Council leaders warn of social care ‘battle royale’ with education

The Local
Government Association has warned of a “battle royale”
taking place in councils over whether education officers or social
workers gain control of children’s services,
writes Derren Hayes.

In a meeting at
the National Social Services Conference a number of health and
social affairs committee members expressed concerns that social
care professionals will lose out in the integration of
children’s care services and education into one singularly
managed department, as recommended by the green paper on
children.

Martin Candler
from Stockport Council said: “It is quite clear that
education professionals are going to make a bid to control this
process, certainly in my part of the world. There is a battle
royale for control amongst our officers.”

Maureen Robinson,
from New Forest Council, said she was “seriously worried
about the education take over”, and that headteachers
particularly were being “very difficult”

“I am
concerned that both the government and some people in local
authorities see achievement in terms of education attainment. The
wider development of the child has still not taken root.”