The government's desire to intervene in failing children's services has been clear for some time.
Work to create an independent trust in Doncaster is well under way, and Birmingham is set to get a commissioner and expert panel to oversee efforts to improve children's services.
Beyond this, the government has expressed its desire to intervene in other authorities. Exactly how it plans to do this, and where, remains unclear - but there are currently more than 20 child protection services rated inadequate by Ofsted.
But last month's announcement by children's minister Edward Timpson that the government will commission a study to "look at developing capacity for delivering children's services outside of local authorities" gave a clue to its thinking. The work will be overseen by London School of Economics professor Julian Le Grand, alongside an expert panel including chief children's social worker Isabelle Trowler and president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS), Alan Wood.
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