Laura Sharman 02 June 2021

Councils should have legal duty to provide ‘early help’ says report

Councils should have legal duty to provide ‘early help’ says report image

A new report is calling for a legal duty on local authorities to provide early help to children and families, rather than providing what is easiest to measure.

Research by the National Children’s Bureau and the University of Cambridge argues that early help can help prevent children reaching a crisis where interventions by social workers are necessary, at a considerable expense to the public purse.

However, it found it has been difficult for policy-makers to make the case for early help as measuring what works is difficult.

It also found there is a lack of a clear shared definition of early help and little agreement over the thresholds for stepping in to provide support.

The National Children’s Bureau is calling for a legal duty on local authorities and statutory safeguarding partners to provide early help, funded by the Treasury. It argues this should include support to alleviate the impact of poverty and poor housing.

Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children Bureau, said: ‘One of the central aims of the Children Act was to give a sense of urgency to authorities when they take action to protect the welfare of children. But progress has stalled, and funding cuts mean that services often let children and families’ lives spin out of control before doing anything.

It’s time for a rethink of how we configure services – and that action starts with Government lifting the pressures on struggling families, and not ignoring factors like poor quality, over-crowded housing and poverty.’

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: 'Rising demand for support and funding pressures have meant that councils have been forced to divert limited resources away from preventative services and into support for children most at risk.

'By reinstating the £1.7bn lost from the Early Intervention Grant since 2010, the Government could ensure councils can help children and families earlier, rather than waiting for problems to reach crisis point.”

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Lifeguard – Shift Pattern 1

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Lifeguard – Shift Pattern 2

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Business Support to Senior Leader

Wakefield Council
£24,790 - £25,183, Grade 4, 37 hours, Permanent
Are you flexible, looking for a challenge and a role where no two days are the same? Then this is the role for you! Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Locality Team Manager - East

Wakefield Council
£49,764 - £52,805, Grade 12, 37 hours, Permanent
We are looking for a Locality Team Manager to lead and manage a Locality Team Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Co-ordination Support Officer - Admin

Wakefield Council
£25,584 - £27,269, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you have excellent business administration skills with an interest in working in Adults Social Care? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner