Birmingham practitioners urged to participate in review

Janet Grauberg, chair of the recently established Birmingham Commission for Children, said the inquiry, which held its first hearing this week, is an opportunity to showcase good practice across the range of children’s services from pre-birth up to the age of 25.  

She added that it can also offer a counterbalance to the high-profile problems facing children’s services in the city at the moment, in reference to the government reviews into extremism in Birmingham schools and problems at the council’s children’s social care department.  

Grauberg said: “There are lots of other reviews going on: we’ve got to keep this in mind but keep it distinctive. Families in Birmingham are interested in real life issues: wanting to help children with homework, safety on the streets, coping with disabilities. It is not necessarily about the stuff the press is talking about.

“From professionals and others working with children and young people in Birmingham I want to hear about the services that are making a difference to children achieving their potential.”

Rather than the material aspects of services, such as good facilities, Grauberg said the commission is interested in the “characteristics that are transforming lives”.

“Is it about accessibility and universality; the quality of relationships; giving new experiences through activities? What would they like to see more of? We have an opportunity to reach outside the children’s workforce and tap into the resources of the city,” she added.

The commission is taking evidence submissions until the end of June when it will draw up a list of issues it will focus on in future hearings over the summer. A report detailing findings and recommendations is to be published in September.

Grauberg said: “It is not about coming up with detailed recommendations but a broad sweep of what people are saying and ideas for what people should be doing more of in the future. We’re hearing from people that deliver services, school forum governors, senior council staff and youth parliament members.

“Everybody’s really positive about the opportunity and there’s a real sense that Birmingham as a city has real strength.”

Commissioned by Birmingham City Council, the independent commission will dovetail its work with in-depth research being carried out by the Children’s Society into the views of children and young people.