NHS reforms could undermine child protection, warns Royal College
Lauren Higgs
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The government's NHS reforms could weaken child protection arrangements and damage the health of children in care, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has warned.
In a response to the government’s "listening exercise" on the Health and Social Care Bill, RCPCH claimed the legislation neglects to recognise the importance of integrated working between health, children’s social care, the police and other agencies.
It is also concerned that plans to introduce new local health and wellbeing strategies say little about safeguarding.
RCPCH argues that such strategies should "include core sections on child protection arrangements across organisations and pathways of services, with contributions from expert designated clinicians".
As part of the reforms, directors of public health are due to take on responsibility for tackling domestic violence by linking police, education and social care services together. But the RCPCH is unhappy that safeguarding is not part of their proposed brief.
"This remit does not mention child protection, yet there is overwhelming evidence of the link between family violence and child abuse, and responsibilities should be stronger," RCPCH said.
The college is similarly worried about how the drive to increase competition and choice in the NHS could affect at-risk children.
"Healthcare’s contribution to multi-agency child protection arrangements is crucial and a market-led system risks gaps in critical communications and responsibility for the most vulnerable children," it said.
"Networks of experienced health child protection professionals must be strengthened to provide expertise, supervision and support to consortia and public health teams."
