It was a strange quirk of fate. Just as Chancellor George Osborne was announcing the government’s annual Budget on 21 March, council chief executives and directors of children’s services (DCSs) sat down to discuss their challenges for the next 12 months at a CYP Now debate only a couple of miles from Westminster. And on that sunny spring day, despite the narrowing financial constraints for local authorities, some rays of optimism emerged from the discussions. Four key topics dominated proceedings: working with troubled families; health reforms; social investment; and the future role of local authorities.
TROUBLED FAMILIES
Prime Minister David Cameron has famously pledged to turn around the lives of 120,000 "troubled families" within the lifetime of this parliament. Councils have now identified how many of these families reside within their boundaries. But there has so far been little direction from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) about how areas should intervene – something about which participants were in fact relaxed, since it allows areas to commission programmes they know work. Cornwall DCS Trevor Doughty said: "The lack of central direction is probably overall a good thing and we all have to concern ourselves with funding it and delivering results."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
