In each of the countries there have been major changes in legislation and organisational structures. But despite the differences between the four UK countries, they all retain a forensic investigative model of child protection.
The book was written before the general election, therefore any conclusions are tentative. But the different political complexion of the UK government from the three devolved administrations is likely to increase differences.
Size does matter. The combination of a smaller number of local authorities and a sense of national identity means that the devolved countries "feel more networked". By contrast, there is limited inter-authority learning in England.
Diversity in approach should be welcomed. We could evaluate which model achieves the best outcomes for children. Despite the rhetoric of evidence-based decision making, are we really ready to do that? Or will we resort to the default position: "But it's different there."
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
