Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children: a bridge too far?
| Date | 27 September 2010 |
| Pages | 14-24 |
| Published date | 27 September 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/jcs.2010.0547 |
| Author | Jane Tunstill,Jane Aldgate,June Thoburn |
| Subject Matter | Education,Health & social care,Sociology |
Journal of Children’s Ser vices • V olume 5 Issue 3 • Sept ember 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd
14
‘In the wake of Lord Laming’s review of
safeguarding, we hope the important
contribution made by universal and preventative
services to keeping children safe will be
reaffirmed... We are convinced that better early
intervention is vital to reducing the likelihood of
child misery and ensuring children’s wellbeing.’
(House of Commons Select Committee on
Children, Schools & Families, 2009)
These two quotations, separated by a period of
15 years, give some indication of the past and
future challenges in achieving a sensitive balance
Introduction
‘A broadly consistent and somewhat worrying
picture is emerging. In general, progress
towards full implementation of Section 17 of
the Children Act has been slow. Further work
is still needed to provide across the country a
range of family services aimed at preventing
families reaching the point of breakdown.
Some authorities are still finding it difficult to
move from a reactive social policing role to a
more proactive partnership role with families.’
(Department of Health (DH), 1994: 16)
Abstract
This article describes the contrast between the clearly expressed and optimistic intentions
of section 17 of the Children Act 1989, namely to produce a genuine service continuum
that will promote and safeguard the welfare of children, and the reality of the post-1989
implementation process. It shows how, over decades, perennial challenges have consistently
skewed the balance between proactive family support services and reactive crisis-driven
responses in favour of the latter. Drawing on government-commissioned evaluations, including
two on out-of-home care and family centres respectively, the authors conclude that the Act
has failed to change this balance for the better. Primary factors in this include inadequate
funding and the risk-averse responses of policy-makers and politicians.
Key words
Family support; children in need; safeguarding; out-of-home-care; Chidren Act 1989
Promoting and safeguarding
the welfare of children:
a bridge too far?
Jane Tunstill
King’s College, London, UK
Jane Aldgate
Open University, UK
June Thoburn
University of East Anglia, UK
10.5042/jcs.2010.0547
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