Children's Social Care: Stable Homes, Built on Love

Government Consultation Response - September 2023

Overview

• Aim: Transform children's social care focusing on love and stability.
• Consultation period: February to May 2023.
• Response to reports including the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and Child Safeguarding Practice Review.
• Focus on six key pillars and missions.

Key Components of the Strategy

1. Family Help

   • Early support and prevention to allow children to remain with families.
   • Establishing a single family help service.
   • Family First for Children Pathfinder and Family Networks Pilots.

2. Decisive Child Protection System

   • Multi-agency collaboration.
   • Child protection teams.
   • Evaluation of multi-agency approaches.

3. Unlocking Family Networks

   • Support for kinship carers.
   • National kinship care strategy.
   • Legal aid entitlements for special guardianship applications.

4. Stable Homes for Children in Care

   • Increase in local fostering.
   • Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs) for shared resources.
   • Support for care leavers.

5. Valued Social Work Workforce

   • Early Career Framework.
   • Recruitment and retention strategies.
   • Training opportunities including apprenticeships.

6. System Learning and Improvement

   • National Framework and Dashboard indicators.
   • Information sharing guidance.
   • Learning loops strategy.

Consultation Findings and Responses

• Family and Kinship Support

  • Strong support for a family-first approach.
  • Need for equal financial support for kinship and foster carers.
  • Training and resources for kinship carers.

• Child Protection

  • Importance of parental representation.
  • Support for children with disabilities and complex needs.
  • Multi-agency guidance and support.

• Social Worker Workforce

  • Recognition and support for social workers.
  • Concerns about workload and support.
  • Need for improved recruitment strategies.

• System Reform

  • Addressing capacity and resource challenges.
  • Ensuring consistent national implementation.
  • Engaging lived experiences in policy design.

Next Steps

• Implementation of the consulted strategies.
• Development of detailed models and plans.
• Engagement with stakeholders for continuous feedback.
• Legislation adjustments and implementation guidance.

Annexes

• Methodology and data analysis.
• List of organizations engaged in the consultation.

The consultation affirms commitment towards creating a stable and loving environment for children, fostering a collaborative approach across families, professionals, and agencies to ensure better outcomes in social care.