NCAS conference: Commissioner calls for pooled budgets and personalised care

Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services (NCAS) conference in Bournemouth, Longfield called on local authorities to involve children and families in decisions made about them.

She also said they need to provide better support for vulnerable children as they move into adulthood.

“We need to look more boldly and radically at ways to transform vulnerable children’s lives,” she said.

“The evidence shows that people flourish if they have support that is joined up and responds and understands their particular situation."

Longfield added that "true transformation" only comes from empowering parents and families by giving them control of resources. "As part of our strategy to tackle poverty we could introduce this from birth and in the early years," she said.

“As they transition into adulthood, vulnerable children experience huge difficulties as they move between very different support systems, so there is a need to make this experience more personalised for their particular needs.”

Longfield told CYP Now she has been impressed by local authorities that are developing new models of integration in the early years, as well as pooled budgets for 0- to 3-year-olds in Better Start areas.

She said pooled budgets for the most vulnerable children could include money from budgets for health, family nurse partnerships, special educational needs, social care, childcare places for two-year-olds, and mental health support.

These could be brought together through joint commissioning to “ensure a strategic approach”, she added.

She said the concept could also work with troubled families and childcare for three- and four-year-olds.

In relation to 16- to 25-year-olds, she said CAMHS and some health service spending could be included, to allow more creative approaches to providing intensive personal support that would normally be given in hospital.

She said she is writing to Chancellor George Osborne and treasury officials about the ideas.

Meanwhile, a discussion paper is being produced that will be presented at an upcoming parliamentary seminar with Labour MP Frank Field.

“We have heard warnings and concerns about the ability to deliver on the core needs of the most vulnerable if budgets are reduced further,” Longfield said at the conference.

“The scale of the challenge we are facing demands new and radical ideas and solutions.

"Evidence for personal budgets for adults shows better outcomes and better value for money – we should try this for children with complex needs.”