12 September 2003
Health, education and local authorities gave the 'biggest shake-up in children's services in 30 years' a muted welcome this week as they questioned the government's commitment to providing adequate investment and resources.
In the much delayed green paper, Every child matters, ministers outlined a string of proposals to create a multi-agency approach to child welfare. These include a national children's commissioner, a designated officer and politician at local level and a new 'workforce strategy' to improve the retention of key children's workers.
The paper, a response to the Laming inquiry into the tragic death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié, also outlines plans for every child to have an identity number, allowing all agencies to share data and keep track on them.
The proposals represent a significant upheaval for social services, education and health workers. By 2006, all key services for children and young people will have to be integrated into Children's Trusts which, except in the cases of failing services, will be under the aegis of local authorities.
The government will also legislate to create a post of director of children's services and a lead politician, who will be responsible for education and social services. Performance targets, inspections and funding will be rationalised to ensure full integration.
Teachers, social workers and specialist education and health staff will also be expected to work in multi-agency teams.
The Department for Education and Skills, which has already taken over responsibility for children's social services, teenage pregnancies and family policy and law, will also set up a children's workforce unit to develop a new pay and training framework for staff.
But while local government, health and education bodies gave the green paper a general welcome, they demanded a firm commitment of adequate resources to fund data integration, structural changes and staff.
'The government must remember that teachers are already over-burdened,' said Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers. 'It needs to make sure there are adequate staff and investment to deliver the change.'
David Behan, president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, said the paper was the beginning of a debate on children's services. 'As part of that debate, we will be raising the issue of resources,' he said.
A spokesman for the DfES said there were no projections for extra funding yet. 'This will have to be fed into the Spending Review,' he added.
But minister for children Margaret Hodge has already made it clear the proposals are less about resources and more about 'cultural change'.
The Local Government Association warned that the government must not enforce structural change.
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