Timetable of change for children’s services

A step by step guide to implementing the Children Act 2004 has
been published by the government.

Every Child Matters: Change for Children spells out what local
authorities and frontline agencies need to do to comply with the
new legislation, and gives more detail about how to achieve the
changes required.

The first deadline is next April when local authorities will
have a duty to make arrangements to promote co-operation between
agencies and other appropriate bodies to improve children’s
well being. 

By next June local authorities will become responsible for
promoting the educational achievement of looked after children, so
placements will have to take account of the child’s
educational needs.

By October next year, the key agencies who work with children
such as health and education must have “made arrangements to
take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of
children” when doing their jobs, and by April 2006 all local
authorities must establish local safeguarding children’s
boards.

Also by April 1 2006 every authority – except those categorised
as excellent under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment  – must
have a single Children and Young People’s Plan

By 2008 all local authorities must have established
children’s trusts, appointed a director of children’s
services and designated a lead member for children’s
services, and most local authorities will be expected to have done
this by the end of 2006

The document is available on the new Every Child Matters
website: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/