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Greening drops plans to allow councils to opt out of child protection laws Greening drops plans to allow councils to opt out of child protection laws
(35 minutes later)
The government has backed down from plans to allow councils to opt out of a series of legal obligations to vulnerable children that critics say threatened protections built up over decades.The government has backed down from plans to allow councils to opt out of a series of legal obligations to vulnerable children that critics say threatened protections built up over decades.
The planned changes were criticised by charities, social work experts, the Tory-majority Commons education committee and the Magistrates’ Association, which in a rare intervention said it had “grave” concerns. The planned changes were criticised by charities, social work experts, the Tory-majority Commons education committee and the Magistrates’ Association, which in a rare intervention said it had grave concerns.
The education secretary, Justine Greening, has now decided to scrap the idea, her department said. In an unusual move she is doing so by offering government backing to a Labour amendment proposed by her shadow, Angela Rayner. The education secretary, Justine Greening, had now decided to scrap the idea, her department said. In an unusual move she is doing so by offering government backing to a Labour amendment proposed by her shadow, Angela Rayner.
Rayner said it was “an unprecedented climbdown for the secretary of state to sign Labour amendments removing the flagship policy from her own bill just days before the Commons could debate it”.Rayner said it was “an unprecedented climbdown for the secretary of state to sign Labour amendments removing the flagship policy from her own bill just days before the Commons could debate it”.
Under a clause in the government’s children and social work bill, council social services departments would have been able to be exempted from a series of protections, including a duty to assess the suitability of carers from the child’s own family and the requirement for an independent review before children are moved.Under a clause in the government’s children and social work bill, council social services departments would have been able to be exempted from a series of protections, including a duty to assess the suitability of carers from the child’s own family and the requirement for an independent review before children are moved.
Other proposed protections opt-outs included independent scrutiny of foster families, a duty to visit those leaving care at home, and the obligation for councils to have a lead councillor and director for children’s services.Other proposed protections opt-outs included independent scrutiny of foster families, a duty to visit those leaving care at home, and the obligation for councils to have a lead councillor and director for children’s services.
Ministers had argued that years of regulation had led to excessive complexity, and that the proposed exemptions would allow social services to push “innovation” and become more efficient.Ministers had argued that years of regulation had led to excessive complexity, and that the proposed exemptions would allow social services to push “innovation” and become more efficient.
The relevant clause was removed in the Lords – where the bill originated – when peers defeated the government. Ministers had been set expected to restore it when the bill reached the report stage in the Commons next week.The relevant clause was removed in the Lords – where the bill originated – when peers defeated the government. Ministers had been set expected to restore it when the bill reached the report stage in the Commons next week.
Greening acted aftermeeting, among others, Herbert Laming, a crossbench peer who before entering the Lords had been a senior social worker and chaired the 2003 inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié, the eight-year-old murdered after serious failings by child protection services.Greening acted aftermeeting, among others, Herbert Laming, a crossbench peer who before entering the Lords had been a senior social worker and chaired the 2003 inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié, the eight-year-old murdered after serious failings by child protection services.
Also at the meeting was Isabelle Trowler, the government’s chief social worker, and Lord MacKay, the Conservative former lord chancellor, said the Department for Education .Also at the meeting was Isabelle Trowler, the government’s chief social worker, and Lord MacKay, the Conservative former lord chancellor, said the Department for Education .
Greening’s decision heads off a possible rebellion over the measure by Conservative MPs. Among those who had backed the amendment was Tim Loughton, a former children’s minister.Greening’s decision heads off a possible rebellion over the measure by Conservative MPs. Among those who had backed the amendment was Tim Loughton, a former children’s minister.
Lord Laming said he had objected to the exemptions clause in part as the number of children in care was increasing while budgets were being cut. In this context, he said, it was wrong “to even think about undermining the integrity of national legislation”.Lord Laming said he had objected to the exemptions clause in part as the number of children in care was increasing while budgets were being cut. In this context, he said, it was wrong “to even think about undermining the integrity of national legislation”.
Rayner said: “These dangerous proposals should never have been made in the first place, so it is good news for vulnerable children across the country that the government has now agreed to our demand that they be abandoned.Rayner said: “These dangerous proposals should never have been made in the first place, so it is good news for vulnerable children across the country that the government has now agreed to our demand that they be abandoned.
“The protections recommended after the appalling cases of Victoria Climbie and Baby P should be enforced, not weakened. There is nothing ‘innovative’ about allowing councils to ‘opt out’ of their duties to children who need protection in law.” “The protections recommended after the appalling cases of Victoria Climbié and Baby P should be enforced, not weakened. There is nothing ‘innovative’ about allowing councils to ‘opt out’ of their duties to children who need protection in law.”
The government could yet face another rebellion over the bill via other amendments tabled by Rayner and the shadow children’s minister, Emma Lewell-Buck, to increase protections for unaccompanied child refugees. The government could yet face another rebellion over the bill through other amendments tabled by Rayner and the shadow children’s minister, Emma Lewell-Buck, to increase protections for unaccompanied child refugees.
A DfE spokeswoman said: “We have listened to concerns raised about introducing the power to innovate, which would have meant councils could test new approaches in order to support the country’s most vulnerable children. In recognition of this we are not taking forward that particular aspect of the bill.‎”A DfE spokeswoman said: “We have listened to concerns raised about introducing the power to innovate, which would have meant councils could test new approaches in order to support the country’s most vulnerable children. In recognition of this we are not taking forward that particular aspect of the bill.‎”
This did not mean efforts to improve the work of social services departments would end, she added. “The children and social work bill makes huge steps forward in providing vulnerable children with protection to keep them safe, as well as the support they need as they prepare for adulthood.”This did not mean efforts to improve the work of social services departments would end, she added. “The children and social work bill makes huge steps forward in providing vulnerable children with protection to keep them safe, as well as the support they need as they prepare for adulthood.”