Care Review comment

18 Mar 2021 in Safeguarding and Child Protection > Safeguarding & Child Protection >

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ADCS President Jenny Coles said:

“The Care Review presents a once in a generation opportunity to improve the lives of all children and young people who come into contact with children’s social care. We understand that the review will be wide ranging in its remit but it must also be bold and ambitious for those children, young people and families who rely on our support.

“Wherever possible children are best brought up in their own families but some children will always need to come into care. Where this happens we need to ensure a range of placement options and high quality support services are available when and where they’re needed. That being said, supporting children and families earlier before their needs escalate is in their best interests. However, children’s services remain woefully underfunded which limits our ability to provide vital early help support. Local government budgets have been reduced by 50% since 2010 and recent ADCS research shows that £800 million is needed in one year to close the budget gap just to ‘stay still’. If we are to improve the outcomes of children and young people we must have the necessary funding to achieve this.

“We look forward to engaging with the Care Review as it progresses. Children’s voices, best interests and outcomes must be at its heart. Children in our care deserve nothing less.”

ENDS