept 14 pending move to schools

• SCITT – Review taking place• Dillington - from March 15

pending decision on future• Learning/Sensory/Physical/

Medical Support from Jan 15 pending proposed move in scope in April 16

• Autism & Communication Advisory Service from April 15 pending proposed move in scope in April 16

Cabinet Decision

• Retain SSE within SCC as trading unit, review progress in a year and case for transferring out after 2 years

• Confirmed current service scope/set process for agreement of future changes

• Require full cost recovery in 5 years• Note appointment of Commercial and General Manager

to secure commercial skills• Implementation of Business Improvement Plan• Introduce governance to oversee performance• Continue development of commissioning function

Transition plan

• Releasing commissioning capacity (change line management arrangements)

• Development of Service Level Agreements • Budget – clarifying 14/15 position and impact of 15/16

MTFP• Establishing Commissioning function• Resolving outstanding scope issues

Business Improvement Plan 14/15

Staff integration

Standardise templates and procedures for: Staff line management and appraisals Staff Training Staff awareness sessions and newsletters Task and finish groups

Business Strategy Review costing, pricing, fees and charges Invoicing and SSTEPs Terms and conditions for traded services Scheme of Delegation for SSE

Business Improvement Plan 14/15 – cont.

Customer Engagement and Marketing Branding Website – www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk Termly Customer Newsletter – linked to SSE service

websites – 2nd one has now gone out Vision and Values for SSE developed by Staff Customer feedback survey Continued commitment to involve Schools Client Group Involvement in Transition Management Board

Results of recent customer survey

• 58 different schools responded (77% LA Maintained 23% Academy)

• 89% rated Educational Effectiveness services good/outstanding

• 95% rated SEN Support services good/outstanding• 97% rated Enrichment and Entitlements services

good/outstanding• 95% rated Business Services good/outstanding• Top reasons for good/outstanding rating is quality of

service, quality of guidance and contact/helpline speed of response

SSE Outcomes in 2015/16 Business Plan

• Demonstrable contribution to raising achievement and supporting vulnerable learners.

• Full cost recovery with clear focus on customer service• Identify and respond to customer need through provision

of high quality services.• Plans in place to meet targets for growth and efficiencies• Robust service planning, resource deployment and

performance monitoring.• With commissioners, resolve outstanding scope issues.• Involve staff and support them through changes.• Culture of regular review and development.