Initial findings from a review of the reforms by Cumbria University suggest government indicators are causing services to overlook groups of vulnerable children because these measures are too narrow.
Researcher Christine Hough also found evidence that national performance indicators may result in successful interventions by children's services being ignored. "Often the most successful multi-agency approach occurs when local authorities go beyond the indicators prescribed by government," said the former Ofsted inspector. "The extent to which welfare agencies engage with children and their families enables authorities to determine the best course of action to support them, yet often the way government standards are structured does not allow for this to be measured or recorded as an effective outcome."
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