Select committee: Public Services Committee
Conclusion 12
3rd Report - A response to the children’s social care implementation strategy
Published 25 May 2023
Paragraph 52
Public Services Committee Review of the Children’s social care implementation strategy and family hubs rollout All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Strategy’s approach to ‘Family Help’ represents a step in the right direction. However, the decision to trial Family Help in a small number of areas will delay crucial, well-evidenced reforms to the care system, meaning more children will be left behind.
From: Public Services Committee, 3rd Report - A response to the children’s social care implementation strategy, paragraph 52, 25 May 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 25 July 2023 (deadline 25 July 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds to each of the Committee's recommendations on its 'Built on Love' strategy, setting out reform plans while taking a phased 'test and learn' approach and saying it will 'consider' or 'carefully consider' several proposals.
- On rolling out Family Help to all local authorities at once, it notes the request but will first work with "up to 12 local areas" through Pathfinders, and will assess the level and form of investment needed as it approaches the next Spending Review.
- On kinship care, the government "will carefully consider" defining it in primary legislation, and aims to publish a Kinship Care Strategy "by the end of 2023".
- On foster carer targets, it "will consider this recommendation carefully", working with regional areas, and says it "envisage[s]" 50% of local authorities joining the regional recruitment programme this Parliament.
- On Regional Care Cooperatives, it "agree[s]" a strong accountability regime is needed and intends to provide legislative underpinning "in due course, and when parliamentary time allows".