The Independent Review of
Children’s Social Care report was published in May 2022. It
called for a dramatic, radical reset of children’s social care,
and over £2 billion in investments into the system.
The Government’s response was published in February 2023 –
Stable Homes, Built on
Love: Implementation Strategy and Consultation. This strategy
is intended to address the need identified in the independent
review.
The Public Services Committee has today announced a short inquiry
which will consider the effectiveness of this strategy. It will
ask whether the Government’s plans meet the identified need as
well as exploring how they could be modified and improved. The
strategy is in a consultation phase, so the time to review and
influence is now, before significant work on proposed reform
begins.
On Wednesday 15 March, the Committee will begin
its inquiry by hearing from witnesses including Josh MacAlister
who chaired the Independent Review.
This first evidence session will start at 3.00pm and can
be watched live or on demand at Parliament TV or in
person in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
3.00pm
-
Josh MacAlister, Executive Chair, merging
Early Intervention Foundation and What Works for Children’s
Social Care, and former Chair of the Independent Review of
Children’s Social Care; and
-
Anne Longfield CBE, Chair, Commission on Young
Lives, and Children’s Commissioner 2015-2021.
Topics/Questions for discussion will include:
- What is the immediate impact of the strategy for staff on the
ground in their work with young people?
- Analysis of two pillars of the strategy: Family Help, and
changes to the ways local authorities work.
- Which of the family-focused interventions within the strategy
will work well? Where should changes be made?
- Where is there room to influence the strategy as it stands:
what are the most important changes to reflect?
