CYP Now - Children Act well-intentioned duty now unrealistic

Often while walking between meetings my mind wanders back to the now familiar place it likes to pause: how to reconcile rising demand and reducing resource with high expectations that local authorities can and will minimise error in our child protection system.

There is no obvious answer, but there is a repetitive wheel I find myself treading - again and again.

I start to think about what the Children Act 1989 requires me to do.

It sets out that I must observe the principle "that children are best looked after within the family with both parents playing a full part and without resort to legal proceedings". I believe in this central philosophy of the act.

I must also be clear if I am to intervene, that it is right for the child and that not doing so will cause harm or further harm to them. In accordance with section 17 of the act therefore, I have a duty to support families when they need it and to provide a range of services in support of their welfare. I must make sure that the local authority withdraws again when parents are able to safely discharge their parental responsibilities to their children, standing ready to provide help again during any future period of need.

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