Councils ‘best to run children’s services’

Radical changes to the structure of children’s services could blur
accountability and divert attention from looking after children,
the Local Government Information Unit has warned.

In a report released last week, the independent think tank
challenges proposals to take children’s services out of direct
council control, arguing that the clear accountability of councils
makes them best-placed to deliver services. It adds that councils’
child protection roles need to be strengthened to deliver “safe and
successful” services to children.

Director of the unit Dennis Reed said: “Creating new bodies and
structures which separate child protection from mainstream services
would lead to confusion and risk harming the very children these
services are there to protect.”

Recent proposals include a partnership model from the Association
of Directors of Social Services, the NHS Confederation and the
Local Government Association; children’s trusts from the
government; and a national child protection agency from the
Institute for Public Policy Research.

– The Future of Services for Children – A Contribution to the
Debate from 020 7554 2800