Children in Care

Baroness Massey of Darwen Excerpts
Thursday 30th April 2020

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Berridge Portrait Baroness Berridge
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I assure noble Lords that these regulations were made in close consultation with local authorities about the situation they face. We have a partnership of 17 local authorities—Partners in Practice —which we use to ensure that best practice is spread across the country.

Baroness Massey of Darwen Portrait Baroness Massey of Darwen (Lab)
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What consultation on the proposed changes actually took place in March with our excellent children’s voluntary sector? I know that the Explanatory Memorandum to Statutory Instrument 445 stated that the department needed to consult with the sector in order to understand any difficulties. I am assured that this consultation never took place. Why not?

Baroness Berridge Portrait Baroness Berridge
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My Lords, unfortunately there was not the usual 12-week consultation period due to the particular circumstances that we were in. The department consulted the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, as I have said, and local authorities’ principal social workers. There is always engagement with stakeholders. Ofsted was also closely involved, because routine inspections of local authorities have been paused but risk-based inspections will continue. They are an important safeguard for local authority practice during this period.