Baroness Meacher – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Meacher on 2014-06-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the recommendations of the Munro Review of Child Protection; and how the Review’s recommendations will be reflected in their plans.

Lord Nash

The Government is committed to promoting the welfare of children and protecting them from harm. The Government published its response to the Munro Review of Child Protection in July 2011, shortly after the publication of Professor Munro’s final report. That response accepted Professor Munro’s argument that the child protection system has lost its focus on the things that matter most: the views and experiences of children themselves. It also set out the Government’s plans for implementation.

Of the fifteen recommendations made by Professor Munro, eleven have been implemented in full, including:

1. In March 2013, we published the revised statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, which focuses on the core legal requirements that all professionals should follow to keep children safe;
2. In September 2013, Isabelle Trowler began work as the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families. Lyn Romeo started her role as the Chief Social Worker for Adults at the same time; and
3. In November 2013, Ofsted began inspecting local authority children’s services under the new ‘single’ inspection framework.

Substantial progress is being made on implementing the other key recommendations, including supporting local areas in the redesign of their social work practice. In respect of Professor Munro’s recommendation on introducing a duty to secure provision of early help services, the Government has concluded there is sufficient legislation in place to deliver early help services to children and families. We are continuing to work with sector partners to reinforce existing legislation and understand how early help offers in local areas can be improved.