👏 Children’s Social Care: North-east England

Commons Chamber

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In a passionate debate, Mark Ferguson highlighted the transformative work of Caedmon primary school in Gateshead, which tackles poverty through initiatives like a uniform swap shop and radical candour. He stressed the urgent need for more early intervention and funding for children’s services in the north-east, where child poverty is the highest in the UK. MPs praised local efforts like kinship care and breakfast clubs, urging continued support for these vital programs. The Minister responded positively, outlining government plans to reform children’s social care, emphasising early support and increased funding to improve outcomes for vulnerable children.

Summary

  • Mark Ferguson opened the debate on children’s social care in North-east England, emphasizing the need for early intervention and the importance of tackling the root causes of poverty and inequality.

  • He highlighted the successful efforts at Caedmon Primary School in Gateshead, where a uniform swap shop helps families save money and reduce waste, supporting a diverse community amidst economic challenges.

  • Ferguson praised Gateshead Council’s children’s services for prioritizing prevention and early intervention, earning a “good” rating from Ofsted despite significant budget cuts since 2010.

  • Several MPs from the region, including Liz Twist and Luke Akehurst, supported Ferguson’s views and stressed the need for initiatives like breakfast clubs and addressing children’s mental health, which often falls to social care due to NHS limitations.

  • Sam Rushworth and Chris McDonald emphasized the crucial role of kinship carers and the need for more support for them, acknowledging the cost-saving and caring impact they have on children.

  • Mary Glindon commended North Tyneside Council for its “outstanding” Ofsted rating in children’s services, indicating a regional commitment to excellence in child welfare.

  • Laurence Turner advocated for better pay and conditions for children’s social care workers, recognizing their importance in delivering quality services.

  • Ferguson highlighted the positive impacts of Gateshead’s multi-agency family hubs, which have expanded despite austerity, providing essential early intervention and support services.

  • He also praised initiatives led by the North East combined authority under Mayor Kim McGuinness, including a child poverty reduction unit and literacy programs aimed at breaking down community barriers.

  • The government’s response, delivered by Janet Daby, acknowledged the rising demand for children’s services due to high deprivation in the region and stressed the need for early intervention.

  • Daby outlined the government’s reform strategy aimed at supporting families and preventing crises, along with measures like the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to limit the cost of school uniforms and support breakfast clubs.

  • She announced significant investments in kinship care and efforts to support care leavers, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

Divisiveness

The session exhibits minimal disagreement. Throughout the debate, several Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Labour Party express concerns and highlight issues related to children’s social care in the North-east of England, but they do so in a manner that supports and builds upon each other’s points rather than contesting them. The disagreements or critical remarks, where they occur, are directed at governmental policies or the impact of previous administrations rather than among the MPs themselves.

For example, Mark Ferguson criticizes the ‘two decades of economic hardship and austerity that Gateshead has experienced’ and attributes these issues to government policies. Similarly, Sam Rushworth asks Janet Daby to acknowledge the link between the increasing number of children in care and 14 years of austerity, to which she agrees, indicating there is no disagreement at the session level but rather a unified critique of past policies.

Moreover, throughout the session, MPs like Liz Twist, Luke Akehurst, and Mary Glindon commend local initiatives and suggest additional measures such as breakfast clubs without contesting each other’s suggestions. The Minister, Janet Daby, responds positively to the points raised by MPs, echoing their calls for better early intervention and reiterating the government’s commitment to addressing the issues highlighted.

Therefore, this session rates a 1 for disagreement, reflecting a collaborative and supportive dialogue among MPs on the issues affecting children’s social care in the North-east, with their main points of contention aimed at broader systemic and governmental policy issues rather than internal discord.