The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has slammed new guidance on child protection which will mean increased scrutiny on directors of children's services from chief executives and leaders.
The guidance launched at the ADCS annual conference in Birmingham by the children;s secretary Ed Balls yesterday calls on chief executives and council leaders to write a yearly report on the council’s arrangements for safeguarding children.
The ADCS president, Kim Bromley-Derry, did not welcome the move saying it only muddies the lines of accountability. He also criticised the lack of distinction between the role of the director and the lead member.
He said: ‘Blurring the lines between political and professional leadership, with both the director of children’s services and the lead member ‘ensuring’ that key services are available, and both the chief executive and the leader of the council confirming this is the case, will not help clarify that line of accountability.’
But Mr Balls was confident the new guidance would work.
He said: ‘There will always be a little creative tension betweeen the statutory officer (government) and the political leader (local authority). But that can be a good thing. This is good guidance and the right guidance and we won't be reviewing it any time soon.'
