Children’s Social Care Services Reform 2022-07-04
2022-07-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question follows the government's commitment to reforming children's social care, prompted by recent reviews and studies.
What steps he is taking to reform children's social care services. This includes publishing an ambitious implementation strategy following three important pieces of work: MacAlister review, Competition and Markets Authority study on the children's social care market, and the national panel review of the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson.
We will publish an ambitious implementation strategy later this year following three important pieces of work: first, the independent review of social care—the MacAlister review—and then the Competition and Markets Authority study on the children's social care market, and the national panel review of the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the challenges faced by children leaving care, particularly their need for consistent support and foster family placement.
Will the Secretary of State promise me today that he will look at what more can be done to provide care leavers with consistent, quality support during and beyond those transitions, enabling them to live with foster families into their adulthood?
We launched the care leaver covenant which has made a significant difference to many of our young people in care as they transition out of care. There is also the work we are doing to support those 300,000 families who need that additional support. The work of MacAlister will make a huge difference. I give her a pledge that we are serious about implementing the MacAlister review.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner sought a specific promise to consider additional measures for providing continuous support, but received assurances and references to existing initiatives without a direct commitment to new measures.
Referring To Existing Work
Pledge To Seriousness
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from a Swedish government review into the profit motive in children's education, focusing on profiteering concerns.
Can he confirm, perhaps with yes or no, that the profit motive must be taken out of the care of our most vulnerable children?
Part of why I mentioned the Competition and Markets Authority review to make sure that the system is working properly is that it is something I am concerned about. I would focus on profiteering rather than profit, because I think people will want to go into this sector to help children, and I do not have a problem with their making a profit. It is excessive profiteering that I am certainly concerned about.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a yes/no confirmation regarding removing the profit motive but received nuanced discussion on profiteering instead.
Focusing On Profiteering Rather Than Profit
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the issue of out-of-area placements for children and young people made by councils without notifying local statutory agencies, posing safety concerns.
What more can the Government do as part of their review of children's social services to make sure that out-of-area placements made by councils are communicated to the host areas' statutory agencies?
We are looking at how we help local authorities to commission and buy places much more efficiently with the regional care co-operatives. There is also the work of the MacAlister review, after which hopefully out-of-area placements will become a rarity.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for specific measures regarding communication but received a broader statement about commissioning and buying places more efficiently without direct commitment to improving communications.
Broad Statements On Efficiency
Response accuracy