Local authorities fail to review cases

New performance assessment framework
indicators show that only a quarter of local authorities in England
reviewed all their child protection cases last year.

The statistics from the Department of Health
for 2000-1 also show that one in every eight reviews were not
carried out on time.

Three councils, Dudley, Sefton and
Gloucestershire, failed to inspect all their children’s homes, and
14 failed to inspect all their adult residential care homes – with
seven not meeting their statutory obligation for the second year
running.

Overall, social services departments are
improving, with 18 indicators revealing better performance and only
three showing signs of deterioration. The differences in
performance between councils have also reduced for the second year
in succession.

The numbers of looked-after children placed
for adoption in the year up to April have increased by 9 per cent.
However, only 30 councils achieved the government’s target of 50
per cent of care leavers obtaining one or more GCSEs or GNVQs.

Indicators can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/paf