It’s all too obvious that our Ministers still know very little about child welfare, and despite their backgrounds in family law or social care, it may well be a case of the blind leading the blind as they look to outdated services and enterprises to help boost the social care sector in this latest bid to improve things. But there is a silver lining to this murky cloud.
30 million of them, to be exact.
Mr Timpson has today announced that the government will be setting aside £30 million for its innovation programme, with seed grants of £10,000 for the development of favourable ideas. The programme’s first wave of funding for social care reform will look at rethinking children’s social work, and rethinking support for vulnerable adolescents in care or on the edge of care.
This isn’t the first time our Children’s Minister has asked the sector for help. In this exclusive article for the excellent Community Care, Mr Timpson goes to great pains to move on from a previous failed attempt at impassioning social workers and social care enterprises to ‘dig deep’ and ‘get creative’. On this occasion he called upon the sector to assist with reform, but did not offer any extra funding. No surprise then, that a sector which has to function along a profit margin of sorts failed to engage with his call to action. That was back in October of last year – you can still hear the tumbleweed rolling through the corridor at Westminster outside Mr Timpson’s office.
It was, of course, a disappointing result for Mr Timpson, despite hiring an entrepreneur who made a personal fortune from the insurance industry to work with him “to identify the sharpest, most inspirational thinking in the field”. Quite how insurance entrepreneurs and child welfare are connected is beyond comprehension. Such an awkward partnership inevitably will only serve to highlight the government’s clear priorities when it comes to child protection.
And now, having failed to rouse the minds and bodies of these various organisations, Ed’s come back with a 30 million pound offer, for anyone who can come up with ways to improve the situation for children in care. Astounding, given that his own family have a wealth of experience when it comes to fostering, and Mr Timpson himself practiced at the Family Bar for over a decade.
These facts then, should sound a warning bell to our Children’s Minister. If you are not able to come up with solutions yourself, how can you ask the very sector you wish to renovate, to come up with the goods?
Perhaps though, Mr Timpson is wary on that point. In the article he writes for Community Care, he invites everyone to get involved – not just local authorities, but companies, social enterprises and not for profit organisations as well. Ed even promises to financially support potential prospects, broker relationships and help out with evaluations where needed. It’s hard to know whether to rejoice at the flexibility and open-mindedness of our Children’s Minister, or to cry at the heightened levels of desperation evident in this latest offering.
What the government does next, will now be key. Will they choose to listen to established and entrenched voices inside the sector or will they be able to detect fresh, clear thinking on the ground? The ability to sort the wheat from the chaff will be integral to the success of this latest round of funding, which if misspent, would invoke the now all too familiar Black Hole Effect – money down the drain, with no tangible results.
So whilst Mr Timpson schmoozes the social work crew, whom he is skating on thin ice with at the moment in any event, we hope he will find dynamic and dedicated voices amongst them and not be led astray by profit margins. Those will come later.
The Children’s Minister and his aides will now need to home in on and detect the best in the biz, and set about creating a service which actually works.
And that, Mr Timpson, is where you are on your own.
Jerry Lonsdale said:
I am one with many favourable idea’s where do I sign up for my 10 grand, joking aside, unless they tackle the grass roots of the entrenched problems, throw any amount of money at it will not fix the problems
LikeLike
Natasha said:
I hear you, Jerry. I hope the Minister and his team have the right nose for this kind of work. No good going to people who have held the system back.
LikeLike
son4justice2 said:
As you so rightly say, it is no good going to ask those who are destroying children’s lives or the buisness that makes money out of them.
He should be seeking ideas from those that have experienced first hand the system, especially as all will say more or less the same thing about where it goes wrong.
There should be NO family court until its proven that a parent has committed a serious crime against the child. Then the family court would be to officially release the child for adoption.
Social workers, police, respite foster carers should not have feet in both ponds or each others ponds. It would not happen in a criminal court where evidence is contaminated.
Social workers should only be employed in the role of social CARE, to support a family into a working model for the children and give practical assistance to do that.
1/ Assist in securing work or college for both parents and older children
2/ Assist with consulting debt plans and securing the family finances.
3/ Arranging counselling and/or anger management programmes for those in need and giving on going support to ensure that it has a good affect on the family.
4/ Arranging parenting courses where needed and continue to moniter and support the family
5/ Assisting a family where there are domestic violence issues. LA solicitors should have a new role in this. To support the removal of a danger from the family home. To support the remaining parent and to keep them safe. Even if that means moving the family and or bringing in a woman’s refuge. Tap into housing support. A victim of domestic violence should not lose her/his children, providing they see the risk and work with with the LA solicitors and social worker.
To remove the risk of false allegations, the accused person should be properly investigated and interviewed. There should be a new blueprint for domestic violence and the police intervention.
6/ Social workers to provide support for disabled and ill parents. Child care and day respite where needed. To give the children breaks from being possible carers to their parents.
Set up in each and every area. A clinic/family center employing counsellor, anger management therapist, parenting classes, debt management, central hub for all and every type of immediate support for a distressed family.
Parents should not have to wait weeks for a appointment to see someone, it should be immediate and ongoing.
Once registered by the social worker to the center, the social worker should have continued meetings with both center and parents on progress.
Only if there are serious reasons for concern should the child be removed and then it should be to a 3 month respite. (solid time so removing child and parent distress)
The respite care should be qualified foster carers who are also regulated. The foster carers should be either NNEB and or have had a (NEW) course in caring for another’s child. (Could write blueprint also)
Respite carers should NOT be potential adoptees.
Social workers should NOT be involved in adoptions.
This being the reason that if a child is removed to the respite it is because of police investigations starting re serious harm to the child by the parent or parents. i.e. Serious sexual/rape, serious physical harm i.e. broken bones, fractures, cig burns, bites, serious neglet i.e. ricketts, scurvy or advanced malnutrition, serious loss of education, domestic violence with shown injury to a parent or child etc.
A second medical hub should be at every hospital with experts in the field of child injury, i.e. head injury expert, bone and fracture injury, diagnosis of serious neglet, i.e. ricketts, rape or serious sexual abuse that can be proven by medical etc.
Each and every case should be properly investigated to also rule out any possibility of a accidental injury, medical condition etc.
I.E. Children have been regulary taken from innocent parents on the assumption of non accidental injury
Children should be protected at ALL times and that includes abuse for improper diagnosis and removal from a decent and loving family.
Parental legal assistance should oversee every step once in the hospital hub.
No parent should be seen as guilty until proven innocent.
Not until there is final and absolute proof should the family proceedings start to free a child for adoption.
Psychologists should form no part of the process. A injury such as the above can be proven or denied with the right hospital hub.
The respite should be local and community based and central to the HUB in the way of information and attendance/contact
This is only a very short summary of how the system should be changed But once the idea of the 2 hubs is properly filled in, it will be easy to see how ALL children can be protected and at the same time protect innocent parents from the system that has destroyed so many.
It would also bring more confidence to people to refer a family, child to a social worker for help and would also rule out malicious referrals as these could be easily detected by the first hub. There will also be no conflict of interest between social workers and adoptions.
Child protection should be the job of the police alone to investigate any cases of a criminal nature. It should be the police and hospital ALONE who report to the court for adoptions on the prosecution of the parents.
LikeLike
forcedadoption said:
FREE OF CHARGE ! Do not take children from parents who have not committedcrimes against children;do not issue gagging orders on parents or children subject to the family courts; abolish forced adoption;Never deprive any parents of at least” indirect contact “with their children .
LikeLike
daveyone1 said:
Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
LikeLike
Dana Raymond said:
So the C&F Bill is in the final stages and now Edward Timpson wants creative thoughts on how best to deal with a growing problem that has got out of hand and will continue to get worse, as the very people with hands on are the ones doing the damage and will perpetuate the problem! You couldn’t make it up!l
At least he recognises there is a problem that needs to be addressed! He would do well to read RR as there are some excellent ideas on how to change the system for the better from it’s contributors. He should ignore his previous advisors and take time to speak with families the system has affected and those groups that offer information and support to families.
Yesterday RR showed research from 2012 about prisoners and their families which showed similar results to previous studies. I’m not sure where all the facts and figures came from because when I tried to click on certain government research it would not display the pdfs. I presume that as I am not an official I will not be able to have access. To be able to make sound decisions about the future this information needs to be in the public domain so the problems can be seen at a glance. Nevertheless unless they change what they are doing from base level up nothing will change. It won’t be just one thing but radical change in all areas.
Decisions need to be made about the role of social workers and my suggestion would be they take on a different role of supporting families with a goal of family preservation first and foremost. Rewards should be keeping families together not splitting them up.
No forced adoption!
Children in care should be returned to families where possible. An independent review of all kids in care to ascertain who could return home or to grandparents.
Family Contact with a child in care should be encouraged! Regular face to face contact in the community supervised only if that person is a danger to the child. Telephone calls, emails and skype with members of their family too.
Going to Court should be a last resort and only if a crime has been committed against a child. They should keep to the matter in hand to ascertain if the parents really did hurt/killed their child. Family Court should be assigned to history! The family court was never about finding out the truth but character assisignations of the family so as to remove the chilld!
Removing a child from their home has so many knock on effects to the child, any siblings, the parents, the extended family. It is not just an effect that lasts throughout childhood but when that child becomes an adult too. Adopting a child into another family can often be trying to fit a round peg in a square hole but still they push it! Stigmatising a child with the label of being a “looked after child” or “a child in care” remains with that child forever. Something they should never have to endure!
LikeLike
Natasha said:
Hi D, the link to the prisoner data works fine down my end. It’s a public document.
LikeLike
Dana Raymond said:
Sorry Natasha. I wasn’t clear. Your data was fine. To reply to what you said, I wanted to check on Gov UK for info but could not gain access to PDFs. You know I like to check my facts before I post anything!
LikeLike
son4justice2 said:
Totally agree Dana
LikeLike
Phill Ferreira said:
Reblogged this on The Story of my Twin Boys.
LikeLike
son4justice2 said:
PS. Family social care workers should only work in the community for and with the families to ensure a working and safe home for the children and parents
Adoption social workers should NOT be employed by the LAs or in any way work with any local authority or family social care worker.
These adoption social workers should work for a charity based agency and instructed on criminal prosecution of both parents by the family court.
Applications could be made by grandparents and extended family to adopt/guardianship the child. It will be for the Judge to decide if it would be safe to do so.
If this happens the child should remain in the local community and remain on a limited scale to the first hub and family social worker.
Where a stranger adoption is granted, the child should not be removed out of the country but can be adopted out of county.
The welfare of the child should be sent to the family via LA solicitors. The extended family should receive education, health and welfare reports once a year.
The LA should be responsible for keeping updated records on the progress and address of the child.
No adopted child should go off the ‘radar’ to the LA.
i.e. Child abuse and murder have also been committed by adopted parents.
LikeLike
Ragnvald said:
This work was all done when the then Conservative Government commissioned `Messages From Research’ which were published in 1995 and the Minister issued directives based on that research. However with the change in government in 1997 to the infamous Blair programme, those directives and messages were ignored, in favour of the Child Removal and Rush to Adoption Programme.How many times must they re-invent the wheel?.
He should begin with a complete change to a Family Preservation Programme, and removal of provisions in the Adoption Act which allows dispensation of parental consent for the flimsiest and spurious of reasons.
LikeLike
Dana Raymond said:
A complete change of mindset is what is needed before any changes can be made. If they looked at the situation from a different perspective, if they said to themselves, “How would I feel if this happened to me?” They would want to work with social workers. So that should happen. If social workers had a different role, one of support and a real wish to help, they would see social workers in a different light and know that they really did have the families best interests at heart. Social workers would no longer be vilified and/or feared!
In Maine USA they have reached saturation point! There are no more foster carers so a mother was allowed to keep her 3 children despite burning her sons arm in punishment. One could say if they could do it for one why not the rest! In the UK that saturation point can’t be far off. They put children at an even greater risk if any old Tom, Dick or Harry apply and are accepted just to make up the numbers! In these financially stressed times especially, their motivation must be suspect due to monies paid. Family preservation procedures should be the governments agenda first and foremost!
LikeLike
Phil Thompson said:
What were the following Reports for. Munro. Norgrove and current Lords debate on children and families. How much did Munro and Norgrove get for their efforts.
By making the offer of Thirty Million for Ideas, is that not an ADMISSION that the system of Childrens Social Services has been in ERROR for a lot of years.
I cannot help feeling that the City Boys, Judges, Lawyers, MPs, Police, Doctors, and all the big boys will share the MOOLAH. I forgot to add Social workers, Bankers, CAFCASS, Fosterers and Adopters, heads of the Gas and WaterBoard,why not some TV actors. Then there will be many who have been the teachers of social workers for years. I hope that Mr.E. Timpson MP sees this for I feel sure that adhesive companies are being approached to supply the glue for their sticky fingers. I wonder if the names of those who apply and receive his largess will be published.
I on the other hand. BECAUSE I CARE am willing to contribute some ideas without the want of money.. .
LikeLike
Dana Raymond said:
Hang on F A & Phil, first rule of Marketing, don’t sell yourself cheap! If you don’t put a value on your ideas, they won’t either!!
I would be happy to take the money for any of my ideas just so long as they were used!
The trouble is my ideas would save money, not spend it! Any money spent would be to assist and support families not fund the lifestyles of those who milk the system!
LikeLike
Phil Thompson said:
There is no end to this mans folly.
Written Answers – Education: Adoption (13 Feb 2014)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2014-02-13a.187220.h&s=speaker%3A14128#g187220.r0
Edward Timpson: We are reforming the adoption system so that, where
adoption is in the best interests of the child, children can be placed
quickly in a stable and loving home. Our reforms1 are designed to
encourage more people to adopt and to reduce the time it takes for
children to be placed with a loving family. This includes addressing a
national shortage of adopters by recruiting and assessing adopters…
The only thing buzzing in his head is ADOPTION to strangers..Nothing about the Childrens social services being a stacked deck against Families who are desperate to keep their children.
LikeLike
arhivistka said:
There is something that I struggle to understand. The UK has had rounds and rounds of consultations regarding children’s social care, in preparation of the new… whatever it’s called… Children’s Act? And now, since a fresh pot of money has been made available by Timpson, there’s apparently going to be a new round of discussions, as if the ones that have been going for a year or so are not good enough. Isn’t it wasteful, to put it mildly?
LikeLike
Natasha said:
Yes, I agree with you. Unless they actually ask the right people the right questions and then act upon the information. That’s a tall order in itself.
LikeLike
Phil Thompson said:
If anybody has read my proposition as to who will be ALLOWED to make suggestions to the SYSTEM of Childrens social services. Would they opine as to who they think will be permitted to dip their snouts into the £3000000 SUGGESTION trough. I AGAIN STATE. And I TRUST that I shall not be alive to see what I envisage for the children who will be adopted under this mad scramble for adoption. Here are my FEARS. As USUAL there will be gaps, money, CORRUPTION and most of all the SEXUAL ABUSE of these adopted children by ALL and SUNDRY without CHECK. Open your eyes, THINK, is this not possible. In passing may I say that I have been accused of RANTING by some anon person. .
LikeLike
Ragnvald said:
It will be yet another exercise where the foxes are will design and build the henhouse. And the Power-hungry, Empire-Building psychopaths will get their way.
LikeLike
Phil Thompson said:
ADOPTION of a child. As a prominent MINISTER Mr. Edward Timpson MP.(ADOPTED) MINISTER for Children Schools and Families( who did not deign to reply when I told him of a GRAVE CALUMNY against my Family). You Sir, did you ever seek out your blood FAMILY. If you DID may I ask WHY. If you did not seek out your blood FAMILY can you explain why. Can you explain WHY that every case that I have knowledge of, even after many years have passed seek their FAMILY. All I am trying to point out is that since Social Services became a PROFIT MAKING AGENCY in the taking of children FAMILIES have been DESTROYED.
LikeLike
sheila oneill (@chanmore) said:
Searching for creative thinkers? Then why do they only listen to those within the system.
LikeLike
sheila oneill (@chanmore) said:
Searching for creative thinkers Mr Timpson?
Then try the blogs who invite people to question it, the people and children who have suffered it, the activists who give their free time and money to highlight the failures and the ones who have nothing to gain in making money out of it.
AND DONT keep asking the ones who made a hash of it in the first place or who were party to writing the original blueprint.
LikeLike
Phil Thompson said:
Ruminating. Bovine. Chewing the Cud. It occurred to me at 0305 that some of us have missed the POINT of this discussion. I HAD assumed that the proposal by the MP Edward Timpson was to do with the REFORM of CHILDRENS SOCIAL SERVICES.
I have AGAIN Reread the PROPOSITION of the THIRTY MILLION. I FEAR that the REMIT can be twisted so as to divert attention AWAY from the CHILD ADOPTION INDUSTRY and use the original statement to the MINISTRYs pleasure. MEANING that the TITLE can be used in any way. Am I wrong.I state again
Creative thinkers for SOCIAL CARE REFORM. Where does it enclose the WRONGS that have been perpetrated by social services CONCERNING CHILDREN.
R&R, Please DELETE this post if it seems unseemly. As always, the decision of R&R is FINAL..
LikeLike
Phil Thompson said:
I STATE again that that £3000000 will vanish into the pockets of unknown people.
WITHOUT any RESULT. I HOPE that I am wrong. I HOPE that someone from the Media will DARE to expose what so many Families have to say.
LikeLike
Dana Raymond said:
Hi Phil, it bothered me that the C& F bill is almost complete and that select commitees have been in discussions and proposals have been submitted so its clear that the social care reforms have already been decided and what ET really wanted was projects he could pay 10 million apiece for. As they won’t work, he can then say, ” We tried, it didn’t work” and go back to the status quo! The projects won’t work because radical reforms across the whole spectrum is what is needed but ET hasn’t got the gumption to do that! ET has no doubt accepted what the multi agency professionals have said despite not being able to get a straight answer from some of them! If you listen to to Dof E select commitee discussions you will see what I mean! It should be remember that the lies MP Aiden Burtley told to the select commitee were accepted but afterwards were then exposed by the Daily Mail!
LikeLike