The government is rolling out a long-term strategy to ‘fix’ children’s social care in the UK.
In this article, we look at the key takeaways from the children’s social care implementation strategy and what these reforms mean for the wider sector.
What is the children’s social care implementation strategy?
Underpinned by £200 million in government funding, the plan aims to address shortcomings in children’s social care – with a close focus on early support for families.
The plan arrives after the tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, which highlighted an urgent need for revisions in children’s social care.
It is hoped that with the help and support of local authorities, families can better tackle issues such as addiction, mental health and domestic abuse before it becomes unmanageable and dangerous to those around them.
Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho said:
“Children in care deserve the same love and stability as everyone else. Yet we’ve seen from the 2 tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson that more needs to be done to protect our most vulnerable children.
“Our wide-ranging reforms will put strong relationships at the heart of the care system. From supporting our brilliant foster carers, kinship carers and social workers to getting early help to families and improving children’s homes, we want every child to get the support and protection they need.”
What are the key changes being made?
- Children will be housed nearer family and friends
Children being taken into care will be housed in close proximity to their family/friends to help improve their quality of life.
- Prioritisation of kinship care
Kinship care is where a child is rehomed with a relative or close family friend, rather than in a care home or with foster parents. As part of the reforms, kinship care will be prioritised and carers will be offered training and support.
- New children’s social care national framework and dashboard
To help drive improvements and raise standards in children’s social care, a new framework and dashboard has been launched.
- Recruitment
The government will help local authorities recruit up to 500 social workers across the child and family social care division. Not only will this help with staffing shortages, but also reduce pressures on agency social workers.
If you’re looking to fill staffing gaps in your service, give the Social Personnel team a call on 0203 8929 340.
We hope this blog was useful in providing an overview of the children’s social care implementation strategy. The department of education is still looking for views on these proposals, so make sure to have your say here.
carlette Isaac
The government is rolling out a long-term strategy to ‘fix’ children’s social care in the UK.
In this article, we look at the key takeaways from the children’s social care implementation strategy and what these reforms mean for the wider sector.
What is the children’s social care implementation strategy?
Underpinned by £200 million in government funding, the plan aims to address shortcomings in children’s social care – with a close focus on early support for families.
The plan arrives after the tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, which highlighted an urgent need for revisions in children’s social care.
It is hoped that with the help and support of local authorities, families can better tackle issues such as addiction, mental health and domestic abuse before it becomes unmanageable and dangerous to those around them.
Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho said:
“Children in care deserve the same love and stability as everyone else. Yet we’ve seen from the 2 tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson that more needs to be done to protect our most vulnerable children.
“Our wide-ranging reforms will put strong relationships at the heart of the care system. From supporting our brilliant foster carers, kinship carers and social workers to getting early help to families and improving children’s homes, we want every child to get the support and protection they need.”
What are the key changes being made?
- Children will be housed nearer family and friends
Children being taken into care will be housed in close proximity to their family/friends to help improve their quality of life.
- Prioritisation of kinship care
Kinship care is where a child is rehomed with a relative or close family friend, rather than in a care home or with foster parents. As part of the reforms, kinship care will be prioritised and carers will be offered training and support.
- New children’s social care national framework and dashboard
To help drive improvements and raise standards in children’s social care, a new framework and dashboard has been launched.
- Recruitment
The government will help local authorities recruit up to 500 social workers across the child and family social care division. Not only will this help with staffing shortages, but also reduce pressures on agency social workers.
If you’re looking to fill staffing gaps in your service, give the Social Personnel team a call on 0203 8929 340.
We hope this blog was useful in providing an overview of the children’s social care implementation strategy. The department of education is still looking for views on these proposals, so make sure to have your say here.