In the final report of her review of child protection, A child-centred system, Professor Munro concluded that professionals have become too focused on complying with rules, regulations and targets, and so are distracted from spending time exercising their professional judgment to help children, young people and their families.
Effective assessments of need are important if children and young people are to be given help that meets their needs and is timely. A small number of local authorities worked with the Munro review to test more flexible assessment processes that are locally driven. These changes seek to give greater autonomy to frontline social workers and focus on allowing more flexible timescales for assessment so that social workers can exercise their professional judgment more effectively to improve outcomes for vulnerable children.
In order to inform Professor Munro's review, the Government granted four local authorities (Cumbria, Knowsley, Hackney and Westminster) some exemptions from aspects of statutory guidance in order that they could trial new approaches to assessment. These varied slightly, but centred around removing the distinction between initial and core assessment, and providing flexibility for social workers to determine the timescales for assessment based on the needs of each individual child and their family.
Extensions of the trial authorities
The trials have now been extended to a further four local authorities: Wandsworth; Islington; Hammersmith and Fulham; and Kensington and Chelsea . In December, the trials were extended until 31 March 2012 and updated letters for local authorities have been sent.
Emerging evidence has now been submitted by the local authorities. This evidence is encouraging and suggests that more flexible timescales can have the positive impact on practice envisaged by Professor Munro . To explore the wider impact of changes, the trials have been extended until 31 March 2012 and flexibilities will be consulted on as part of the broader consultation on Working Together to Safeguard Children and Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families, which will take place early next year.
The letters in the associated resources show which temporary suspension from statutory guidance each of the local authorities was granted and the monitoring arrangements in place.