Analysis

Review of children’s social care system prioritises family help

Care Review’s final report includes ‘radical’ proposals to redefine family support, shift council early help services into local multi-disciplinary teams, and trial the delegation of responsibilities to community-based providers.
Key proposals would see 17,000 children remain with their families by 2031/32 as a result of more intensive support for families. Picture: Iryna/Adobe Stock
Key proposals would see 17,000 children remain with their families by 2031/32 as a result of more intensive support for families. Picture: Iryna/Adobe Stock

The Care Review’s final report sets out over 278 pages the case for a “radical reset” of children’s social care in England. Review chair Josh MacAlister makes 80 recommendations with the aim of moving from a system “increasingly skewed to crisis intervention” towards one focused on family help (see box). This would see 17,000 children who would have come into care over the next decade remain with their families saving £517m in local authority care costs.

Research by the County Council’s Network, which is cited in the report, estimates that without significant reform 100,000 children in England could be in care by 2030.

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