Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

The issue that we are discussing is important and, as the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, said, I referred to it in my Second Reading speech. The noble Earl, Lord Listowel, asked me for some statistics. They are, indeed, of great concern. They show that in 2005, the last year for which we have figures, there was an average vacancy rate of 11 per cent for field social workers in respect of children across England, but with very wide regional variations. The lowest regional vacancy rate is 8 per cent, in the eastern region, but the rate is nearly twice that in London, at 15.1 per cent. Therefore, it is of no surprise that the use of agency staff should be highest in London, where, in 2005, the figure for agency staff stood at 20.8 per cent, compared with an average of 11.6 per cent in the rest of England. That is still a high percentage, even as an average. This is a serious issue. We do not believe that the amendment is necessary, however, because the care plan for every child in care must in any event be reviewed on a regular basis in accordance with the statutory framework established under Section 26 of the Children Act 1989. Regulations under that section require the child’s case to be first reviewed at least within the first four weeks of the child becoming looked after; the second review must take place within three months and, thereafter, reviews must take place at least every six months, although the independent reviewing officer can direct more frequent reviews. The Bill will strengthen the role of the independent reviewing officer, who is responsible for convening reviews, scrutinising care plans and ensuring that children’s views are taken account of in the care planning process. The IRO will of course be expected to take full account of changes in social workers in reviewing the quality of support provided to a child and to make any appropriate recommendations. While I absolutely share the sentiments expressed by the noble Baroness and other speakers, we do not believe that a process of independent reviews in addition to those that already take place under the auspices of the independent reviewing officer would add anything. We expect those reviews to look at, among the other things that the IRO looks at, the impact of changes of social workers and to make any appropriate recommendations.