Whitehall departments must finally 'get their act together' and collaborate to protect children in care, a leading practitioner has warned following another report urging closer ties between public bodies.Chris Waterman, former executive director of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, told The MJ the clamour for radical change in the way public bodies approached children's care had now reached 'tipping point', and that an overhaul was necessary.Mr Waterman spoke after the Commons' children's, schools and families select com-mittee published a critical report on 20 April, claiming the state failed as a 'parent' because it did not demand enough from care services.Echoing the findings of reports by Lord Laming and the Audit Commission, the cross-party committee of MPs also criticised Whitehall's fragmented approach to children's care and urged the CLG, Department of Health, Home Office and Ministry of Justice to better co-ordinate responsibilities.
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