24th April 2009
By Alex Klaushofer
Local authorities and social work professionals have warned that Lord Laming’s proposals to reform children’s services might be unachievable on cost grounds alone.
In a joint statement, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, London Councils and the Improvement and Development Agency highlighted serious concerns about how far the Laming reforms could be implemented.
Laming’s review of children’s services in England, published this March in the wake of the Baby P case, added 58 new recommendations to the reforms already agreed following the death of Victoria Climbié, including the introduction of new national targets.
The government has already accepted Laming’s proposals in principle, but is expected to give a fuller response shortly.
A major area of concern for the professionals is the plan for all referrals to children’s services from other professionals to result in an assessment.
Clive Grimshaw, LGA policy consultant for children and young people, said: ‘It would cost an absolute fortune and is, with current workforce capacity, not deliverable.’ One funding solution would be for the total number of children in need to be used as the basis of the grant distribution for that area’s children services, the group suggested.
The statement also highlighted the limitations of an inspection regime based on national targets to identify failings in child protection. ‘Targets on their own are a relatively crude method of telling people how good their services are, or of reassuring the public that services are in place,’ said Grimshaw.
Part of the problem lies with the fact that Ofsted, which now inspects children’s services, is more geared to inspecting schools than social work, he added. ‘There isn’t social work experience and expertise within the inspection workforce.’
Kim Bromley-Derry, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, agreed that expertise from social care was essential. ‘The drive to improve child protection systems and practice must come from those already working in children’s services,’ he said.
‘While there is a role for national bodies to provide support and challenge to struggling authorities, those best placed to spot problems early, offer advice and provide realistic solutions are those who already work within the system.’
According to Grimshaw, behind the scenes, chief executives have been expressing concern that promises of reform will raise expectations that the system will be able to prevent all cases of child abuse.
‘Social workers, police, teachers, doctors will sadly make mistakes, and that cannot be legislated for, however hard they try,’ he said.
The statement followed a report published on April 20 by the children, schools and families select committee, which criticised the state for failing to protect children in care from sexual abuse and criminal behaviour.
