No time to lose in implementing review recommendations

You could be forgiven for thinking this all sounds familiar. I wasn’t surprised to be asked what will be different this time? It’s nearly 20 years since Lord Laming’s review into the horrific death of Victoria Climbié when we were told that lessons would be learned.

I applaud the government for commissioning these two far reaching independent reviews. I welcome the courage of the authors to recommend significant change to the benefit of children at risk and the many dedicated professionals currently lacking the resources and support to function at their best.

Both reviews deserve a decisive response. We now have a platform for significant and lasting change– but it will take bold, committed and sustained political leadership if we are to see this through.

Star and Arthur died at the hands of adults who should have kept them safe. The system that was supposed to protect them was unable to do so. Family members who tried to raise concerns went unheard.

It is heart-breaking that it takes tragedies like these to shine a light on the shortfalls in the child protection system.

Years of under-investment have undoubtedly taken their toll.

• Review recommends expert child protection units in wake of Star and Arthur deaths

• Care Review: Early help central to plans for 'radical reform' of children's social care in England

A system under strain is increasingly responding to children and families in crisis rather than being able to provide early help and support which can stop them reaching this point.

Risks have been intensified by a pandemic placing many families under added financial and emotional strain, leaving children more vulnerable to abuse and neglect and child-care professionals struggling to reach them and provide support.

Overlaying all this we now have a cost-of-living crisis. Without swift and decisive action, the situation will undoubtedly get worse with more children slipping into the danger zone.

These reviews demand attention – but they also require action.

What comes through loud and clear from the National Review is the need for better communication and collaboration at a local level to ensure no child slips through the net.

We welcome its ambitious recommendations to strengthen joined-up professional practice, set clearer expectations as to what this looks like in every area and, crucially, to introduce more robust oversight to ensure the system is working to prevent harm and respond decisively to keep children safe in every local area.

The Care Review’s proposal for a Revolution in Family Help complements this focus on children most at risk with the opportunity to build a more preventative, joined-up approach which supports many more children and families to overcome problems before they escalate

Social workers, police, health practitioners and teachers need support to deliver this change.

To drive this through we need national, political leadership which must come from the very top of Government.

It is encouraging to see the Education Secretary take on the National Review recommendation and commit to a Ministerial group on child protection. But many of us have sat in many meetings since Lord Laming’s review back in 2003.

There must be commitment in deed as well as word: reshaping children’s social care requires significant financial investment, operational clarity and constant priority for the protection of our children. Arthur and Star deserve nothing less. There’s not a moment to lose as the cost of inaction – both human and financial – is too high.

The NSPCC stands ready to help in any way we can. Let’s make sure that May 2022 is the moment when we move from learning lessons to taking actions to secure a child protection and social care system that has the rights and safety of children at its heart.

Peter Wanless is chief executive of the NSPCC