4Children chief criticises children's centres consultation delay

Imelda Redmond, chief executive of 4Children when it was placed into administration on 31 August, said its financial problems had been compounded by the "vacuum" created by a lack of policy leadership on children's centres from government.

In an interview with CYP Now, Redmond explained that 4Children's financial position became critical earlier this year with the loss of three contracts to run children's centres on behalf of local authorities.

Redmond said she does not blame the councils for making the decisions - two brought service back in-house, while the third went to another provider - but believes the lack of a government blueprint on the future role for children's centres is making it easier for services and funding to be cut.

Last summer, ministers promised a government consultation on the future of children's centres would be launched in autumn 2015, but it is yet to published.

"I think it is a real shame that when ministers announced they were going to do a review they didn't act on it," Redmond said.

"People have gone and done what they had to do - local authorities are dealing with reduced budgets, and have done it in the vacuum created by failing to follow through on the promise of a review.

"It is always much better when you know why you are doing something - a review doesn't give local authorities more money, just more strategic purpose."

Sir Paul Ennals, former chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, agreed that the delayed consultation had created a more unstable operating climate for charities managing children's centres.

"There is no doubt that the government's delays in developing its thinking on the future of children's centres has meant that many providers have been left swinging in the wind," he said.

Ennals added that 4Children and Redmond had been "one of the inevitable casualties of public sector cuts and government indecision".

Last week, the Charity Commission said it was investigating the circumstances behind the collapse of the 4Children.

The charity was responsible for more than 100 children's centres and around 40 nurseries - the majority of which have been transferred to new providers. Out of 4Children's 1,068 staff, a total of 46 will lose their jobs.

To read an analysis on the factors behind the collapse of 4Children see the latest issue of CYP Now or click here