Action for Children response to the Government’s new strategy and consultation on children’s social care
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children said:
This government strategy in response to three high profile reviews, is a significant and unambiguous recognition that the children’s social care system is broken, deteriorating and failing our most vulnerable children. The reforms in today’s strategy are an opportunity to reduce harm and instability that must not be allowed to wither on the vine.
Our frontline staff see the impact of these failures on children and families every day. That’s why we welcome the Government’s Stable Homes, Built on Love children’s social care strategy and consultation as a major opportunity for reform.
The Government is proposing much-needed system-wide change – across early intervention, child protection, and children in care. Our own research tells us that an estimated 64,000 children a year are missing out on early help services alone and are then being re-referred to children’s social care within 12 months [1].
The Strategy promises much, but swift and meaningful action must follow. That includes urgent investment in the current system to protect children, stabilise it and ready it for reform.
The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care warns that without investment and reform, the number of children in care in England will rise from 80,000 to 100,000 in 10 years time, and the annual costs from £10 billion to £15 billion [2]. Every year of delay fails the children in the system now and will add to the cost of building a system that works in the future.
We look forward to working with the Government in the months and years ahead to ensure a reformed system provides the right support, at the right time, to enable children, young people and families to thrive.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:
Arron Williamson, Action for Children – 07718 244 125/ [email protected]
Out of hours – 07704 814 628 / [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] ‘Too little, too late: early help and early intervention spending in England’, Action for Children, https://media.actionforchildren.org.uk/documents/Too_Little_Too_Late_Report_Final.pdf
About Action for Children
Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. With 447 services across the UK, in schools and online, in 2021/22 we helped 671,275 children, young people and families. actionforchildren.org.uk
