Every child matters : ninth report of session 2004-05. Volume 1, Report together with formal minutes.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Education and Skills Committee
Date:
2005
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Every child matters : ninth report of session 2004-05. Volume 1, Report together with formal minutes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “[regarding VAT and budgetary cycles]... I think they are serious obstacles. Some of the bureaucracy around pooling budgets is part of the disincentive, and the work that is required to get through that bureaucracy, we certainly feel in the smaller authority, can be better invested in developing some of the cultural arrangements about joint working and look again [...] about what were the outcomes that we were intending from the pool. We would enter into it very hesitantly, particularly around services. We can find very easy ways of making sure the shared money is getting to the service user without getting into complex bureaucratic arrangements which are not necessarily going to help, and I think the evidence-base for them is a bit weak.”! 168. While the evidence we have seen has convinced us that joint commissioning of services is a laudable and worthwhile aim that can offer significant benefits for children and young people in terms of the services they receive, we think a more cautious approach needs to be pursued in relation to across-the-board budget pooling by Children’s Trusts. We understand that the evidence from evaluations of the section 31 arrangements under the Health Act 1999 suggests that pooled budgets only add value where there is already a high degree of trust and clarity of purpose amongst the partners.’ Pooled budgets are therefore best thought of as one more tool in the partnership armoury, rather than an accounting panacea. It will be important to assess progress in this respect, and it is disappointing that the Minister has told us in supplementary evidence that the DfES does not even propose to collect information about the budgets that will be pooled through the Children’s Trusts.’”° 169. Statutory guidance and other communications which concern themselves with budget-pooling need to make absolutely clear that local areas should not pursue such pooling for its own sake. Until sufficient evidence has been amassed from Pathfinder Children’s Trusts on best practice in this area, it would be preferable to give a clear steer for local areas to thoroughly analyse the benefits likely to accrue from budget- pooling before embarking on the process. Director of Children’s Services 170. It is now a statutory requirement for each top-tier Local Authority to appoint a Director of Children’s Services (DCS) and Lead (council) Member. It is intended that the DCS will provide strategic leadership for Children’s Trusts as well as being an accountable figurehead. The DfES is currently consulting on the statutory guidance for the Directors of Children’s Services and Lead Member roles. Background of appointees 171. By March 2005, approximately 50% of Local Authorities had made Directors of Children’s Services appointments, around 90% of whom had previously been Directors of Education”. With relatively few appointees from a social care background, some have 124 Q 192 125 Hudson, B. et. a/., National Evaluation of Notifications of Use of the Section 31 Partnership Flexibilities of the Health Act 1999,2002, Nuffield Institute for Health/National Primary Care Research & Development Centre. 126 EVCM 74. 127 Qq 383-385
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