News

The children’s bill and its accompanying regulations and guidance are expected to be published in February, Community Care has learned, writes Katie Leason.

It is likely that plans for the development of children’s trusts will be softened, with the removal of the 2006 implementation date. This will allow time for the pilot children’s trusts to be evaluated.

Andrew Cozens, president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, said that such a move would be welcome.

“I’m particularly concerned that a model that hasn’t been evaluated could be imposed on councils in trouble,” he said.

Children’s trusts may remain the preferred model for partnership working, but it is believed that the government may be taking on board concerns that there should be flexibility in local arrangements and that no single model should be enforced.

Similarly, it is hoped that there will be flexibility in the plans for appointing a director of children’s services in local authorities. While the bill is expected to set out a requirement for a director of children’s services to be appointed, the accompanying guidance is likely to explain how this could be implemented.

As a result, the children’s services director position could be in addition, and probably senior, to a director of education and a director of social services.