Title

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Proposed law 'could strip councils of children's social care'

Hundreds of local authority duties to young people could be removed as the Government seeks to ‘radically alter children’s social care,’ industry professionals have warned.

Hundreds of local authority duties to young people could be removed as the Government seeks to ‘radically alter children's social care,' industry professionals have warned.

In a letter to a national newspaper, the experts said clauses 15 to 19 of the children and social work bill introduced a ‘fast-track process for the removal of many of hundreds of local authority duties to children, young people and families'.

 

The bill, which is being scrutinised by the House of Lords today, will enable a local authority or the secretary of state to draft regulations removing any children's social care requirements in most of the Children Act 1989 and all of the Children Act 2004.

It will make it possible to remove children's social care requirements for up to six years, the 16 experts and professionals who signed the letter argue.

The letter read: ‘Innovation is vital and welcome, but the scale of the legal requirements threatened by this bill is enormous, encompassing social care duties in respect of child protection, children in need, children in care, care leavers and disabled children.

‘We urge peers to reject clauses 15 to 19, and call on the Government to consult on its vision and plan for children's social care,' the letter concluded.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

SEND needs bold, comprehensive reform

By Rachael Wardell | 20 October 2025

The SEND White Paper represents a critical opportunity to create a system that genuinely serves children, young people and their families, says Rachael Wardell.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

LGR could be what adult social care needs

By Cllr Daniel Cowan | 20 October 2025

Cllr Daniel Cowan says reorganisation offers an opportunity to reimagine adult social care, and a five-unitary model for Essex would reduce reliance on the h...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Reorganisation and fair funding will 'throw cards up in the air' on budgets

By Ann McGauran | 16 October 2025

The impact of reorganisation and the fair funding review will ‘throw all the cards up in the air’ for councils trying to hit budget, a sector expert has warned.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Reorganisation could break care services unless government gets reform right

By Cllr Matthew Hicks | 10 October 2025

New analysis raises serious concerns for the future sustainability, quality and cost of people-based services if excessive fragmentation into smaller council...

Popular articles by William Eichler