Innovation and insight for local authorities

Where did you work before Coram-i and how long have been here?

I am a local government professional and have worked in different areas of Children Services including school place planning and pupil forecasts, early years funding programmes and childcare sustainability, school information and performance, and data and research. I made the move to the charity sector in 2018 working for CVAA as a Data Manager and Policy Analyst and joined Coram in July 2019.

What was it that made you want to join the team?

I transferred from CVAA when Coram-i was awarded the Children’s and Social Care Secretariat contract by the DfE. It was an exciting opportunity to be able to continue to deliver the ASGLB data collection and shape the delivery of the new contract, providing the much-needed analysis and reporting to support the sector and policy development

I am one of the original members of the team and it has been lovely to build and grow the team around the delivery of the secretariat.

Tell us about your job and what it involves?

I am the ASGLB Data Lead and manage the delivery of the quarterly ASGLB Child, SGO and Adopter data collection. I report to Board on system performance, publish the ASGLB data and Headline Measures, undertake data analysis and reporting and provide key facts and figures. I also support the work of the RAA Leaders and DfE colleagues with deep dive analysis and ad hoc data requests.

What’s the best bit of your job?

There is so many best bits of my job. I work with an amazing team within Coram-i who are all supportive, knowledgeable, professional and totally committed to improving the outcomes for all children. Collaborative working with colleagues at the DfE makes it a pleasure to work as part of the Secretariat.  I could not deliver a successfully data collection without the commitment of my colleagues in LAs, RAAs and VAAs who every quarter submit their data returns without fail.

No two days are ever the same and my work is very varied. One day I could be working on the data collection, checking data returns and data cleansing or writing up a report on a piece of analysis, and the next day I could be providing facts and figures for a press release, presenting at Board, providing the DfE with charts for ministerial briefings or attending meetings with RAA colleagues.

Knowing that the work I do helps to improve the system which finds our most vulnerable children their forever family is a really good feeling.

And the most challenging?

Most challenging is juggling the various strands of work and projects that the team is supporting whilst prioritising the data collection. There is always more analysis that can be done, a deeper dive into the data but sadly not always the time.  It can be frustrating when the data just can’t tell you what you need to know, and the analysis leads to more questions than the data can answer.

What’s the piece of work you’re most proud of?

There are lots of pieces of work I am proud of, most notably achieving and maintaining 100% return rate for the quarterly ASGLB data collection, securing agreement from the ASGLB to set up the Racial Disparity task group following the death of George Floyd, publishing adopter characteristics analysis to support and inform the recruitment of a diverse group of adopters, and using the data to focus the sectors attention of the cohort of children who has been waiting the longest for adoption

Finally, away from work, what’s at the top of your bucket list?

Like the rest of the world I want to start travelling again and there are so many countries on my bucket list. My Dad was in the Navy and was based in the Far East so I am keen to continue exploring the routes he travelled and the countries he visited.  I also would love to be at Cape Canaveral for a rocket launch.

Where did you work before Coram-i and how long have been here?

This is my first job since graduating university in summer 2021. I’ve been working here since November 2021.

What does your job involve?

I’m a Data and Performance Analyst. My job mainly revolves around the quarterly data collection process. I assist in collecting data from agencies across England and undertake analysis projects on the data.

What was it that made you want to join the team?

I have always loved numbers and my favourite topics in school and university revolved around maths and statistics.  But, I also really wanted to work with children in some way. So, being part of the data team for a charity that supports children and young people is the perfect combination for me. I also felt so comfortable during the interview and I really felt like the organisation aligned with my ethos of positivity.

What’s the best bit of your job?

Definitely the people. They are some of the friendliest and supportive people I have met. I instantly felt part of the team when I joined and have really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them over the past 8 months.

And the most challenging?

Starting work during the pandemic was definitely challenging. Getting to grips with a new role and meeting the team online was a whole new experience. But the team made it manageable and we’ve given each other constant support.

What’s the piece of work you’re most proud of?

I’m very proud of  working on the editing of one of our guidance documents for agencies. This involved filtering instructions to identify the cohorts of children and adopters that we include in our quarterly headline measures reports. It was one of the first projects I completed independently and  it’s now being used by agencies across England to check their data.

Finally, away from work, what’s at the top of your bucket list?

To visit more countries in Africa – ideally all 54 countries but that may be too ambitious! After spending a year of my childhood in Lesotho, I really want to go back and experience more of the culture and the environment.

Where did you work before Coram-i and how long have been here?

I worked briefly at Frontline Aids whilst completing my degree in English Language with Creative Writing. I was part of a small team focusing on contract support and international logistics – mainly around projects in Africa. Whilst working there I decided that upon finishing my degree I would look for work in the charity sector. I’ve been with the Coram-i team since October 2021.

What was it that made you want to join the team?

I wanted to utilise and develop my skills in the charity sector and I jumped at the chance to join Coram. I’m so pleased to have found an organisation with such an interesting history and an inspiring commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people. I knew instantly at my interview that this was a fantastic team and I was overjoyed to be accepted for the role.

Tell us about your job and what it involves?

My job role is varied but predominantly I provide administrative support to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board and related Reference and Task Groups. I take the minutes in ASGLB related meetings and liaise with board members and attendees to ensure the meetings run smoothly. I send out the weekly ASGLB update emails, engage with other organisations via Twitter and assist with ad hoc comms tasks for the Secretariat.

What’s the best bit of your job?

I feel incredibly lucky to have an amazing team around me and to be able to connect with so many individuals from across the sector. Everyone is different but they all share the same sincerity and commitment to their respective areas. There are many challenges in this sector but it is encouraging and inspiring to see so many people working towards shared goals.

I also love that no two days are the same and I have the freedom to manage my own workload and development. Every day feels like a school day – in a good way of course!

And the most challenging?

Keeping track of all the acronyms! There seems to be a never ending stream of terminology to keep track of when writing up the minutes. I see the appeal of shortening names but I am going to have to resort to flashcards to learn them all!

What’s are you most proud of?

I am proud of the progress I have made since I started at Coram-i and I look forward to making more substantial contributions to the team as I gain more experience. Outside of work I am most proud of my degree, as a mature student I was apprehensive about how well I would do but finished with a First overall and an 80% on my final dissertation. I surprised myself over and over again and I am so proud of what I was able to achieve given the circumstances.

Finally, away from work, what’s at the top of your bucket list?

I would love to get back to Japan to see more of the country. I travelled there briefly for some training in 2012 but wasn’t able to do much sightseeing. It’s a beautiful country and I hope to be able to explore it more in future trips.

Where did you work before Coram-i and how long have been here?

I have worked with Coram in some capacity for over a year, but joined Coram-i officially in October 2021. Prior to this, I was part of a small social enterprise, working on a number of innovative projects focused on children’s social care- one of which was the Coram Innovation Incubator. My first job after I graduated was in a similar area, at another social enterprise, using virtual reality in children’s services.

What was it that made you want to join the team?

I really enjoyed my previous work in children’s services and felt like this role would be a great opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills in an area I feel really passionate about. The fact that the team come with wide-ranging life experiences and perspective also appealed to me. The team are all really committed and the atmosphere is friendly and supportive.

Tell us about your job and what it involves?

My job is quite varied, which is great! Part of it involves helping to coordinate the logistics for the Coram Innovation Incubator, which means working with local authorities and our private sector colleagues to design and implement our broad programme of events, develop new projects and report on sector developments. I also work with local authorities to help them to design and implement a housing solutions scheme to enable foster carers to look after additional children by providing additional bedroom space. My role in this is to help the local authority to survey its foster carers to find out about their housing situations, draft policy recommendations, and liaise with a range of stakeholders so they can support the project and ensure it stays on track.

What’s the best bit of your job?

It’s brilliant to work with colleagues so committed and motivated to improve the situation for children and young people. Working across sectors and with those from across the UK means we get to hear from a really interesting and diverse range of experts.

And the most challenging?

The sector is facing some significant challenges related to rising demand and strains on resources and capacity, so it can be challenging to support colleagues to navigate these challenges and find solutions to the really complex issues they face.

What’s the piece of work you’re most proud of?

Last year, the CII team produced the first CII Innovation Collective, which compiled and analysed innovative approaches which have been trialled across children’s services. We were able to uncover so many interesting projects taking place across the sector and it was great to be able to showcase these so that others can learn from them. 

Finally, away from work, what’s at the top of your bucket list?

I would definitely like to travel more widely beyond Europe. I’ve always been very keen to go to Japan so I’m hoping I can arrange a trip sometime soon!