Children and youth workforce faces overhaul to meet government aims

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has published a workforce development plan to back the aims it outlined in its 10-year Children’s Plan in December.

The document, Building Brighter Futures: Next Steps for the Children’s Workforce, outlines how £73m will be spent to improve social work careers, £305m will be spent in early years, and £7.5m will go toward raising the level of play qualifications.

It also says an expert group will be set up to advise government on a long term workforce strategy.

Alongside the workforce strategy the government released a professional development framework for leaders of children's services.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “Everyone who works with a child or young person or with their family has a role to play in supporting their development.

“The way in which they are able to provide that support will be critical to the achievement of our aspirations for children and young people.”