The Government has published its response to the Munro Review of Child Protection. The response was informed by an Implementation Working Group (IWG) drawing on expertise from local authority children’s services, the social work profession, education, police and health services.
This response is the first step on the journey to create the conditions for sustained long term reform of the child protection system to deliver improved outcomes for our most vulnerable children and young people. The reponse is in two parts: an overarching narrative and a grid with specific responses to each of Professor Munro’s recommendation.
Headline messages:
- The Government agrees that Professor Munro’s 15 recommendations need to be considered in the round and acknowledges that together they represent the opportunity to delivery holistic reform of the child protection system.
- Government will oversee a radical reduction in the amount of regulation through the revision of statutory framework to place greater emphasis on direct work with children, young people and families.
- More flexible approaches to assessment will be consulted on as part of a broader consultation on Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families in early 2012.
- Government supports Professor Munro’s view that the quality of relationships between social workers and children and young people sits at the heart of an effective child protection system and will support and work with the SWRB, the College of Social Work and ADCS to develop the knowledge and skills of the profession.
- Inspection will continue to be important with a new inspection framework that will have at its heart the experiences of children and young people
- There will be greater transparency and coordination of local arrangements to deliver an early help offer to children, young people and families
- Creation of a chief social worker to advise Government on social work practice and the effectiveness of the help being given to children and young people.
- A co-produced work programme between the Department for Education, the Department of Health, NHS bodies, local authorities, professional bodies and practitioners to ensure continued improvement of safeguarding arrangements in health reform.
- Government agrees that in future systems review methodology should be used by LSCBs when serious case reviews are undertaken but believes it is important to plan the transition to new arrangements carefully.