A new partnership with local government leaders
Jordan Hall
Friday, November 12, 2021
While debate and discussion around system change in the child welfare system often gravitates towards Westminster and Whitehall - in local government, political leaders are driving the agenda in their local child welfare system.
Local councillors are important change makers in their own locality. That's why at Family Rights Group we've launched our Councillors' Network, for those with responsibility for, or an interest in, children's social care.
It's a partnership for change across the child welfare system. We're working with lead councillors to deliver on a shared mission - to ensure the child welfare and family justice systems supports children to live safely and thrive within their family, while strengthening the family and community networks of those children who cannot live at home.
On the eve of the pandemic, the children’s social care system was described as being in crisis and more children are in the care system than at any time since the Children Act 1989. Coronavirus has since exacerbated the stresses faced by families, including poverty and isolation. Local authorities were already facing a huge funding gap for children’s social care amid rising demand and financial pressures on local public services have only increased.
Despite national child welfare legislation, there are stark differences between localities in the numbers of children subject to child protection and care proceedings, and the number of children supported to live in kinship care when they can’t remain at home. Local authorities are adopting different approaches, cultures and innovations and have much to offer the debate on system change and best practice.
Family Rights Group has substantial experience working with families, practitioners, academics, local authorities and the courts to pioneer innovative approaches to child welfare. For example, we have been at the forefront of the introduction of Family Group Conferences in the UK and developed the innovative Lifelong Links approach to protect and build relationships for children and young people in care. We’re the national policy and legal authority on kinship care, including as secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care and the Kinship Care Alliance. Our specialist legal and child welfare practice advice service for parents, relatives and kinship carers supports more than 7,000 families a year and provides real time insight into problems across the system. Our parents and kinship carers panels are a thriving example of how those with lived experience can inform service design.
Through our Councillors’ Network, we are keen to share our knowledge, advice and ideas on improving children’s social care and delivering better outcomes for children. Our next virtual event on 17 November focuses on Lifelong Links which has now supported more than 1,500 care experienced young people across the UK to develop positive, lasting support networks. All councillors are welcome to attend and learn more about how the approach could benefit young people in your locality.
Family Rights Group’s Councillors’ Network is free to join and open to councillors of all political parties. It complements the work of the LGA and others, and includes regular e-communications, written briefings and invites to exclusive councillor events. We encourage councillors to join us as partners for change and sign up on our website.
- Jordan Hall is public affairs officer at Family Rights Group