Local Government Association statement

This report shows quite clearly that Whitehall intervention isn’t working and as a sector we stand ready to support those councils who need it to ensure they are doing the very best for our children and providing the kind of good quality services they rightly deserve. We are keen to have conversations with the Department for Education about how the sector can help in those councils where direct government intervention has not brought about much needed improvement, but we can’t let the debate around who provides services overshadow the most import issue – the safety of our children.

Councils up and down the country are committed to doing all they can to protect vulnerable children and ensure they remain safe from harm. While it’s encouraging that on the whole we know child protection services are getting better, we can’t escape the reality that in some areas services need to significantly improve. Councils are baring the brunt of reductions to children’s services, but we are concerned that with further deep cuts to come it’s going to be difficult for even the very best performing local authorities to provide the same level of assurance in future years.