A new report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) shows that the quality of social services is improving for most children and families who receive them.
Making Every Child Matter - messages from inspections of children's social services, published today, finds that children within the child protection system are generally better safeguarded. The report also states that looked after children and young people now receive a range of specialist help.
The report maintains that while most families value the support they are offered, many remain frustrated that help is not readily available. This reflects the recent policy focus on safeguarding children and corporate parenting. As more resources are used to improve services for these groups of children, it is often difficult for the wider group of 'children in need' and their families to get the help they need.
David Behan, CSCI's Chief Inspector, said today: "I welcome the improvements in social services for some of the children in greatest need. But there is more to do. This report should be of benefit to incoming directors of children's services at a critical time. It provides a baseline from which to measure further improvement. It also outlines the steps that children's services should take to ensure that all children receive the support they need in the future."
Today's report states that through improved assessments, the circumstances of children and families known to social services are better understood. This ensures that care can be planned better to meet their needs.
The report also indicates that looked after children comment favourably on their experience of children's social services. They receive more support to improve their health and education and help to access training and employment. Parents highly value support from family centres or help in their own homes. But many families do not receive services until their situation becomes very serious. Whilst most councils aspire to reach families earlier, few are able to achieve it.
However, shortages of qualified, experienced social workers have affected the rate of progress in many councils. Most have taken steps to address this. The most successful have addressed not only pay but also how work is managed and staff are supported and developed.
Difficulties in recruiting local foster carers also mean that some councils cannot provide appropriate placements for all looked after children. Placement choices are especially limited for ethnic minority children and teenagers. The best councils have an invest-to-save approach offering more attractive financial and support packages to foster carers.
For many councils, budget increases have funded escalating costs of staff, fostering and residential care. Despite this, children's social services commissioning arrangements remain under-developed. Children's social services appear to have little influence over the social care market in their area or outside.
"This report raises the need for councils to spend their money effectively", said David Behan, "And it may benefit several councils in one area to get together to look at their joint commissioning needs. Having better buying power will mean that councils can influence the market and create supply that matches demand rather than the other way around. The report also raises a question as to whether councils currently possess the capacity they require to deliver what Every Child Matters requires".
Making Every Child Matter is designed to help local councils, working with their partners, improve outcomes for children in need. It explains about children’s social services for those who are new to them and includes good practice examples and a checklist. Copies can be obtained at csci@accessplus.co.uk
Notes for editors
Press copies of "Making Every Child Matter – messages from inspections of children's social services can be obtained from the CSCI press office on 020 7979 2093. The public can obtain copies from the CSCI website at www.csci.org.uk or by calling 0870 240 7535.
Created by the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003, the Commission for Social Care Inspection began operations on 1 April 2004. It replaced the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), SSI/Audit Commission Joint Review Team and National Care Standards Commission (NCSC).
It is now the single inspectorate for social care in England, responsible for regulating and inspecting all social care providers – whether public sector or privately owned.
The Commission's primary aim is to improve social care by putting the needs of people who use care services first.
The Commission is chaired by Dame Denise Platt DBE and has five Commissioners. The Chief Inspector of Social Services is David Behan CBE. CSCI staff work across nine regions in England – aligned with the government offices of the regions.
