23 September 2003 - Every child matters

08 September 2003

Plans to reform children’s services to protect children from neglect and harm and ensure that each child is able to fulfil their potential were set out today by Education Secretary Charles Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng and Children, Young People and Families Minister Margaret Hodge.
The Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’ proposes:
• integrated teams of health and education professionals, social workers and Connexions advisers based in and around schools and Children’s Centres;
• sweeping away legal, technical and cultural barriers to information sharing so that, for the first time, there can be effective communication between everyone with a responsibility for children;
• establishing a clear framework of accountability at a national and local level with the appointment of a Children’s Director in every local authority responsible for bringing all children’s services together as Children’s Trusts;
• new duties on police, health and others to safeguard children and require them to come together into Local Safeguarding Children Boards;
• children’s services to be judged on joint working through integrated inspection framework overseen by Ofsted; and
• a national campaign to recruit more foster parents and a workforce reform package to make working with children an attractive career, and improve the skills and effectiveness of the children’s workforce; and
• the appointment of an independent Children’s Commissioner to champion children’s views.
Charles Clarke said:
“Today marks a turning point in the way we protect, nurture and support children. In the past there has been a piecemeal approach to reform that has papered over the cracks but left children at risk. The tragic death of Victoria Climbié made us realise that we simply can’t go on like this anymore.
“This Green Paper sets out our plans to reform children’s services in response to Lord Laming’s Inquiry report into the death of Victoria Climbié. It establishes a clear framework of accountability with services for children and young people integrated under new Directors of Children’s Services.
“We know that real service improvement is only attainable through involving children and young people and will appoint a new Children’s Commissioner to champion their views.
“The Green Paper is titled ‘Every Child Matters’. This is no hollow slogan. It is a commitment that is driving all my work and that of all of us involved in working with and for children.”
Margaret Hodge said:
“Child protection cannot be separated from policies to improve children’s lives more widely. We want to reform children’s services to best protect children from risk of harm. At the same time, we want to shift the balance to prevention by providing greater support to all families.
“Children Trusts will bring together children’s professionals to ensure no child falls through the net. Professionals will be able to share information and respond quicker to warning signs. We want to see Children’s Trusts across most of the country by 2006.
“We want to give parents and families greater support. Integrated teams of professionals working in and around children’s centres and schools will bring services more directly to families. They will be able to intervene and provide support before families reach crisis point.
“We want all children to have safe and secure childhoods in which they can develop their full potential. We want to see fewer children suffering from educational failure, experiencing substance misuse, committing crime and anti-social behaviour, or becoming teenage parents. That means giving greater support to vulnerable children and those in care and raising education standards for all pupils.”
Paul Boateng said:
"The collaborative effort across departments, professional disciplines and the statutory and voluntary sector that has made this Green Paper such a pleasure to work on is characteristic of the new approach to the provision of services to children that we are marking with its launch.
“Children and their needs are at the centre of what we are now working together to put in place. We have listened to parents, families and children themselves as we have put the Green Paper together. The challenges ahead are real - there are no easy answers to the complex issues that the paper addresses but we have made an important start.
“Children are a precious resource, as are those that work to protect and nurture them. This radical and comprehensive package is designed to unlock the potential of both children and the children’s workforce. Working together and across boundaries, we can make a real difference to the lives of all children."
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to England

• Every Child Matters is available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/everychildmatters . A young people’s version of the Green Paper is also available.
• Consultation on the proposals will last until 1st December 2003. Legislation will be at the earliest opportunity.
• The Government has published Keeping Children Safe, a detailed response to the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report and Joint Chief Inspectors' Report Safeguarding Children, alongside the Green Paper. This includes details of the response to each one of the recommendations in both reports.
• Since the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report was published, 83 of Lord Laming's 108 recommendations have been fully or partly addressed. The Green Paper sets out our wider strategy to reform children's services.
source www.bbc.co.uk/news