Case study
Key theme: sustainability/role of cluster managers
Cluster managers collaborate - city wide
Leeds sets up a consultative forum to enable extended services cluster managers to share challenges and solve problems collaboratively.
Summary
<p>The collaborative group of cluster managers in Leeds, that make up the consultative forum, elected to take part in the National College&#8217;s Promoting Collaboration project in order to review its work to date and identify key areas of success, key challenges and areas of focus for the future</p>
Key learning/outcomes
<ul><li>The opportunity to reflect on the work of the consultative forum has enabled those involved to recognise the benefits of a shared approach to tackling common challenges.</li>
<li>Continuing professional development (CPD) is key to maintaining and increasing cluster managers&#8217; effectiveness.</li>
<li>Sustainability for the clusters will depend on engaging a wide range of stakeholders.</li></ul>
Background
<p>Leeds extended services clusters are grouped into five areas, known as wedges. In 2008, six or seven cluster managers came together to create a consultative forum. The group meets bi-monthly and has representation from all five wedges, as well as support from Education Leeds.</p>
<p>A key focus for the work is to share ideas on how to tackle common challenges of cluster management and organisation. Some significant outcomes had been achieved prior to involvement in the College&#8217;s Promoting Collaboration project. These included: a common approach to the performance management of cluster managers; a core job description; the identification of a variety of different models of cluster organisation across Leeds; and consideration of sustainability issues.</p>
<p>In Leeds, the common collaborative leadership structure is centred around joint collaborative committees (JCCs). These are made up of both headteacher and governor representation from each school within the cluster, as well as representation from other children's services organisations - including: children's centres, social care services, health services, the police, youth services and the voluntary community and faith sectors. Most meet termly, but some have set up different sub and action groups to address particular identified needs within the cluster.</p>
<p>The JCCs are often, but not exclusively, chaired by a headteacher from within the cluster. The cluster managers are employed by the cluster - using funding devolved through the local authority. </p>
Key challenges and issues
<ul><li>What are the key factors that influence sustainability for Leeds clusters?</li>
<li>How to develop governance structures that fully engage key partners and address community needs.</li>
<li>What are the ongoing training needs of cluster managers across Leeds?</li></ul>
Solution or approach
<p>The appreciative enquiry that the consultative forum engaged in as part of its work with the National College&#8217;s Promoting Collaboration project resulted in:</p>
<ul><li>The identification of some key factors for the sustainability of extended services, which included:
<ul><li>that the ability of successful clusters be responsive to local need is key</li>
<li>effective leadership skills from cluster chairs and cluster managers are essential - as is the managers' abilities to create effective working relationships</li>
<li>ongoing training of cluster managers has a direct impact on their effectiveness</li>
<li>some clusters are developing distributed leadership, which encourages a broad range of key partners to be proactive in taking on responsibilities for different areas of work. This helps to grow leadership capacity within the cluster</li></ul></li>
<li>There is a clear need to involve key partners in governance arrangements. This is a key lead area for the local authority.</li>
<li>The consultative forum is considering a range of CPD opportunities for cluster managers, including:
<ul><li>non-graduate training routes; possibly modular and accredited through an external body such as Open College Network (OCN)</li>
<li>a way in which to share the broad range of skills and experience that currently lies within the consultative forum</li>
<li>job shadowing as a means of sharing and extending skills</li>
<li>a distributed leadership workshop provided by the Children&#8217;s Workforce Development Council</li>
<li>Postgraduate courses in Leadership and Management for Children, Young People and Families workforce offered by Leeds Trinity University, developed in conjunction &#160;with local authority professionals .</li></ul></li></ul>
Next steps
<p>The enquiry has raised a number of key areas for further focus as outlined above. The work of the consultative forum over the next few months will focus on these areas. Immediate next steps include:</p>
<ul><li>To gain wider representation within the membership of the consultative forum from across the five wedges. </li>
<li>To more thoroughly utilise the experience and support of the extended services advisers within the consultative forum.</li>
<li>To identify appropriate development and training for cluster managers.</li></ul>
Further information
<p>For further information contact:</p>
<p>Sue Cassidy, Extended Services Adviser</p>
<p><a href="mailto:cassids02@leedslearning.net" title="cassids02@leedslearning.net">cassids02@leedslearning.net</a><br>07891 270381</p>
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