Archived decisions

RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER "CARE MATTERS - TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARE"

The Department for Education and Skills published a Green Paper "Care Matters - Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care" on 9 October 2006. This important paper details the ways in which the Government believes outcomes for children in care (or children looked after by their local authority) need to be improved. Whilst the paper acknowledges that there has been significant progress in recent years, it suggests that this progress is neither sufficient nor consistent for all children in care, particularly in regard to their educational achievements. The paper emphasises that these responsibilities need to be shared by a range of services and stakeholders within and outside of local government.

The consultation period ended on 15 January 2007 and the Director of Children's Services submitted the County Council's response within that deadline. In preparing the consultation response, a group of officers led by the Strategic County Manager (Children and Families) drew upon their local professional knowledge as well as taking into account the views of elected Members and children in care in Hampshire. Given the significance of the issues contained in the Green Paper for the County Council as a whole, endorsement by the Cabinet was sought at its meeting on 22 January 2007.

In endorsing the response submitted, the Cabinet noted that it broadly welcomed the majority of proposals contained in the Green Paper albeit with some significant provisos. In summary the response:

_ Welcomes the suggestion of a "pledge" between the authority and its children to affirm the quality of the service provided. Hampshire would wish to include natural parents within that pledge and work has already commenced.


_ Supports the emphasis on developing better preventative services in order to ensure that the care system can focus its attentions and limited resources on those most in need and also to ensure that children can be sustained within their natural families wherever possible. There is concern however about the resource implications involved in developing effective early intervention.


_ Suggests more attention could be given to the development of the role of the "corporate parent", especially with regard to supporting elected Members in their role.


_ Is strongly critical of the suggestion that private social care practices can be established to commission services for children in care. Whilst the authority is receptive to all forms of provision of service, it believes this proposal is ill-considered, will not address the problem of continuity of social work support, and has the potential to place further severe financial strain upon local authorities.


_ Wholeheartedly welcomes the range of proposals in respect of improving the capacity and competency of the workforce including foster carers.


_ Welcomes the focus on the educational needs of children in care and the shared responsibilities of the local authority and individual schools. However, there was less certainty about the notion of a "virtual headteacher" and the authority will be interested to see how this and related proposals may develop.


_ Is strongly critical of suggestions that the role of Independent Reviewing Officers should be removed from the jurisdiction of local authorities. It is felt that this stems from a restricted understanding of the role which is key to the authority's own quality assurance of its service and plans.

Hampshire County Council has made substantial progress in recent years in respect of children in care, with strong services for foster care and children's homes and good quality care planning. However, initial progress in the educational attainment of children in care is not being sustained or improved to the extent the authority would wish. The County Council faces this issue and others at a time of severe financial pressures. Having regard to this local position and to help the County Council and its partners prepare for any implementation of the Green Paper proposals, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a Member led Corporate Parenting Group within the Children and Young People's Partnership which will be linked to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee to ensure a high level of political support and engagement for this service. The Cabinet also requested that a clear role for Members of the Hampshire Action Teams (HATs) be developed to help promote the corporate parenting role and to explore how they could contribute to the well being and progress of children in care. The Cabinet also emphasised the importance of partnership working with district councils and local universities to improve the outcomes for children 16 years of age and above in regard to their further education and other issues such as accommodation. In addition, the Children's Services Department will be establishing a high level officer working group, chaired by the Director of Children's Services to monitor the implementation of a service improvement plan for children in care. The group will include school and external representatives to ensure full collective accountability for the action plan that will be developed.

A copy of the consultation response is available in the Members' Rooms and can be found on the County Council's website at: /decisions/decisions-docs/070122-cabine-R0123123631

A copy of the full consultation Green Paper can be found on the Every Child Matters Change for Children website at: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/consultations/

T. K. THORNBER, C.B.E.,

Leader.