Children’s and adults’ social care services must work together

Good co-ordination of local authority children’s and adult social care is “imperative” now that services are separated, the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection said today as a new report was launched.

Too often services focus only on protecting children, rather than addressing problems faced by their parents, says the CSCI report.

Over 26,000 children on the child protection register in England would have a better life if their parents were given more support, it finds.

“Strong leadership is needed from directors of adult social services and lead councillors to ensure that services work together to support whole families.

“This will mean reviewing current criteria for access to services, which in some areas are so high that only families in crisis qualify for any support, when in fact, help at an earlier stage may have prevented the crisis happening,” said CSCI chair Denise Platt.

Councils involved in the study were Cumbria, London boroughs of Hounslow and Lambeth, Newcastle, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, South Gloucestershire, and Thurrock.

Supporting parents, safeguarding children – The needs of parents with children on the child protection register
Download at http://www.csci.org.uk/about_csci/news/support_safeguarding_report.htm