Select committee: Public Services Committee

Recommendation 27

3rd Report - A response to the children’s social care implementation strategy Published 25 May 2023 Paragraph 117
Recommendation (the committee's words)
In evaluating the success of the Regional Care Cooperatives the Government must consider the experiences and voices of young people and families, alongside measuring how many are placed at a distance from their homes and communities.

From: Public Services Committee, 3rd Report - A response to the children’s social care implementation strategy, paragraph 117, 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".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error