Action plan to improve child protection

The Government's response includes:

• Sir Roger Singleton has been appointed the Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children and will report annually to Parliament.
• A National Safeguarding Delivery Unit is to be established to:
  • Give strong coordinated leadership;
  • Provide support and challenge to local authorities;
  • Promote dynamic learning and good practice development; and
  • Monitor progress.
• More rigorous inspection arrangements have been designed by Ofsted, and the Care Quality Commission and the inspectorates for constabulary and probation are also reviewing and extending inspection methodologies.
• Local leadership and accountability will be supported through the Children's Trusts, Local Safeguarding Children Boards, Directors of Children's Services, local authority chief executive and council leaders.
• The wider public has a role to play too and the views of local communities will be sought.
• The standard guidance - 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' - will be revised by the end of 2009 to incorporate these changes.

Support for the front line will cover:

• Early intervention in schools and children's centres
• Information sharing and assessment
• Specialist training in child protection for police
• Health service including health visitors
• Social work reform, including reform of the Integrated Children's System and measures to address the problems of recruitment and retention of children's social workers in local government
• Delay in care proceedings will be reduced.

The action plan responds to each of Lord Laming's recommendations.

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