Project 1 with NSPCC: Modelling the cost of vulnerable children going into care

NSPCC Project 1

Development of a modeling tool for the costs of children going into care

Project:

NSPCC wants to develop a tool to show Local Authorities the costs of children going into care to help them improve their processes.

Project description:

The Children’s Services directorate within the NSPCC focuses on working with children from an early age. As part of this they need to understand the cost of children going into care from birth, to begin to understand the quantitative impact that the NSPCC services can have for a locality.

The NSPCC previously undertook some work looking at the costs of going into care which informed part of the Reunification framework, a service that is being scaled-up and training provided to external organisations to use to improve their processes within their local authority. 

This project is to build on this work and to create a tool to inform costs of diverting away from edge of care to show local authorities the potential costs they incur in this area, and to then be able to provide them with services and knowledge to improve these process to have positive impacts on the children and families they are working with.

Key skills required: economic/cost modelling using Excel

The project would be suitable for a team (either an existing team or individual volunteers who are happy to collaborate)

Proposed project stages: 

1. Briefing/familiarisation with previous work, available data and requirements - meeting with Development Mgr)

2. Desk Research – available data and model scoping/definition

3. Model Building – develop Excel Models

4. User Testing & QA – e.g. pilot the model with some LAs

5. Handover model & documentation

Time commitment: Potential time required – 5-8 days over 3-4 months

N.B. The time required could be less per volunteer if a team of volunteers works on this.

Location: Most of this project can be carried out remotely.

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by 18^th February 2020.

The OR Society fully supports equal opportunities. As such, we welcome applications from the partially sighted or blind, or those with disabilities.

Information about the organisation: 

The NSPCC are the leading children's charity in the UK, specialising in child protection and dedicated to the fight for every childhood. They are the only UK children's charity with statutory powers meaning they can take action to safeguard children at risk of abuse. 1 in 5 children in the UK have suffered abuse or neglect. That’s why, across the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, the NSPCC are working to protect children today and prevent abuse from happening tomorrow

For further information about the NSPCC, please visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/ or email Caroline.Westley@nspcc.org.uk

For further information about the Pro Bono OR scheme, please visit: www.theorsociety.com/Probono  or email ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com