ADCS

Remit

This policy committee leads on family policy (including childcare), safeguarding, preventative services and children’s centres and extended schools, parenting support, community safety, community cohesion, anti-poverty work, youth work, Connexions and youth justice. It also has the policy lead for Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs).

It has again been a busy year for the committee with more opportunities to address issues from across its remit than may have been possible last year given the focus on safeguarding themes. It is expected this variety of agenda topics will continue going forward as the Government pushes forward with its agenda for children and young people.

Minutes

Minutes from recent committee meetings are available in the members' only area of the website.

2011 Annual Report Update

Munro Review

The committee has worked hard over the year to inform Professor Munro’s review of child protection. Professor Munro was invited to the first policy committee meeting of the year in April where members shared their views on child protection policies and practice. Upon Professor Munro being formally appointed, the committee then invited her in this now formal capacity to a joint committee meeting with the Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee in June to respond in greater detail to the outline questions of the review.

Family Justice Review

The committee has supported ADCS feedback into the Family Justice Review (FJR). This was to make sure experiences from local areas were included when ADCS attended to give informal evidence to the FJR in September. This was in addition to submitting examples of best practice which have served to reduce delays in care proceedings.

Consultation Responses

In terms of consultations, the committee have taken part in the calls for evidence from Munro, the FJR and has responded to the recent cross-governmental strategy document Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances. It has also responded to the document Breaking the Cycle – the Government’s new response to the management and rehabilitation of offenders. The committee led the ADCS response to the review of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner in September 2010.

2010 Annual Report Update

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Policy lead: Colin Green

Following on from Lord Laming’s Progress Report, the Committee discussed the Government’s response to The Protection of Children in England - Action Plan at their meeting in May. Colin Green also led a Task and Finish Group which drafted the ADCS response to the Action Plan.

The Committee has had several discussions on the proposed revisions to Working Together and has responded to the DCSF Serious Case Reviews: Revised Chapter 8 of Working Together to Safeguard Children Consultation, submitted comments on the pre-consultation draft of Working Together to Safeguard Children and responded to the full consultation. The Committee has also responded to the NSDU Safeguarding indicators and Statutory Targets consultation.

Independent Review of Home Education

Graham Badman attended a meeting of the Committee in May 2009 to consult with Committee members on his proposals for reviewing Home Education. Members of the committee also contributed to the ADCS response to the DCSF Home Education - registration and monitoring proposals consultation as well as the ADCS submission of evidence to the Select Committee inquiry into Home Education.

Children's Centres

Policy lead: Moira Swann

Moira Swann prepared a written submission on behalf of the Committee and ADCS to the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee inquiry into Sure Start Children’s Centres.

Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETS).

Policy lead: John Harris

John Harris prepared a written submission on behalf of the Committee and ADCS to the Children, Schools & Families Select Committee Inquiry into NEETS.

Overview of Every Child Matters - The First Five Years and What We Need To Do Next

Inspired partly by a discussion on Martin Narey’s comments on taking children into care at birth at the Committee meeting in October, Committee Chair Colin Green drafted a paper considering the fi rst fi ve years of Every Child Matters and what to do next. The paper was welcomed by the Committee and was taken to the ADCS Council Residential in February to be worked up into a more substantial document following further discussion.