Councils ignore notify safeguard

Too few councils are using a scheme to safeguard homeless children, increasing the risk of another preventable child death, a
new report has warned.

The Notify system was launched in response to the Laming report into the death of Victoria Climbié but a study showed that more than one-third of London social services departments had not logged on to it between April and September 2006.

Six others had logged in fewer than 10 times over the same period. Notify is a cross-London database which lets social services teams in the 33 councils track homeless families in temporary accommodation.

The study was commissioned by umbrella body London Councils and the Greater London Authority. London Councils will take over running Notify from the Greater London Authority in April 2007.