North East directors call for more support to improve children's social care

The North East response to the proposals put forward by the Government following the national Independent Review of Children's Social Care provides the views of those working at a local level.

Many of the recommendations made by north east directors in their North East Region Submission to Independent review of Children’s Social Care (IRCSC) are strongly reflected in both the independent review recommendations and Government proposals. However some issues have not been picked up, especially in terms of child poverty and regulation. 

The latest child poverty data (End Child Poverty: child poverty in your area) indicates that the region now has the highest child poverty rate in the UK, with 38% of north east children estimated to be living in poverty.

Directors from the 12 local authorities in the region found much to welcome in both the independent review and Government response. In particular, the importance of early help for families and the recognition that improving the relationships between families, kinship carers and communities can help break the cycle of rising demand for care.

Improving children's social care 

There are, however, key concerns that regional directors feel must be addressed nationally:

• A new child poverty strategy is key to tackling the underlying drivers of rising demand and the long-term intergenerational impact of poverty and deprivation
• Implementation of positive change is needed quickly with adequate investment for all local authorities
• Partnership cooperation for child protection must be in legislation for all key agencies
• The partnership role in Family Help must be defined with commitments to resource by partner agencies
• A higher priority should be given to children in the health system and directors of children's services should be given more control over children's health services at a local level through a formal role in Integrated Care Board
• Children's mental health improvements need further measures and improvement
• A review of the children's regulatory system is needed to allow for more flexible working with families and to encourage both better supply and diversity of care settings
• More support is needed to aid the development of the wider children's social care workforce and Government must positively promote children's social care work and tackle public prejudice.

Different pattern of care needed

Our director of children and young people's services John Pearce, who is also president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, said: "Endemic poverty in many of our communities, together with a shortfall in funding, is driving dramatic increases in the need for intervention through children's social care. We know these issues are not unique to our area, but they are being felt particularly strongly in the north east due to deep-rooted socio-economic disparities.

"Family networks are very much valued in our region and there is a strong sense of community but, nevertheless, many residents are affected by longstanding and significant levels of inequality and disadvantage.

"The numbers of children needing care are unsustainable and a different pattern of care is the only solution. We must address system-wide barriers so that our frontline staff have the capacity to build strong relationships with children and their families to support meaningful change."

Proposals do not go far enough

Cath McEvoy-Carr, Chair of the North East Association of Directors of Children's Services, and: "The North East now has the highest rates of child poverty in the country. The current cost of living crisis along with funding cuts is putting increased pressure on local families and leading to a higher demand for children's social care services.

"We are seeing a continued increase in the numbers of children needing care and a new way of working needs to be implemented quickly to address this.

"We welcome the acknowledgement by Government of the current issues this service area faces in the region and believe some of the issues we highlighted locally have been listened to. However, many of the proposals do not go far enough, have timelines which are too long or are not allocated adequate funding.

"Our teams work day to day with local families and have a passion to improve the lives of children in our region but it is not possible without appropriate Government support." 

The north east response to Government proposals following the Independent Review of Children's Social Care in England is published on behalf of North East ADCS, the professional body made up of the region's 12 directors of children's services and their senior management teams.