Every Child Matters

Download the latest edition of the Cumbrian Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership newsletter:

In Cumbria - Every Child Matters

Introduction

The way in which Children’s Services are delivered throughout Cumbria is changing. 

In September 2003 the Government published the Green paper Every Child Matters, and following wide-ranging consultation, the Children Bill and Every Child Matters: Next Steps followed in the spring of 2004 (See links at top of page to view the documents). 

Cumbria County Council shares the Government’s vision for Children’s Services:

Every child having the opportunity to fulfil their potential, and no child slipping through the net.

We want to help children and young people to:

• Be healthy:  enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle;
• Stay Safe:  being protected from harm and neglect and growing able to look after themselves;
• Enjoy and achieve:  getting the most out of life and developing broad skills for adulthood;
• Make a positive contribution:  to the community and to society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour;
• Achieve economic well-being.        

The Children Bill

The Children Bill represents the most significant changes to how we support children since the Education Act 1944.

The Children Bill is the first step in a long-term programme of change. The Bill creates the legislative spine for developing more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and their families in the light of local circumstances. 

The Children Bill (2004) means that authorities are considering the organisational arrangements needed to support the post of Director of Children’s Services. 

In summary, the Bill sets out to: 

• Appoint a national Children’s Commissioner by April 2005.
• Ensure broad local partnerships of interest to improve the well-being of children & young people.
• Safeguard Children– the Bill requires each Local Authority to establish a statutory Local Safeguarding Children Board.
• Develop Children’s Trusts by 2008.
• Appoint, at a local level, a Director of Children’s Services and a Director of Adult Services, by 2006.
• Identify a Lead Council member for Children’s Services.
• Develop an Integrated Inspection Framework.
• Improve the sharing of information, across disciplines.     

Explanatory notes relating to the Children Bill, which was brought from the House of Lords on 19th July 2004, have been prepared by the Department for Education and Skills. The notes are available to assist in understanding the Bill, and are available by following the link below:

Click here for Explanatory Notes relating to the Children Bill

Consultation 

Use the following link to send an e-mail to the Children's Services Senior Policy Officer:

edmond.chapman@cumbriacc.gov.uk

The consultation process, on the development of Integrating Children’s Services in Cumbria, has begun. See links at top of page to view the first consultation document In Cumbria Every Child Matters. 

News

See links at top of page to view the latest edition of In Cumbria Every Child Matters.

Further Information

Local:

See links at top of page to view:

• The Cumbrian Children’s Service Principles      

National:

See links at top of page to view:

• Every Child Matters
  
• From vision to reality – transforming outcomes for children and families
  
• The Children Bill
  
• Children Bill 2004 -Young people’s version (produced by The Children’s Rights Alliance).      

Other Useful Sources of Information:

• Children’s services – Some key organisational issues
  
• Every school matters   

The documents above are available for download from The Education Network:

www.ten.info