Sector leaders criticise lack of care experience on finalised Care Review Implementation Board
Emily Harle
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
The Department for Education has finalised the board responsible for implementing the Care Review recommendations, but some sector leaders have criticised the lack of members with direct care experience.
The newly appointed members include care leaver Anne-Marie Connelly, who works in participation at Action for Children.
Angela Frazer-Wicks, chair of trustees at Family Rights Group and who has experience of the adoption system, will also sit on the board, alongside adopter and kinship carer Janet Kay, who is also chair of trustees at Kinship.
-
Analysis: Unrest over Care Review board plans
-
Analysis: Research helps shape Care Review findings on improving outcomes
The long-awaited appointments come four months after the initial announcements of the board’s membership earlier this year.
Also on the board are:
- Dame Rachel de Souza, children’s commissioner for England
- Steve Crocker, president of the Association for Directors of Children’s Services
- Isabelle Trowler, chief social worker for children and families for England
- Jill Colbert OBE, chief executive of Sunderland Children’s Services Company
- Sir Anthony Finkelstein, president of City, University of London.
- Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council
- Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector
Although the DfE previously stated the three new members will have experience of the care system, sector leaders have expressed concern on social media following the latest appointments.
Become chief executive Katharine Sacks-Jones said: “Disappointing to see only one care-experienced board member on the National Implementation Board” and called for more clarity around wider engagement of the care-experienced community.
Disappointing to see only one care-experienced board member on the National Implementation Board for the Care Review. And no clarity around wider engagement of the care-experienced community. Hope the new board will look at this as an urgent priority https://t.co/UuHd89xoAd
— Katharine Sacks-Jones (@KatharineSJ) October 31, 2022
TACT fostering tweeted: “A significant concern is that the care review proposed significant change to the failed status quo, and the board has many members with a stake in the status quo.”
In order to achieve the transformative change required, such as the creation of regional care co-ops, requires that our thinking & approach fundamentally change. Is there a majority for radical change on the board?
— TACT Fostering (@TACTCare) November 1, 2022
“To achieve the transformative change required, such as the creation of regional care co-ops, requires that our thinking & approach fundamentally change," TACT Fostering added, asking: "Is there a majority for radical change on the board?”
According to the DfE, Care Review chair Josh MacAlister will also “where relevant, attend board meetings and provide advice to government on translating the review into an action plan”.
The DfE has said an as yet unnamed minister in the department will chair the board.
The Care Review's final report, published in May, set out 80 recommendations to reform the social care system, including key proposals which would allow more children to access family support instead of entering local authority care systems.
