Opinion

Less money, but much more purpose

The Association of Directors of Children's Services' (ADCS) policy paper, which outlines some priorities to Education Secretary Michael Gove, is compelling and constructive in how the sector can do more with less while meeting government objectives.

"It's the money, honey," is the maxim now hanging over public service delivery. But as the ADCS spells out, if we give children's services professionals more flexibility to innovate, it will ease the strain on the public purse.

Specifically, the paper calls for an end to external field forces providing improvement support, with more sector-led peer support and sharing of best practice. It calls for lighter regulation and an end to the process-obsessed "compliance culture" of inspections, particularly in children's social care, relieving professionals to direct their efforts to have the most impact. This will be music to the ears of all those who feel suffocated by bureaucracy and just want to be allowed to get on with the job they love, of transforming young lives.

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