Independent review team hoping to learn from county’s children’s services
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ONE OF TEN AREAS PICKED TO HELP SHAPE FUTURE THINKING
A TEAM from the independent children’s care review is visiting Nottinghamshire child care services in an effort to make national improvements to the system.
The county will be one of 10 local areas in England to be visited by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care over the coming weeks, as the body seeks to understand how the system works on a local level, as well as hearing from practitioners on what needs to change.
The review will take a wide-ranging look at the problems within the current system and make recommendations to the government next spring.
Issues such as keeping teenagers away from gangs, supporting children in care and keeping children safe will all be discussed.
During the visits, the team are speaking to people and organisations who are involved in children’s social care in Nottinghamshire including local authority staff, police, health, schools, judiciary and other partners.
Josh Macalister, chair of the review said: “When we started this review, we knew one of our most important tasks was to listen.
“The review team has already spoken to thousands of people who have lived experience of care and who work within the children’s social care system.
“This week’s visit will enable us to talk in more depth about how work to look after children and support families happens at ground level and I would like to thank Nottinghamshire for participating and hosting the team.
“These conversations are absolutely vital in helping the review achieve its aim of creating a future care system that gives young people the best start in life.”
Councillor Tracey Taylor, chairman of the Children & Young People’s Committee said: “Nottinghamshire County Council are pleased to welcome the Independent Review Team to the county over the next few days and the opportunity to build a longer term relationship with them.
“As one of only ten local areas chosen by the review we look forward to sharing with the realities, the strengths and the challenges faced in our complex task of helping, supporting, protecting and caring for our most vulnerable children and families.
“It is a privilege for us to be able to shape the review team’s thinking in what is described as a “once in a generation opportunity” to change systems and services and bring about real change for children and families for the better across Nottinghamshire and the country.”