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ITEM
4 SOCIAL
SERVICES NORTH WEST MEETING 19
SEPTEMBER 2003 REPORT
OF THE PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT AND THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE, KNOWSLEY (LEAD
DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ADSS NW) THE
GREEN PAPER
‘EVERY
CHILD MATTERS’ 1.
Matter for consideration: The
Government’s green paper ‘Every Child Matters’, published on Monday
8 September 2003. 2.
Introduction: The
Government has recently published the green paper “Every Child
Matters”. This report
covers the key points and responses, relating to the consultation
document. Responses are invited up to 1 December 2003 and the full text is
available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/everychildmatters/ 3.
Information: Hailed
as the biggest reform in children’s services for over a decade, the
Governments green paper “Every Child Matters“ was unveiled by
Charles Clarke MP, Secretary of State at the DfES. The Minister
said that the green paper’s publication marks a turning point.
The Prime Minister claimed that the government’s proposals are “the
most far reaching reforms of children’s services in 30 years.” The
consultation document sets out the governments plans following from the
Laming inquiry and report following from the death of Victoria Climbie. The
aim is to improve outcomes for all children and their families, to protect
and promote their wellbeing,
and support all
children in developing their
full potential. Some of the key changes had already emerged such as the
appointment of Margaret Hodge as the first minister for children, under
the Department of Education and Skills (DfES). Two related documents were
published on the same day namely Raising the Educational Attainment of Children in Care (a report by
the Social Exclusion Unit and Youth
Justice – The Next Step (which sets out more detailed proposals
to build on recent youth justice reforms). The
green paper recognises that bearing the responsibility for some of the
toughest problems in society is not just the responsibility of social
workers. The main theme of the green paper is reorganising services around
the child, so that problems can be identified and dealt with as soon as
possible. For the first time,
professionals will have a duty to share their suspicions about children
who may be at risk. They will have a duty to liaise with the NHS, police
and other professions to ensure that every child gets the opportunity to
cope with their problems ranging from learning difficulties to abuse.
In practical terms changes will include social workers operating in
schools, a national helpline for parents and parenting classes. The fatal flaws of poor interagency co-ordination and
communication will thus be addressed. Children
at risk will be properly protected within a framework of universal
services. Four main areas are focussed on: o
Early
intervention and effective protection
To
“… ensure children receive services at the first onset of problems,
and to prevent any children slipping through the net” the government
proposes to improve information sharing and removing legislative barriers
to communication, electronic information sharing will be enhanced by a
single unique identity number and common data standards on recording
information. Common
assessment frameworks will also be developed and a lead official
identified in each local authority with responsibility for ensuring information is collected and shared, with the aim of basic
information being able to follow the child and reduce duplication. Children
known to more than one agency will also have a lead professional
identified to ensure a coherent package of services is developed for the
child. ‘On the spot’
service delivery will provide a rapid response based in schools and
Children’s centres. o
Supporting
parents and careers this
includes targeted and
specialist support to parents of children requiring additional support.
Universal services including schools and social services will provide
information and advice and engage parents to support their child’s
development. o
Accountability
and integration - locally,
regionally and nationally. The
aim is to have one person in charge locally and nationally with
responsibility to improve children’s lives. Key services should be
integrated within a single organisational focus at both levels. Therefore
each council will be expected to appoint: A
councillor responsible for children’s services (legislation will be
brought in). A
children’s director to bring together education and social
services as well as improving co-ordination with the NHS and other
agencies. In
the long term key services will be integrated under the Director of
Children’s services as part of Children’s Trusts, which are to be set
up in all authorities by 2006. Teachers and social workers will thus be
part of a single organisation, under local authority control and told to
make the well being of children their top priority.
Integrated teams of social workers, Connexions advisers, health and
education professionals will be placed in and around schools. Partnership Working:
Local Authorities will be required to work closely with public, private
and voluntary organisations to improve outcomes for children. Local
authorities will be given flexibility over how this partnership working is
undertaken. The government will encourage joining up locally by ensuring
children have a priority across services, setting out clear practice
standards, rationalising performance targets, plans funding streams and
financial accountability. Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards:
One of the key changes will be the amalgamation of schools and child
protection services locally. New duties on police, health and other
agencies along with social services to safeguard children will require the
agencies to come together as statutory bodies known as Local Safeguarding
Children’s Boards (LSCB’s) to ensure senior officers are involved in
cases. There will therefore
not be a national child protection agency and area child protection
committees will be replaced by LSCB’s.
Inspection:
Ofsted formerly overseeing teaching standards will now take on the
inspection framework for social work. Children’s services will thus be
judged on joint working through integrated inspection frameworks. Children’s commissioner:
An independent children’s commissioner for England is to be appointed
(following the demand of many interested organisations including SSNW) to
act as a champion for children at every level of government. The
independent commissioner will protect the rights and well being of
children in England and represent the views of youngsters to government.
o
Workforce
reform. A
workforce reform package is planned to make working with children an
attractive career prospect, this will be in conjunction with a national
campaign to recruit more foster carers. The workforce reform strategy will
“ review rewards incentives and relativities across
children’s practice with the aim of moving towards a framework
that fairly rewards skills and responsibilities, and ensures effective
incentives for good practitioners to
stay on the front line”. Better more flexible
and attractive training routes into social work will also be
provided. A comprehensive workload survey to address bureaucracy will be
carried out. The green paper proposes shared training for all child care
professionals on child protection, joint assessments of care needs and
joint recruitment strategies, aiding flexibility.
The development and delivery of workforce proposals will be taken
forward by two new bodies a Children’s
Workforce Unit to develop a pay and workforce strategy and the
development of a Sector Skills Council(SSC) for
Children’s and Young People’s
Services.
When
consulted by writers of the green paper the five outcomes children and
young people most identified as important to them were: o
Being healthy o
Staying safe o
Making a positive
contribution o
Economic well being o
Enjoying and achieving The
green paper proposal that schools and community centres will become the
focal point for the delivery of all children’s services is in line with
previous developments. For instance, thirty six local authorities are
already piloting “service hubs” of health, education and social
services, run by multi-disciplinary teams as proposed by the LGA, ADSS and
NHS Confederation. The
policies set out in the green paper are thus designed both to protect
children and maximise their
potential. It is expected that the Green Paper’s publication will mark
the beginning of an important national debate on how agencies can work
more effectively together. The Government welcomes feedback
on the framework set out in the consultation document and looks to
making a strong partnership with stakeholders including practitioners,
children and young people. New
legislation will then be introduced subject to the outcome of consultation
as soon as Parliamentary time allows. The green paper sets out a series of
questions relating to the implementation of its proposals,
and encourages views on these or any other aspect of the proposals.
The consultation period will end on 1st December 2003. Reactions: Lord
Laming author of the Victoria
Climbie report has said he is delighted with the
government’s map for the future of children’s services, but
cautious about whether Ministers will maintain their commitment and
provide the resources to complete the journey. He said referring to his
own report , “I can think of no other report that has been responded to
in such a positive and determined manner”. He went on to urge local
authorities to demand the money necessary to make this dream come true. Alison
King, chairwoman of the LGA has welcomed the announcement of a
children’s commissioner and the long awaited proposals for a statutory
framework. She considers that it is however necessary to have further
discussion about the degree of prescription for the children’s director
post. “It is vital that councils have the discretion to decide which
senior officer will take on this role, according to local circumstance.” David
Behan, president of the ADSS said that the green paper “ sets the scene
for strong leadership, clear accountability and tighter co-ordination
between local authorities and partner agencies.” 4.
Conclusion: 4.1.
These proposals may well in the long run lead to the dismantling of
social services departments set up in the early seventies.
The green paper however concentrates on the immediate steps to be
taken at local, regional and national levels. 4.2.
There is no mention of extra money that may be needed to implement
the changes. Despite the
innovations, budgetary pressures and staff shortages are likely to
threaten the pace of reform. In
her role as the chief inspector of social services Denise Platt has said
that another 50,000 staff are required to meet government targets and
reduce vacancy rates. 4.3.
Given that Children’s services represent one quarter of social
services budgets but only one eight of the merged departments, there is a real danger of children’s services being
marginalised. 4.4.
Also merger of departments is not a guarantor of better
co-ordination. Standards remain more important than structures.
4.5.
Finally the review was meant to be cost neutral but as Lord Laming
has indicated to be carried out there will need to be considerable
investment.
5.
Recommendation: 5.1.
Members are asked to note the report 5.2.
Given the points highlighted in the conclusion of this report and
the government’s eagerness to receive feedback,
members are asked to consider how best to respond to the green paper. Click on these
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