ADCS head criticises 'time-consuming and rigid' inspections

During his address to delegates at the Local Government Association's National Children and Adult Services Conference 2009, Kim Bromley-Derry called on directors of children's services to remain calm in the face of growing pressures.

Citing the death of Baby P, rising numbers of children in need and impending budget cuts, he called on directors to do the right thing for both the short and long term and make their departments more open and transparent.

But Bromley-Derry added that inspections and regulatory frameworks were draining capacity and confidence.

He said: "Recent reports appear at times to be accelerating the perception that, in particular, children's services are ineffective and inadequate.

"This is undermining the quality of practice across the whole sector and cannot continue without proportionate and robust challenge when and where appropriate."

He described inspections as "time-consuming and rigid", saying directors must focus on practice not process.

He also gave his thanks to former ADCS president Maggie Atkinson and praised her appointment as children's commissioner, which prompted cheers from delegates.

"Knowing Maggie as I do she will be fiercely independent and we had better watch out as I expect her to be very quick to challenge us to listen and respond to children and young people," he said.