New ADCS president highlights importance of developing practice of safeguarding “in and across places”

Making her inaugural Presidential address in London yesterday (14 April), she warned it is “incumbent” on DCSs to “join the dots”, where children may be involved in county lines, or are cuckooed in the same property together.

Meanwhile, Graham outlined plans for ADCS to develop a policy paper on adolescence during her presidency, “setting out the challenges in the way the system currently responds to the myriad of needs of this cohort, with suggestions as to how practice and systems could better respond.”

Welcoming the programme of reform across children’s social care, particularly the focus on earlier help, Graham observed it will enable many authorities to “step back into a space that was lost following 15 years of austerity”.

However, she added: “We often talk about the 'conditions of success', those contextual factors and enablers that are so important to the delivery of relational, impactful work with children and families, this is what makes a real difference to outcomes for children.

“The reforms are silent on these, and central government’s role here, and so I suspect that even at full implementation, we will continue to have variation in both practice and outcomes.”

Turning to SEND reform - where the Government has outlined a package of steps to reset and reform the education and SEND system backed by “substantial investment” - the ADCS President said: “I can confidently say that creating an inclusive education system where every child and young person can achieve and thrive is our collective number one priority and will transform the position we find ourselves in now. However, government must engage with us as partners as we embark on the next steps of implementation.”

She continued: “As local authorities develop local SEND reform plans to help to nudge the system towards our collective ambition, I know DCSs will rise to the challenge, as we always do, but we cannot do this alone. The reality on the ground is that DCSs do not have the formal levers needed to effect change where partners are not willing or able to step into this space, these lie with the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Education.”

She warned: “In the context of unprecedented change with more still to come, I would urge government to consider how they hold themselves, and their delivery arms, to account for progress, this is something that is lacking in the current narrative.”

The new President thanked outgoing President Rachael Wardell, describing her as “thoughtful in your contributions, generous with your experience, knowledge and time”.

Lottie Winson