Local authority children’s services judged to be failing could be taken over, the Prime Minister has announced.
‘Failing’ services, as assessed by Ofsted, could be allocated to charities, other local authorities or designated child protection experts in a package of new reforms, David Cameron revealed this week. Those with a track record of failure could be taken over immediately.
Local authority children’s services departments who are deemed to be deficient by the inspectors will have six months to demonstrate meaningful improvements. If at the end of that period, the authority is unable to show that progress has been made, a special commissioner will be appointed and local authorities with a better track record, charities and experts brought in to deliver the struggling services.
The PM said:
“Children’s services support the most vulnerable children in our society. They are in our care … and we are failing them …Children are [being] let down by inadequate social services. Not a single child [will be] left behind.”
Photo by dutchbaby via Flickr
