Getting the decision makers onboard
The key decision makers responsible for approving Children and Young People's Plans are likely to be elected members and senior managers.
Some colleagues taking part in the case studies were successful in influencing these decision makers and in doing so raised the profile of the work. The following are some examples that proved successful in keeping Bookstart high on the agenda:
- Building the knowledge and understanding of local councillors by inviting them to events and groups and making sure they have concise factual information about the services you deliver and their impact. Councillors will want to meet service users and hear what they think of the activities.
- Senior managers have large areas of responsibility, competing priorities and targets to meet. Senior managers are most likely to be influenced by reports or information that demonstrate how your work helps them achieve the outcomes in the Children and Young People's Plans. Bookstart have produced a grid which shows how your work contributes to the Every Child Matters outcomes
- Publicity showing the work of the partnership in a good light will also attract the attention of decision makers. This may be features on local TV, radio or in the press, or it could be through involvement in regional or national groups, or through the submission of examples of good practice to journals and websites.
Further Reading
- The benefits of partnership working
"Practitioners with backgrounds in single, traditional agencies report high levels of satisfaction with multi-agency working..." more > - Building partnership approaches
"Partnership working gives Bookstart coordinators access to dads and families..." more > - Getting the decision makers onboard
"The Key decision makers responsible for approving Children and Young People's Plans are likely to be elected members and senior managers..." more >