Responding to a joint report on neglect of older children from
the inspectorates Ofsted, HMI Constabulary and Fire & Rescue
Services (HMICFRS), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and HMI
Probation, Cllr Roy Perry, Vice Chairman of the Local Government
Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“This report helpfully shines a light on a particularly
challenging and complex area of safeguarding practice, and also
highlights some positive examples of strong joint working in a
number of areas.
“While understanding of the needs of older children has
undoubtedly increased in recent years, this report is also clear
that there is more to be done. It is vital that all agencies, at
local and national level, work together closely to ensure that
risks are identified early and addressed appropriately.
“However, with severely limited funding available for councils
and their partners to meet record levels of demand, children’s
services are increasingly overstretched. An average of more than
270 children were taken into care or placed on a child protection
plan every single day last year, leaving very little time or
resource for social workers to build the relationships with
children and families that are so important to effective
practice.
“We urge the Government to heed the many warnings that have been
issued in recent months and properly fund children’s services,
which face a funding gap of £3 billion by 2025 just to keep
services running at current levels.”
