Comment on racism and discrimination
Commenting on racism and discrimination Jenny Coles, ADCS President, said:
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our communities and cannot be tolerated. In recent weeks, anti-racist demonstrations have taken place against the backdrop of a global health pandemic which emerging evidence suggests is disproportionately affecting people from black and ethnic minorities, and the poorest households, highlighting again the stark inequalities in our society.
“As leaders of children’s services, we have a responsibility to recognise and shine a light on social injustices and the barriers faced by children, including particular challenges facing children and young people from black and minority ethnic groups. Almost three years on from the Lammy review, disproportionality in the youth justice system remains a concern so too does the overrepresentation of minority ethnic children in our care. Pushing government and others to better understand and address the underlying reasons for these disparities and why pupils from certain ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be excluded than their peers is key to challenging systemic inequalities. The Care Review presents an opportunity to address some of the complex issues in the system so we need to get on with it.
“In terms of the workforce, it’s important that it reflects our local communities and that the children we work with see that a career in children’s services is not beyond their reach, yet there are not enough black and ethnic minority directors across the country. Supporting anyone who is working in children’s services to progress to senior and leadership roles, if they want to, continues to be a priority for local authorities and the Association.
“We each have a responsibility to stand up for change and to challenge ourselves and each other to do more if we are to achieve a fairer, more tolerant and equal society.”
ENDS