Loughton assures children’s workers over DfE name change

The Department for Children, Schools and Families’ name change to the Department for Education does not indicate a shift in focus away from children’s services, according to children’s minister Tim Loughton.

“Titles are meaningless because all the roles around children and families have remained the same as we changed to the Department for Education,” Loughton said at a meeting with foster carers at the Fostering Network.

“I really do want to get to grips around the whole issue about how we get a better children-in-care system because it’s been an absolute scandal for a number of years.”

Loughton added that failing to provide foster carers with the support they needed was a “false economy” because an unsupported system would lead to more NEETs, young offenders and higher rates of teenage pregnancy. Creating these situations, he said, would be more expensive in the long-term.

Loughton also quashed rumours that he was “slimming down” Working Together to Safeguard Children. He told Community Care: “If I am it’s news to me – it certainly hasn’t landed on my desk.”

Related articles

 ADCS survey reveals extent of pressure on child protection

Foster care: rise in demand affects placement viability