Policy fails vulnerable children

Initial findings from a review of the reforms by Cumbria University suggest government indicators are causing services to overlook groups of vulnerable children because these measures are too narrow.

Researcher Christine Hough also found evidence that national performance indicators may result in successful interventions by children's services being ignored. "Often the most successful multi-agency approach occurs when local authorities go beyond the indicators prescribed by government," said the former Ofsted inspector. "The extent to which welfare agencies engage with children and their families enables authorities to determine the best course of action to support them, yet often the way government standards are structured does not allow for this to be measured or recorded as an effective outcome."

Hough's initial research has identified a number of groups who are being missed under the national indicators. Oversights could include services intervening to make sure a child's education isn't disrupted by problems at home. This work would go unmeasured since the government only tracks persistent absence from school, rather than stability of school placements.

A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: "We are improving the way we monitor progress in taking forward the outcomes. We will not be satisfied until the needs of families, children and young people are at the centre of everything we do."

Hough's study is to continue throughout the year.

- See Editorial, p17.