Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
1
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
Evidence given to the Committee during our inquiry indicates that many of the problems highlighted by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in 2022 persist, and in a significant number of cases have worsened since the Review. Increases in need coupled with stretched budgets and a lack of serious …
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Evidence given to the Committee during our inquiry indicates that many of the problems highlighted by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in 2022 persist, and in a significant number of cases have worsened since the Review. Increases in need coupled with stretched budgets and a lack of serious attention to reform have resulted in a system characterised by spiralling costs to local authorities and poor experiences and outcomes for children. The “once in a generation” opportunity provided by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care has not been realised, with the Department for Education focusing on small-scale pilot projects in specific areas rather than comprehensive reform. (Conclusion, Paragraph 8)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's findings on the rising need, costs, and poor outcomes in children's social care. It states it is taking urgent action through substantial investment, new legislation, and the Families First Partnership Programme.
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Department for Education
10
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The pressure caused by rising numbers of children coming into care is putting serious strain on the system. The only way to effectively reduce these numbers is to address the factors outside the care system which are contributing to this demand, including poverty, poor parental mental health, the number of …
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The pressure caused by rising numbers of children coming into care is putting serious strain on the system. The only way to effectively reduce these numbers is to address the factors outside the care system which are contributing to this demand, including poverty, poor parental mental health, the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and extra- 83 familial harms. This will require the Department for Education to work closely with other relevant departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions; the Department of Health and Social Care; the Home Office; and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (Conclusion, Paragraph 26)
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Government response AI summary
The government states its commitment to reducing children in care through investment in family help and preventative services. It also details new market management measures via the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and pledges to work across government on sufficiency, with further details to be …
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Department for Education
11
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
We are deeply concerned about the Government’s planned reforms to social security set out in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, which are set to drive up child poverty and will further increase pressure on the care system. We are also concerned …
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We are deeply concerned about the Government’s planned reforms to social security set out in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, which are set to drive up child poverty and will further increase pressure on the care system. We are also concerned that delaying the publication of the Child Poverty Strategy until the autumn of 2025 will prevent parliamentary scrutiny of the Government’s welfare reforms in tandem with proposed child poverty reduction measures with an understanding of the impact of both sets of proposals in the round. (Conclusion, Paragraph 27)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concern about child poverty, confirms its Child Poverty Strategy will be published in the autumn, and explains the rationale and consultation process for the Pathways to Work proposals, stating no decisions have been made yet.
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Department for Education
14
Recommendation
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
Following the changes agreed to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 1 July 2025, we recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions ensures the involvement of organisations working with disabled children, young carers and care leavers in the co- production of the Timms Review. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
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Following the changes agreed to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 1 July 2025, we recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions ensures the involvement of organisations working with disabled children, young carers and care leavers in the co- production of the Timms Review. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30)
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to concluding the Timms Review by autumn 2026 and to involving disabled people and their organisations. While planning how to best engage disabled children, young carers, and care leavers, the specifics of their co-production are still being designed.
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Department for Education
17
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
Too many children are being sent many miles from home, which has a traumatic and lasting impact on their lives. We were saddened to hear that a care-experienced young person had chosen not to pursue higher education as a direct result of being placed out of area. However, there are …
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Too many children are being sent many miles from home, which has a traumatic and lasting impact on their lives. We were saddened to hear that a care-experienced young person had chosen not to pursue higher education as a direct result of being placed out of area. However, there are some strong examples of good practice and some local authorities have worked hard to limit the numbers of children placed out of area. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concern about out-of-area placements, outlining investments in family help and new market management measures through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with further details on sufficiency to be published.
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Department for Education
29
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education must put in place a national fostering strategy to complement the existing strategies for adoption and kinship care. As part of this, it should consult on introducing a national register of foster carers and review the financial support available to ensure that it is adequate to …
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The Department for Education must put in place a national fostering strategy to complement the existing strategies for adoption and kinship care. As part of this, it should consult on introducing a national register of foster carers and review the financial support available to ensure that it is adequate to meet their needs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
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Government response AI summary
The government is considering a national register of foster carers and will engage stakeholders, but has not committed to introducing one. They state they already annually review and uplift the National Minimum Allowance for foster carers, and do not explicitly address a national fostering strategy.
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Department for Education
35
Recommendation
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
It was a missed opportunity not to include statutory kinship leave in the recent Employment Rights Bill. The Government should ensure that entitlements to kinship leave are included in its forthcoming review of the parental leave system and legislate for this at the earliest opportunity. As part of the review, …
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It was a missed opportunity not to include statutory kinship leave in the recent Employment Rights Bill. The Government should ensure that entitlements to kinship leave are included in its forthcoming review of the parental leave system and legislate for this at the earliest opportunity. As part of the review, the Government should critically evaluate whether kinship carers should receive the same entitlements to paid leave as adoptive parents when a child comes into their care. (Recommendation, Paragraph 84)
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to including kinship carers in its review of the parental leave system, considering whether support meets their needs, but does not commit to legislating for statutory kinship leave. They also highlight existing employer guidance and their own departmental policy for kinship carers.
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Department for Education
39
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
It is unacceptable that the continuation of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund was not announced until 1 April 2025, leaving families and children uncertain about the future of their support. We also note many concerns about the new funding limits and the impact this will have on children …
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It is unacceptable that the continuation of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund was not announced until 1 April 2025, leaving families and children uncertain about the future of their support. We also note many concerns about the new funding limits and the impact this will have on children and families. We are concerned that this is an example of the Government making a consequential change in one part of the system without introducing the reforms and mitigations in other parts of the system that are urgently needed. In this case, there is an urgent need to make mental health support available for adopted children, which could reduce pressure on the ASGSF, but the Government has not laid out how this will be achieved, leaving adoptive families very anxious that they will find it harder to access support. (Conclusion, Paragraph 94) 88
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Government response AI summary
The government confirmed the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will continue for 2026-27 and will monitor the impact of recent funding limit changes. It highlighted existing investments and the rollout of an Adoption Support Plan, but provided no specific new plan for mental …
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Department for Education
42
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education must ensure that all children’s homes are led by a registered manager and set out the steps it intends to take to achieve this. Additionally, it should launch a recruitment campaign to raise the profile of residential care staff and encourage more entrants into the sector. …
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The Department for Education must ensure that all children’s homes are led by a registered manager and set out the steps it intends to take to achieve this. Additionally, it should launch a recruitment campaign to raise the profile of residential care staff and encourage more entrants into the sector. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99)
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Government response AI summary
The government stated it is already a legal requirement for children's homes to have registered managers and is improving the registration process. While acknowledging the need to raise the profile of residential care roles, it is still exploring data and considering further steps rather than …
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Department for Education
47
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education should develop a workforce strategy for children’s social care setting out how it will improve recruitment, retention and training across the children’s social care workforce, including social workers, residential care workers, personal advisers, educational psychologists, health visitors, and personal assistants. This should include measures such as …
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The Department for Education should develop a workforce strategy for children’s social care setting out how it will improve recruitment, retention and training across the children’s social care workforce, including social workers, residential care workers, personal advisers, educational psychologists, health visitors, and personal assistants. This should include measures such as increased pay, bursaries for studying and training, and improving awareness of the different roles within children’s social care. (Recommendation, Paragraph 113)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the importance of the workforce and described ongoing initiatives like the Families First Partnership Programme, graduate training, and reviews of post-qualifying standards and residential care qualifications. However, it did not commit to developing an overarching workforce strategy or new measures such as …
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Department for Education
63
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education should make funding available for a national survey on the prevalence of the different types of abuse and neglect, to improve its understanding of these issues and inform the development of future policy interventions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 156)
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The Department for Education should make funding available for a national survey on the prevalence of the different types of abuse and neglect, to improve its understanding of these issues and inform the development of future policy interventions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 156)
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Government response AI summary
The government will continue working with ONS and other bodies to explore further opportunities to strengthen the evidence base on abuse and neglect, without committing to funding a national survey.
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Department for Education
66
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department should ensure that measures to reduce neglect and support parents with poor mental health and drug and alcohol addictions are considered as part of its Child Poverty Strategy and recognise that poverty is not the only circumstance in which neglect takes place and take a broader approach to …
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The Department should ensure that measures to reduce neglect and support parents with poor mental health and drug and alcohol addictions are considered as part of its Child Poverty Strategy and recognise that poverty is not the only circumstance in which neglect takes place and take a broader approach to tackling neglect. (Recommendation, Paragraph 162)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the link between deprivation and neglect and states the Child Poverty Taskforce is considering parents across the UK in its child poverty strategy. It also highlights existing support through the Families First Partnership Programme and the Healthy Child programme.
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Department for Education
69
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education has made some welcome steps towards increasing Ofsted’s powers of intervention in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. However, some key gaps in regulation remain, most notably the worrying practice of using handcuffs to transport children between settings. We are also concerned that fear of negative …
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The Department for Education has made some welcome steps towards increasing Ofsted’s powers of intervention in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. However, some key gaps in regulation remain, most notably the worrying practice of using handcuffs to transport children between settings. We are also concerned that fear of negative Ofsted ratings is causing providers to refuse children with complex needs, putting more pressure on an already overstretched sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 175)
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Government response AI summary
The government clarifies that children’s homes regulations permit restraint only for preventing injury, damage, or absconding, and must be necessary and proportionate. While these regulations currently apply only to children's home staff, the government states it considers these principles should be adhered to across all …
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Department for Education
76
Conclusion
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education should work with other relevant departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions, to review the financial and housing support available to care leavers and improve it where needed to ensure that care leavers are not left …
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The Department for Education should work with other relevant departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions, to review the financial and housing support available to care leavers and improve it where needed to ensure that care leavers are not left to struggle financially after turning 18. This should be published by the end of 2025 and include: increasing the levels of Universal Credit for care leavers aged under 25; increasing education bursaries; council tax exemptions; and introducing rent guarantor schemes. There should be no cliff-edge on turning 18. (Recommendation, Paragraph 195)
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Government response AI summary
The government has re-established the Care Leaver Ministerial Board to coordinate support. While mentioning a general Universal Credit increase and existing local authority schemes for financial support, it does not commit to a specific review of financial and housing support for care leavers with a …
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Department for Education
78
Recommendation
4th Report - Children’s social care
Acknowledged
The Department for Education should commission an independent evaluation of the impact of designating care experience a protected characteristic in those areas where local authorities have adopted this, to assess the impact of this on the extent and quality of support for care leavers in those areas. (Recommendation, Paragraph 197) …
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The Department for Education should commission an independent evaluation of the impact of designating care experience a protected characteristic in those areas where local authorities have adopted this, to assess the impact of this on the extent and quality of support for care leavers in those areas. (Recommendation, Paragraph 197) 94
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Government response AI summary
The government notes that new corporate parenting responsibilities will be introduced via the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to tackle stigma against care leavers. It states it will continue to monitor the impact where local authorities have adopted care experience as a protected characteristic, but …
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Department for Education