Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
There is reluctant leadership of the challenges faced by vulnerable adolescents which undermines ownership of...
Recommendation
There is reluctant leadership of the challenges faced by vulnerable adolescents which undermines ownership of the problem. The Department for Education reluctantly confirmed that it is ultimately responsible for ‘holding the ring’ across Whitehall on vulnerable adolescents. However, it is not clear what this means or how it translates into action when so very many government departments and local agencies play a role in supporting vulnerable adolescents. The Vulnerable Children and Young People Strategy Board has recently been repurposed to provide a co-ordinating picture, bringing together government’s understanding of complex children and young people. This is a start, but it has only met once and it is too early to say what role this Board will play in helping to unify support and identifying and helping to address gaps and overlaps that impact on vulnerable adolescents. The Department for Education tells us that its overarching responsibility should not translate into to a single system but there is a lack of common definitions or language that will help young people navigate the disjoined systems and receive the support they need. Government has specific programmes to support specific vulnerabilities and joins up individual programmes between departments. However, we agree with the current Children’s Commissioner that collaboration is not taking place at the strategic level that is needed to provide the proper support for vulnerable children and young people. Recommendation: The Department for Education should set out within six months its accountabilities for vulnerable adolescents, the terms of its leadership role and how strategic planning and oversight will work. 1 Persistently absent refers to pupils missing 10% or more of sessions where a session is equal to half a day. 6 Support for vulnerable adolescents
Government Response Summary
The Department for Education exercises its leadership and strategic oversight role through the Vulnerable Children and Families Strategy Board. The membership has been designed to ensure representatives from all accountable departments and arms-length bodies are able to contribute.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2: PAC conclusion: There is reluctant leadership of the challenges faced by vulnerable adolescents which undermines ownership of the problem. 2: PAC recommendation: The Department for Education should set out within six months its accountabilities for vulnerable adolescents, the terms of its leadership role and how strategic planning and oversight will work. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 The government is committed to ensuring that at-risk children and young people, including vulnerable adolescents, receive high quality and effective support as soon as a need is identified. 2.3 The DfE exercises its leadership and strategic oversight role through the Vulnerable Children and Families Strategy Board for which it acts as the chair and secretariat. The Board acts as the key forum to bring departments together that are working to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people, by joining-up oversight on strategy and agreeing and co-ordinating cross-cutting responses. 2.4 The standing membership has been designed to ensure that representatives from all accountable departments and arms-length bodies are able to contribute to discussion and bring items requiring cross-government input. This includes representatives from Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office, Department for Culture Media and Sport, Department for Levelling-Up Housing and Communities, Department for Work and Pensions, Ofsted, NHS England, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice and HM Treasury. 2.5 There is a reasoned basis for not giving any single department leadership responsibility for the needs all adolescents at risk (or indeed any age group at risk). Single needs are best met, by and large, through services with one area of focus overseen by the relevant department. For individuals with multiple overlapping needs, systems and programmes are put in place to enable join up. This includes Children’s Social Care, Family Hubs and targeted programmes like Supporting Families.