Sector responds to ‘biggest overhaul in a generation to children’s social care’

Earlier this week, the government announced a wide range of new reform measures in Parliament.

The government says the reforms will ‘empower’ social workers and hand new powers to Ofsted to crack down on ‘exploitative’ profits.

“Our care system has suffered from years of drift and neglect,” Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said, adding: “It’s bankrupting councils, letting families down, and above all, leaving too many children feeling forgotten, powerless and invisible.”

“We will crack down on care providers making excessive profit, tackle unregistered and unsafe provision and ensure earlier intervention to keep families together and help children to thrive.”

Read more about the changes: https://www.socialworktoday.co.uk/News/government-gives-ofsted-powers-to-crack-down-on-%E2%80%98exploitative%E2%80%99-providers

In 2022, the watchdog Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), delivering its final report after a market study into the foster care and children’s homes said the UK “sleepwalked” into a “dysfunctional” children’s social care system.

Responding to the reforms, Sarah Cardell, now CEO of the CMA, said: “We are pleased to see the government taking this next step towards reforming the children’s social care market, in line with our recommendations.

“Our market study found multiple concerns – including a shortage of appropriate places – which need to be tackled to ensure vulnerable children and young people are getting the homes they need. We will continue to work with the government to make sure the plan delivers longstanding improvements.”

BASW England, a representative association for social workers, said it “welcomes the government’s commitment” but warned that the reforms must be properly resourced.

“BASW England welcomes the UK Government's plans to reform the children's social care system in England and shifting the focus to early intervention and family support. These steps will be critical in addressing longstanding challenges in the system and improving outcomes for children and families.

“It is right that every area in England should provide the same level of supportive and welcoming Family Help services, with multi-agency working at the forefront of this work. However, concerns remain about how roles will be defined within these teams. The social work role is crucial, highly skilled, and must not be diluted by sharing safeguarding-specific tasks with professionals who have limited or no background in this area.

However, BASW England urged the government to “avoid reliance on further pilot schemes”, saying there is “already sufficient evidence of what works for children, families, and their communities.”

“Funding must support all children across the country, not just those in pilot areas, as has been the case with recent investment following the Stable Homes, Built on Love report.”

“These reforms must be matched with significant investment in the social care workforce. Social workers are already stretched thin, managing heavy caseloads and facing staff shortages. Without sufficient resources, these ambitious plans risk falling short.

“We call on the government to engage with social workers and care-experienced people to ensure reforms are practical and effective. The upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement must prioritise funding for councils and the workforce to deliver these changes.”

Meanwhile, Andy Smith, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), whose members are local authority children’s social care leaders, said there was “plenty to welcome” in the reforms.

“On the social care front, the suite of measures aimed at addressing excessive profiteering from the care of vulnerable children and young people and more support on creating, as well as commissioning, the right placements in the right place at the right time is helpful. We know some of the largest private equity backed providers carry very high levels of debt which risks children effectively losing their home overnight if a provider fails. Again, more financial accountability and a focus on governance is welcome as is the expansion of corporate parenting responsibilities and extra support for care experienced people.

“The results of various pilots and pathfinders trialling some of the measures outlined here as well as further detail to better understand how new policies will translate into practice is needed to understand the implications for children’s services and children’s lives, such as the unique child identifier. Similarly, new powers for Ofsted to fine providers must link up with other reforms, including the work of a national task and finish group looking at joint solutions for the small cohort of children and young people with very complex needs that we simply cannot find placements for amongst registered providers.

“We will work with the government, and others, on developing the details of new policies and measures as well as implementation and delivery.”

Cllr Arooj Shah, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said the moves are ‘positive’, but warned that “moving forward, progress will be limited by the significant funding and workforce challenges within children’s social care, councils and amongst partners more widely.”

“It is vital that the Government uses the forthcoming Spending Review to ensure that all those working to keep children safe and to help them thrive have the resources they need to do that well.”