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Ministers ‘do not have a plan b for protecting children’
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent18.11.08
THERE is “no plan B” for protecting vulnerable children to replace the system which failed Baby P in Haringey, ministers admitted today.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls announced moves to make local social and health services more accountable for keeping young people safe.
He said councils would establish Children's Trust Boards of doctors, police, social workers and teachers. The boards will be legally responsible for children's policy in their areas.
But Mr Balls conceded that Haringey already had such a system and admitted his scheme would not have saved 17-month-old Baby P. He said: “We are not succeeding in protecting children as well as we would like.”
Children's minister Beverley Hughes added: “We haven't got any feasible alternative plan B for making these local arrangements the way in which we protect our children and young people.”
Reader views (2)
set up a new Child Protection Force within each SS with police powers to overrule all other considerations on the interests of the child.
- Davidke, Galati Romania
Here's two suggestions. In future disputes between the "professionals", greater weight should be given to the opinions of those who have actually been present in the child's home, met the child and parents, and/or seen the child's injuries. Second, if there is a disagreement at the end of the day, the "professional" whose suggestion best safeguards the child's immediate safety should be heeded. Simple? Obvious? Not in Haringey it seems.
- Mairi, Glasgow, Scotland
