Whose responsibility is it?

Reading Graham Allen's review this week I found it hard to believe that any experienced professional working with children & families would disagree with his conclusions. Most know that the quality of relationships is what matters, and that providing support early on is far better than waiting until something goes terribly wrong. In fact, I think that's the way most of them would want to work. But spend a day with a team of social workers and too often you'll see over-stretched people patching up situations that are already fast breaking down, and responding to crisis after crisis.

So is his recommendation to set up an Early Intervention Foundation funded by business the answer?  I'm sorry but that's when I begin to feel uncomfortable. Shouldn't it be the responsibility of government to promote best practice and invest in the next generation? Read any speech given by a Swedish or Danish Children's Minister and you'll find that they see this kind of welfare spending as an investment in future citizens. They're looking beyond judgements about ‘good' or ‘bad' parents and providing services which mean that all children get the right start and every opportunity to make something of their lives - even if they grow up in care. Yet here, I listen every day to announcements about local authorities having to cut services - making it ever less likely that our children & young people will have access to the interventions we know will make a difference. Let's not fool ourselves. These are political decisions and they make me angry.