Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Acknowledged
The Department intended the Innovation Programme to achieve replication of successful new approaches, better life...
Conclusion
The Department intended the Innovation Programme to achieve replication of successful new approaches, better life chances for children receiving help from the social care system and better value for money across children’s social care. The Department funded 94 projects through the Innovation Programme, before selecting six it considered to be most promising from initial evidence for further testing across 57 further locations through its two key successor programmes.22 In all, the Department reported 58 of the original 94 projects continuing after initial funding ended, 38 of which had spread beyond their initial locations.23 Hertfordshire County Council, one of the innovator authorities funded by the Innovation Programme, described extending the reach of its Family Safeguarding project to 27 other authorities, only 10 of which were directly funded by the Innovation Programme and key successor funds.24
Government Response Summary
The department published Children's social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love on 2 February 2023, setting out the purpose and principles of practice, along with the outcomes that should be achieved with children and families. A draft Children’s Social Care National Framework and Dashboard for consultation were published alongside the strategy.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
2.2 The department published Children's social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love on 2 February 2023 which is an implementation strategy responding to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. Alongside the strategy, the department published a draft Children’s Social Care National Framework and Dashboard for consultation. 2.3 The National Framework sets out, in one place, the purpose and principles of practice, along with the outcomes that should be achieved with children and families. The dashboard will bring together a suite of indicators, underpinned by data collection, which help to understand trends and progress towards the outcomes of the National Framework. This will support learning in the system. 2.4 The National Framework has been produced with the support of the department’s National Practice Group, made up of experts in practice, evidence, lived experience and multi- agency working. Findings from the department’s investment in children’s social care, including in the Innovation Programme, along with outcomes suggested by the Care Review, informed the outcomes and expectations for practice described in the National Framework. The National Framework will embed the use of evidence and learning across local authorities, helping to raise the quality of practice and deliver better help, protection and care to children and families. Following consultation, the department plans, in time, that the National Framework is issued as statutory guidance.