Prime Minister David Cameron used a speech in Leeds - primarily focused on the drive to deliver more efficiency to public finances - to reinforce the government's desire to break the state's monopoly on delivering children's services by bringing in more third-party providers.
In a 3,500-word speech, Cameron only devoted a few hundred to talking about children's services (see box), but the fact he did it caught the sector by surprise and has reignited the debate about marketisation of children's social care, particularly safeguarding and looked-after children services.
That Cameron referenced his enthusiasm for academies and free schools as well as social impact bonds suggests the government will turn to existing public sector reforms when looking for inspiration over changes to children's services.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
