Doncaster sounds warning over 'high-risk' government proposals

In its response to the proposals, put forward last month by an independent review and backed by Education Secretary Michael Gove, the council says it will work with the government to implement the creation of the trust to be run by an independent children’s commissioner, but makes a series of counter recommendations about how this could be put into practice.

Doncaster’s mayor Ros Jones, who vowed to reform children’s services when she entered office in May, says the proposals as currently drafted require “significant modification” because they muddy lines of accountability between the children’s commissioner and the council as to who is responsible for children’s services.

She says: “This provision affords the children’s commissioner the power to intervene within children’s services without any concomitant transfer of statutory responsibilities. This would create an ambiguous line of accountability and put significant risks in the system.”

Jones adds that the accountability measures suggested in the review are “unclear, high-risk and conflicting legal powers, responsibilities and accountabilities between the Secretary of State and the council”.

She also warns that the proposals show “an absence of regard for a clear and unambiguous line of political and professional accountability for outcomes for children” in respect of the statutory roles, responsibilities and accountabilities held by the lead member for children’s services and director of children’s services.

The recommendations, put forward by London School of Economics’ Professor Julian Le Grand and Hackney director of children’s services Alan Wood last month, are “simplistic and problematic” in their approach to financial arrangements, “inaccurate in understanding” of employment law, and have a “confused and unworkable” view on commissioning.

Despite the concerns, Jones says the proposals could be “workable” if modified.