Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Acknowledged
We were told government’s approach is to meet the need of many young people through...
Conclusion
We were told government’s approach is to meet the need of many young people through focusing on individual programmes and focusing their join up on those who have complex and overlapping needs.22 The NAO found that while departments work together on individual programmes and initiatives there is no overall assessment of whether vulnerable adolescents’ needs are being addressed.23 This was also the view of the current Children’s Commissioner for England who said that collaboration seems to happen at a programme level but not at the overall strategic level which it needed to be to provide the proper support for vulnerable children and young people.24 Multi-agency safeguarding partnerships.
Government Response Summary
The government states that single needs are best met through focused services, and overlapping needs are addressed through systems like Children’s Social Care, Family Hubs, and Supporting Families.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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.