Profiteering on the back of public services “simply not acceptable”, ADCS President warns
The President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), Andy Smith, has warned that individuals and organisations are amassing “huge wealth” on the back of work carried out to support children and families.
Speaking at the ADCS annual conference in Manchester last week (11 July), Smith addressed leaders in children and young people services on issues regarding austerity, child poverty, children’s social care reform, and profiteering.
On austerity, he said: “The impact of 14 years of austerity on public services has meant that the very social fabric which many of us rely upon has been eradicated. While there continues to be a funding gulf in children’s services, the overall perilous state of local government finance must be addressed if we are serious about addressing the growing inequalities that have been left to go unchecked.”
He described long term, sustainable funding for local government as “the only solution”.
On child poverty, the ADCS President noted that although the new government has committed to an “ambitious strategy” to reduce child poverty, it does not go far enough.
He said: “We need to eradicate child poverty if we are to start to create a society that is based on the principles of social justice and recognises the importance of childhood for all children.”
Turning to the issue of profiteering, Smith warned that profiteering on the back of public services is “simply not acceptable”.
He said: “Prior to the general election, the DfE’s Market Advisory Group […] started to consider what national action is needed to address the spiralling costs of placements for children in care and the profit that is being made as a result.”
He added: “We are ready and willing to support this work and any action the new government is willing to take to ensure that the resources we have available are directed towards improving the lives of children and not shareholders or hedge fund investors.”
On unaccompanied asylum seeking (UAS) children, the ADCS President warned that the UAS children care leaver funding needs to be “reviewed urgently”.
He continued: “Given [that] the significant majority of former UASC care leavers are granted leave to remain, why must they have no recourse to public funds while they await decisions. Allowing temporary access to benefits and the right to work seems like an obvious step in the right direction.”
On cross government working, Smith observed that while the Department for Education has a lead role, several other government departments front different aspects of children’s policy.
He said: “The system is fragmented which leads to silos and limits our ability to positively work with children and families in a holistic way and have full impact”.
He recommended the new government to transfer leadership on youth justice and the Youth Justice Board to the Department for Education, along with youth services, “so these areas can align with wider children’s services policy”.
The full speech can be read here.
Lottie Winson
