Balls cites prevention as key to safeguarding progress

By Ruth Smith Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Children's Secretary Ed Balls has restated his commitment to preventative work on the eve of the publication of Lord Laming's report into safeguarding children.

Ed Balls

Laming will publish his report on progress made since the death of Victoria Climbié tomorrow (Thursday 12 March). Balls ordered the review after the death of Baby P in Haringey.

But speaking at a parliamentary reception for charity Action for Children last night, Balls said: "We have been trying to strike a careful balance by showing that we can be decisive and step in when children are not safe but in a way that doesn't undermine the progress we've made and the morale and standing of groups of preventative workers that don't get the recognition they deserve."

Referring to the negative media coverage of social workers who have made mistakes he said: "There is no thanks for social workers who've stepped in and prevented harm. But the public also know that there are social workers in the public sector who every day do difficult, sometimes dangerous and very hard jobs and they deserve our thanks, praise and support."

Action for Children and think-tank the New Economics Foundation launched a research project called Happiness Counts at the reception. The project aims to calculate the long-term cost savings of early intervention.

Clare Tickell, chief executive of Action for Children, said: "We witness the benefits of early intervention on a daily basis and this work will firmly make the case for investment in it."

Nicola Evans, 17, from Wrexham Young Carers and a project adviser to Happiness Counts, said: "I hope this research will make services better for young people."