Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

Since the publication of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families in 2000, the Government have been developing the integrated children’s system, or ICS, which is an extensive programme to ensure that local authorities manage their information about children in need and looked-after children in a systematic and consistent manner. This programme is supported by dedicated grant funding to every local authority. The framework and the related government circulars about the implementation of the ICS were issued under Section 7 of the Local Authority and Social Services Act 1970, which means that local authorities are legally obliged to act under it. The ICS captures all the processes of assessment, planning, intervention and review that are essential in working effectively with vulnerable children and families to enable them to achieve positive outcomes. In respect of this amendment, the ICS sets out the essential information requirements and how these must be managed. This includes specifying that parents and their children must be engaged and involved in the assessment and planning processes and that their views must be recorded. I can assure the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, that ““recorded”” does mean ““in writing””. I have before me the form that needs to be completed. It is entitled ““Child/Young Person’s Care Plan””. There is a section on views, and section 20 states: "““What are the views of the child/young person about the plan? Please record any areas of disagreement””." There is a space for that to be recorded in writing. Section 21 asks: "““To what extent have the wishes and views of the child/young person been obtained and acted upon? If it has not been possible to act upon the child/young person’s views, please state why””." Then there is a section that needs to be completed. I believe that that meets most of the concerns of the noble Baroness. To improve the practice further, as I mentioned in respect of the previous group of amendments, Clause 11 strengthens the functions of independent reviewing officers who are responsible for scrutinising each looked-after child’s care plan. Following this Bill, as part of the revised functions of the IRO, the Children Act 1989 will be amended so that IROs ensure that any ascertained wishes and feelings of the child are given due consideration by the local authority. One aspect of this strengthened IRO role will involve detailed scrutiny of how the authority has performed its care planning duties. Any authority would be unable to discharge these competently unless it had a robust approach that ensured that its officers recorded children’s views. I completely accept the force of the points made by the noble Baroness, but we believe that the system is in place and that the existing legal structures, as supplemented by provisions in the Bill, are adequate for the purpose.