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Children's trusts 'not effective' Children's trusts 'not effective'
(about 6 hours later)
The children's trusts created by the government after the death of Victoria Climbie have made little difference in child protection, a new report claims. The children's trusts created by the government after the death of Victoria Climbie have made little difference to child protection, a report says.
The trusts were one of the recommendations put forward by Lord Laming, who led the Climbie inquiry. The trusts, in England, were one of the recommendations made by an inquiry into the eight-year-old's death in 2003.
The Audit Commission claims the trusts often lack clear direction and have made slow progress but it has not called for them to be scrapped. But the Audit Commission says they often lack clear direction and have made slow progress. The government says the review is out-of-date.
The government says the review of the trusts in England is out-of-date. Victoria was murdered in 2000 by her great-aunt and the woman's partner.
The study from the public sector spending watchdog is the first independent assessment of the trusts since they were formally created by the Children Act 2004 to co-ordinate children's services. Her body was riddled with 128 injuries when she died.
It found "little evidence of better outcomes for children and young people" and said too much time was being spent on "structures and process" at the expense of improving the lives of children, young people and their families. She had suffered months of abuse and had been seen by dozens of social workers, nurses, doctors and police officers, but they failed to pick up on the abuse.
But it reported that "on the ground, professionals are working together, often through informal arrangements outside the trust framework". Her death prompted a complete rethink about looking after vulnerable children.
Local agreements worked better than the "centrally-directed" approach, the report concluded. Focus on 'structures'
Joining up
The murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000 at the hands of her carers prompted a complete rethink about looking after vulnerable children.
The young girl - whose body was riddled with 128 injuries when she died - had been seen by dozens of social workers, nurses, doctors and police officers but they failed to pick up on the abuse.
Not only are the headline messages a misrepresentation of what their own report as a whole says, but it is based on fieldwork which is now almost a year old Children's Minister Beverley Hughes
Lord Laming, who chaired the inquiry into her death, found agencies were passing the buck and not communicating.Lord Laming, who chaired the inquiry into her death, found agencies were passing the buck and not communicating.
As a result, the government decided that local areas in England should have children's trusts, bringing together education, social services, youth services and other agencies under a single director. As a result, the government decided local areas in England should have children's trusts, bringing together education, social services, youth services and other agencies under a single director.
But the Audit Commission report found progress was "less than was anticipated". Five years after the Laming Inquiry, there is little evidence that children's trusts have improved outcomes for children Audit Commission The Audit Commission study is the first independent assessment of the trusts since they were formally created by the Children Act 2004.
The trusts themselves were unsure of their role and relationships with other organisations, it said. It found progress was "less than was anticipated".
In May, Victoria Climbie's mother spoke out about the apparent failure of institutions to learn lessons from the case. It said there was "little evidence of better outcomes for children and young people" and too much time was being spent on "structures and process" at the expense of improving the lives of children.
Berthe Climbie said the deaths of other children in similar circumstances since Lord Laming's report showed nothing had changed. But it reported that "on the ground, professionals are working together, often through informal arrangements outside the trust framework".
Her comments followed the case of Khyra Ishaq, a seven-year-old who apparently starved to death in Birmingham. The commission did not call for the trusts to be scrapped, saying they were still "bedding down".
Her mother and stepfather have been charged with her murder, and an inquiry into her death has been launched by social services. But it said children and young people should have more say in how services are designed.
'Significant changes'
Researchers for the Audit Commission questioned eight children's directors, leading councillors, health bodies, police, schools and voluntary bodies.
They also visited eight areas for closer inspection between November 2007 and April 2008.
Although progress had failed to met expectations, the Audit Commission did not call for the trusts to be scrapped.
"All change is disruptive, and children's trusts are still bedding down after reorganisations in both local government and the NHS," said the report.
Professionals are still not consistently talking to colleagues in other sectors Vijay Patel, NSPCC Thorny issue of child protection
It said the government should remove barriers to local schemes of co-operation, and children and young people should have more say in how services are designed.
Greater involvement with GPs and schools was another of its recommendations.Greater involvement with GPs and schools was another of its recommendations.
Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said she was "disappointed" in the Commission's handling of the review. 'Changes since'
"Not only are the headline messages a misrepresentation of what their own report as a whole says, but it is based on fieldwork which is now almost a year old. Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said she was "disappointed" in the commission's handling of the review.
Professionals are still not consistently talking to colleagues in other sectors Vijay Patel, NSPCC Thorny issue of child protection "Not only are the headline messages a misrepresentation of what their own report as a whole says, but it is based on fieldwork which is now almost a year old," she said.
"Significant changes have taken place since then, not least the publication of the Children's Plan, which sets out very clearly our high ambitions for children and the strength and role of children's trusts in delivering them.""Significant changes have taken place since then, not least the publication of the Children's Plan, which sets out very clearly our high ambitions for children and the strength and role of children's trusts in delivering them."
The government is preparing new guidance on the operation of children's trusts, she added. The government was preparing new guidance on the operation of children's trusts, she added.
NSPCC policy officer Vijay Patel said the report made "some important points" and the recommendation for closer links with schools was important. Not only are the headline messages a misrepresentation of what their own report as a whole says, but it is based on fieldwork which is now almost a year old Children's Minister Beverley Hughes NSPCC policy officer Vijay Patel said the report made "some important points", such as the recommendation for closer links with schools.
He said "professionals are still not consistently talking to colleagues in other sectors", and called for further investment to achieve a "cultural change" in welfare services. He said professionals were still not consistently talking to colleagues in other sectors, and called for further investment.
Janet Davies, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing, said the report showed there had been "insufficient investment" in the training of nurses and other professionals.Janet Davies, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing, said the report showed there had been "insufficient investment" in the training of nurses and other professionals.
"This has created a protection postcode lottery where safeguarding services vary significantly across the country," she said."This has created a protection postcode lottery where safeguarding services vary significantly across the country," she said.
Khyra's death
In May, Victoria Climbie's mother spoke out about the apparent failure of institutions to learn lessons from the case.
Berthe Climbie said the deaths of other children in similar circumstances since Lord Laming's report showed nothing had changed.
Her comments followed the case of Khyra Ishaq, a seven-year-old who apparently starved to death in Birmingham.
Her mother and stepfather have been charged with her murder, and an inquiry into her death has been launched by social services.