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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to (a) local authorities, (b) health services and (c) criminal justice services on working with voluntary and community services organisations to deliver better services to children. [202965] Mr. Ivan Lewis: A draft of the statutory guidance on the duty to cooperate to improve children's well-being (section 10 (8) of the Children Act 2004) is currently being prepared and will be available for consultation shortly. This will make clear the Government's expectation that voluntary and community organisations should be represented at all levels of local cooperation arrangements. Local authorities and their relevant partners--district councils, the police, the probation service, youth offending teams, strategic health authorities, primary care trusts, Connexions and the Learning and Skills Council for England--must have regard to this guidance. Further non-statutory guidance on good practice and toolkits are also being prepared. The importance of working with the voluntary and community sectors is also highlighted in draft statutory guidance on sections 18 and 19 of the Children Act 2004 (Director of Children's Services and Lead Member) currently out for consultation, and will be referenced in draft regulations and non-statutory guidance in relation to section 17 (Children and Young People's Plans) which is intended to be issued for consultation early in 2005. Consultation documents can be accessed at www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations. The Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme was launched in December 2004--details can be found at www.everychildmatters.gov.uk. At the same time, the Department published a strategy for working with the voluntary and community sectors to deliver change for children and young people. This sets a framework within which local authorities, other public sector partners at national, regional and local level, and voluntary and community organisations can work together to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

202965; 428 c765-6W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Children Health services Local government Protection Voluntary organisations Young people Youth offending teams

Legislation

Children Act 2004

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk