Management Information Sheet

Recently Published Statutory Guidance, Good Practice Guides and Reports published by the DCSF in relation to Children in Care

	The Children's Act 2008 made the role of the Designated Teacher for Children in Care statutory. To support the introduction of this role the DCSF has recently published Statutory Guidance in relation to the roles and responsibilities of Designated Teachers. This needs to come to the attention of the Governing Body, Headteacher and the Designated Teacher for Children in Care. The 'Statutory guidance for School Governing Bodies' can be accessed via the following web link under the section new resources for schools www.dcsf.gov.uk. Also under the new resources for schools are two documents relating to good practice in a) secondary schools b) primary schools.
	The Care Matters White Paper issued in 2007 and the subsequent Children's Act that came into law in November 2008 set out an ambitious programme of change to improve the outcomes of children in care. As part of this process the DCSF undertook to review annually the progress being made in the provision and outcomes for children in care. This review was to take the form of an 'annual stocktake' and report. The first stocktake was undertaken at the start of the Autumn Term 2009 and the report was published in November 2009. A copy of this Ministerial Stocktake can be obtained via the following web link: www.publications.dcsf.gov.uk.
	As part of the stocktake process the Children's Rights Director for England (Dr Roger Morgan) produced a report of children's contributions to the 2009 Ministerial Stocktake. This document can be obtained via the following web link: www.dh.gov.uk. Once the site is entered - click on reports and then click on children's messages to the Minister.
	The final part of the stocktake process is for the Secretary of State to write to every child in care. We feel that Designated Teachers should be aware of this letter and its contents. In his letter Ed Balls outlines what the Government is doing to improve the care received by children in care. This strategy is defined in five statements relating to: Asking children in care their views before major changes take place in their lives The setting up of Children in Care Councils to regularly seek the views children and young people in care Improving the support children in care receive in schools i.e. being given priority entry to schools that best suit their needs; the identification of designated teacher in each school whose job it will be to make sure they get the support they need to do well in school LAs working with local health authorities to ensure all health needs of children in care are addressed quickly When a child in care leaves care they will get help to find a good flat or house to live in and to carry on with their education or find a job.

The final statement in the letter is 'I promise you that improving the support you get is extremely important for the Government. We will listen to your views before we make our decisions. We want to make sure you have the same chances as other children to fulfil your dreams and to be happy'.

In Norfolk we have decided that the letter from Ed Balls will be given to each child in care by their social worker (or if so negotiated by their social worker by their carer). This will ensure that each and every child in care receives the letter and will be provided with the opportunity to have the meaning of the letter explained to them if required. They will also be able to discuss any issue that may arise for the individual child. Also we are providing a briefing note to explain what Norfolk is currently doing or planning to do in relation to the issues raised and promises made by Ed Balls. Therefore the letter will be hand delivered by the social worker at their next meeting with the child in care (all of these meetings will be conducted within the next two months as part of the normal cycle of social worker contact with their child in care).