Conservative Conference 2010: Maximum caseload limits will not improve child protection, claims Loughton
Neil Puffett
Monday, October 4, 2010
Children's minister Tim Loughton has dismissed the idea that maximum caseload limits for social workers would help improve child protection systems.
Speaking at a fringe meeting staged by the Centre For Social Justice at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Loughton said there are better ways to tackle issues around increased referrals in the wake of Baby Peter.
"I don’t think that [maximum caseloads] would work because every caseload is different," Loughton said.
During the meeting, Loughton outlined steps being taken by government to address perceived problems within children’s social work, including a review by Professor Eileen Munro, a move to publish serious case reviews and the abolition of ContactPoint.
He added that he is keen to improve provision for those leaving care.
"We need greater flexibility for children in care and those coming out of care," he said.
"We expect them to reach the age of 16 and go out into the great big wide world and some are, but a year later things could fall apart and they could lose their accommodation or their job.
"I want to create a system of greater flexibility for kids to come back into a supportive system where possible until they are into their 20s."
During the meeting, Loughton’s views on child protection were challenged by Barnardo’s chief executive Martin Narey, a member of the audience.
In response to Loughton’s assertion that he is "not too fussed" by how many children are taken into care, rather that the right children are taken into care – a response to concerns that too many children are left with families – Narey told the minister he was wrong.
"It is not being in care that damages those children, it is the experience before that," Narey said. "Care generally makes things better. We can improve care hugely but we have to be careful not to suggest care makes things worse."
Loughton also gave a warning of the impact of this month’s Comprehensive Spending Review, stating that it would be "bloody", but will affect the Department for Education less than other departments.
"It is going to be down to local authorities to hopefully not make false economies and to use reduced levels of funding as effectively as they can," he said.
"I don’t think that [maximum caseloads] would work because every caseload is different," Loughton said.
During the meeting, Loughton outlined steps being taken by government to address perceived problems within children’s social work, including a review by Professor Eileen Munro, a move to publish serious case reviews and the abolition of ContactPoint.
He added that he is keen to improve provision for those leaving care.
"We need greater flexibility for children in care and those coming out of care," he said.
"We expect them to reach the age of 16 and go out into the great big wide world and some are, but a year later things could fall apart and they could lose their accommodation or their job.
"I want to create a system of greater flexibility for kids to come back into a supportive system where possible until they are into their 20s."
During the meeting, Loughton’s views on child protection were challenged by Barnardo’s chief executive Martin Narey, a member of the audience.
In response to Loughton’s assertion that he is "not too fussed" by how many children are taken into care, rather that the right children are taken into care – a response to concerns that too many children are left with families – Narey told the minister he was wrong.
"It is not being in care that damages those children, it is the experience before that," Narey said. "Care generally makes things better. We can improve care hugely but we have to be careful not to suggest care makes things worse."
Loughton also gave a warning of the impact of this month’s Comprehensive Spending Review, stating that it would be "bloody", but will affect the Department for Education less than other departments.
"It is going to be down to local authorities to hopefully not make false economies and to use reduced levels of funding as effectively as they can," he said.
