The inspection of services that protect children is set to be a high profile issue again in 2015, the year of the General Election.
Whatever reservations there may be about the current arrangements, it remains the case that effective inspection can be a driver for improving services, but there are three key prerequisites:
- A sensible framework utilising expertise in the sector and focused on outcomes for children and families.
- High quality inspectors.
- Effective cross-inspectorate co-operation and collaboration.
A more tailored approach to inspection is required to better reflect the complexity of child protection and how it is impacted by child sexual exploitation, domestic violence and gang-related activity. It also has to consider the significant impact of reduced local authority resources.
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