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Paul Ennals, the chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau, claims the government is losing its way in its reforms of children’s services, writes Derren Hayes.

Ennals told the Community Care Live conference the government was in danger of “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” because of its obsession with quick-fix policies, lack of boldness in dealing with problems and increased reluctance to listen to professionals.

He said that while much of what the government had done had been positive, he was concerned services in the future could be shaped by government departmental structures and not around the needs of children and families. An example of this was the difficulty that many organisations were having in implementing joined up working practices at local levels.

“There’s been good joined up working in the past five years, but that’s easier said than done. The reality at a local level is that…unless Tony Blair or Gordon Brown give it personal backing it doesn’t happen,” Ennals added.

He criticised the government for only considering initiatives “that will deliver an outcome within 12 months”, and added that the recent Anti-social Behaviour Bill breached human rights legislation in its proposed penalties for young offenders. He also said the children’s national service framework needed targets rather than standards.

Ennals said the government wasn’t listening to social services departments and care professionals because of a lack of trust about what they have to say, which, over the past six months, has manifested itself as a “reigning back” of its willingness to consult with the sector.