Call to tackle 'postcode lottery' of kids' safeguarding services

摘要

Calls have been made for national standards to tackle variation in the quality of children's services. Annie Hudson, chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, which commissions reviews of serious child safeguarding cases, told the House of Lords' Public Services Committee last week that a 'postcode lottery' existed between different council areas. She said that while there was clarity on the requirements for child protection safeguarding the picture was 'less clear' around early intervention and prevention and 'much more open to interpretation' according to the style of local leadership and resources available. Giving evidence to the committee, she added: 'We need national standards, national policy frameworks, but with local areas having the agency to implement as they see fit.'