10/10/2003

Climbie report shows children protection 'must be priority'

The government has said that improving child protection must be a "priority for all agencies" following the publication of a joint report by three national inspectorates.

The findings from self-audits of child protection activity by NHS organisations, social services departments and police forces showed that recommendations from the Victoria Climbie Inquiry have had "an impact on police social services and the NHS", with the majority of organisations making steady progress.

The findings, published today by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCI), also showed there were some significant areas for development.

Children, Young People and Families Minister, Margaret Hodge said that today's report showed that steady progress has been made by police, social services and the NHS in response to Lord Laming's report.

She added: "But improving child protection must be the priority for all agencies with a responsibility for children. Our Children's Green paper sets out our proposals to reform children's services so that we get better joined up services, better sharing of information and clear accountability defined.

"We want to see services organised around the needs of children and families. We want to see a stronger emphasis on preventative services. Multi-agency teams of health and education professionals, social workers and others will be based in and around schools and children's centres. They will use shared information and assessment systems to provide joined up support for all families and rapid on-the-spot response to cases of serious concern."

The Victoria Climbie Inquiry report by Lord Laming, which was published in January 2003, made 108 recommendations.

The Secretaries of State sent check lists of the relevant practice recommendations to all 625 NHS organisations and 150 councils with social services responsibilities in England, and to all 43 police forces in England and Wales.

The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCI) were asked to audit the implementation of these recommendations.

(gmcg)

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