Rotherham unveils plan to create child-centred borough

Rotherham Council hit the national headlines when an independent inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay found that an estimated 1,400 children were sexually exploited between 1997 and 2013.

The council said it has made progress since an Ofsted inspection in the wake of the Jay report rated its children’s services department “inadequate”, but added that more has to be done to ensure that children in the town have the best start in life, and have high aspirations.

It said it wants children, young people and adults across the borough to work together with the council to support every child.

The six key themes of the strategy will be: a focus on the rights and voice of the child; keeping children safe and healthy; ensuring children reach their potential; creating an inclusive borough; harnessing the resources of communities; and creating a sense of place.

It has also announced plans to place more looked-after children in foster care, and close two residential care settings, following a review of children's homes. If the plans are rubber-stamped it would leave the authority with just one children's home, after two were closed last year.

Deputy council leader Gordon Watson said: "A child-centred borough means putting children at the heart of everything.

“It means children can be heard; that we will help them to reach their potential and that we will keep children safe and healthy so we can continue to drive forward improvements.

"We've begun to make many improvements, and in particular in the way we look after our most vulnerable children, but clearly we want to be ambitious for all of Rotherham's children, which is why this new strategy puts children at the centre of council activity.

"Every child deserves the best start in life and this vision is about delivering this."

The proposals to create a child-centred borough, which have been recommended for approval, are due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on Monday (6 June).