History
Reconstruct was initially developed as a training and development company, starting in 1990 offering training on the Children Act 1989 to local authorities throughout England and Wales. Feedback from this led to the development of a large portfolio of courses aimed at improving skills and knowledge for child care professionals. During its first 10 years the company developed ongoing relationships and contracts with an increasing number of Local Authority Children’s services, and partner agencies. The company built a strong reputation for its’ ethical business practices - both with customers and our own staff - strong relationship marketing, and commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
In 2000 we started to provide services directly to children and young people, commissioned through the responsible statutory agencies. This was a natural next step for the company as it reflects our core values and ensures that the voices of children and young people influence our approach to the training and development of the professionals who work with and for them. We predominately provide independent visiting, advocacy and participation services, and by the beginning of 2010 we were established in two distinct geographical areas: London and South-West England.
We have provided challenging and entertaining national conferences on a wide range of subjects since 2001, bringing professionals together to discuss and consider the latest research evidence and experience in delivering good quality services to children and their families. Speakers have included: David Finkelhor, Camila Batmanghelidjh, Jan Horwath, Chris Goddard, Ray Wyre and Nigel Richardson. We have also run events on our experience of involvement in over 30 serious case reviews in England and Wales, and our CEO is much sought after to speak on this topic nationally.
We have provided a consultancy service since 1997, again building on the feedback and issues raised by the many thousands of managers and staff we have trained, and the children and young people for whom we provide services. Our consultancy service initially focused on the production of web-based procedures, chairing and authoring for serious case reviews, but has successfully widened out to include multi agency safeguarding reviews, case work and file audits, needs assessments, strategy development – for example, placement strategies - value for money options, change management, and strategic planning.
Since 2004 we have provided a research précis service. We will make this free for all members of the children's workforce in 2011.
In 2010 we have brought together our three core activities – training, children’s services, and consultancy, to offer our customers a range of more flexible integrated services, for example, supervision and management development, drawing on both our training and consultancy services, and participation services to ensure customer feedback.
By 2011 we will be providing services to most of the local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland and will have grown from a pool of six people to 250. Despite this the values of the company: passionate about the rights of children, supportive of the job of child protection professionals and committed to being a good employer remain. We are proud that we have continued to improve the lives of children.
Barry Raynes
