Responding to the final report by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel on race, racism and safeguarding children, Andy Smith, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), said:

“The Panel’s report makes for difficult reading but it must act as a catalyst for further change. It sets out clear provocations and questions for both system leaders and practitioners working with children and families from global majority backgrounds. It is also important that government hears these messages too and the findings inform important reform agendas in children’s social care, education and beyond.

“While this report acknowledges there has been some progress in addressing racism, there is still more to do; racism and discrimination have no place in our practice, our workplaces or communities and must not be tolerated.

“Leaders across public services have an important role in addressing discrimination and bias and in supporting anti-racist practice in their organisations by equipping our staff with the confidence and the courage to do so via appropriate training and support, including challenge where necessary. As the Panel recognises, these conversations can be hard, but the consequences are too great if we do not get this right in terms of children being seriously harmed, or worse.

“We must do more as a sector, and as a society, to stand up for change, to challenge ourselves and each other and to ensure anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice is at the heart of our work with children, young people and families if we are to achieve a fairer, more tolerant society.”