Guaranteed role for voluntary sector

Local authorities must support the development of voluntary and
community sector infrastructure to allow organisations to have a
say in children’s services, under new government proposals.

A Department for Education and Skills discussion paper states that
ministers will use “levers” available through statutory guidance to
ensure voluntary and community organisations are allowed to
participate in children’s services reforms.

The document, which sets out early thinking on a strategy for
working with the voluntary and community sector, envisages that
such organisations will be engaged in strategy development,
commissioning, service delivery and scrutiny at a local level.

Caroline Abrahams, head of policy at children’s charity NCH, said
that a key aspect would be how local authorities’ relationship with
the voluntary and community sector was monitored through the
proposed integrated inspection framework.

The government also proposes a review of voluntary and community
sector funding in an attempt to create a more streamlined system
and “achieve the right balance between project funding and
longer-term strategic funding”.

– Copies of the report from CYPFDVCS strategy.consultation@dfes.gsi.gov.uk.

All comments must be received by the end of July .