In 2011, Genuine Partnerships (a not-for-profit community interest company from Rotherham made up of practitioners, parent carers and young people working together as equal partners) developed ‘The Four Cornerstones’ based on research involving children and young people with SEND and their families.
It has been adopted nationally and Genuine Partnerships works with Contact (a charity for families with disabled children) to deliver training in local areas.
Devon is adopting this tried and tested approach to embed a new culture which focuses on rebuilding trust and positive relationships.
The Four Cornerstones will underpin Devon’s SEND Strategy and will be used to evaluate the progress in changing the culture.
Through this strategy we want to improve the way that we:
Welcome and care by:
- providing a happy and secure environment or context
- nurturing confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem
- working together with you to build a supportive community
- making sure your voice is heard and valued
- responding with sensitivity
- communicating expectations clearly
- emphasising strengths and achievements
Value and include by:
- identifying needs early and welcoming involvement at every stage
- having a ‘can do’ approach
- making sure all practitioners have the right skills and understanding
- sharing information about strengths and needs sensitively
- being creative and flexible to respond in the best way to individual strengths, needs and changes
- involving all relevant partners in decision-making processes
- encouraging all partners to contribute to the development of our values, systems and policies
Communicate by:
- asking for your views and involvement
- being available when people need to talk and making time to listen
- listening calmy and respectfully
- responding promptly and following up
- reviewing regularly
- providing all the information needed in a timely way, in a form that will be understood
- striving to use positive and constructive language
Work in partnership by:
- encouraging participation
- valuing your contributions as an equal partner
- working together to develop plans, set targets and create and deliver specific programmes
- involving you in decisions about organisational changes and improvement