Children’s Social Care Strategy to provide workforce support

Despite funding concerns, the government's wide-ranging Children’s Social Care Implementation Strategy announced last week has been met with a positive response from local government leaders.

Backed by £200 million over the next two years, the Strategy aims to transform the current care system to focus on more early support for families, reducing the need for crisis response at a later stage.

The measures would see families receive local early help and intervention with challenges such as addiction, domestic abuse or mental health, to help families "to stay together where possible and overcome adversity".

As part of the strategy, local authorities will be supported to recruit up to 500 new child and family social worker apprentices and there will be consultation on proposals to reduce over-reliance on agency social workers

The plan is a response to recommendations from three independent reviews by Josh MacAlister, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel into the tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Responding to the announcement of the new strategy, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

“Much of this strategy is positive, including its focus on earlier help, support that builds on the strengths within a child’s wider family network, and greater ambition for children in care and care leavers, which are all areas where we can make an enormous difference. We’re also pleased it intends to address the high and costly churn of agency workers, which does not always deliver the best for children.

“Significant additional funding for all councils, not just those in pathfinder areas, can be wisely invested in stabilising the current system to ensure strong foundations on which to build future reform."

Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils’ Executive Member for Children & Young People, said:

“The government is right to recognise the massive pressures facing the system and the need both for reform and more resources. Boroughs will certainly welcome the strategy’s emphasis on early intervention, joined-up help for struggling families, and expanding councils’ social care workforce.

“However, funding looks set to remain a major concern. We estimate that London boroughs are collectively overspending on children’s social care budgets by around £200m each year because of the immense support needs in our communities. A sustained growth in investment for local services will be essential for making these ambitions a reality”.