Talking with Parliamentarians

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children (APPGC) has recently had a flurry of activity with 3 meetings on the following topics over a two-week period!

Triangle – consultation and participation of disabled children and very young children
The APPGC was privileged to hear a unique presentation from Triangle, an organisation with a strong children’s rights value base providing training and consultancy about child protection and consultation with disabled children. A group of young children (the youngest aged just 4, and possibly the youngest person ever to make a presentation to an APPG meeting!) presented in person and on video, using speech, sign and other methods of communication. This was based on Triangle’s video All Join In for 4-8 year olds about inclusion. Two disabled young people, Adam and Louisa, who are in their early twenties, also spoke about their experiences.

Children’s Commissioners
Peter Clarke, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, and Nigel Williams, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People addressed a joint meeting of the APPGC and APPG Children in Wales. This meeting was held just before the final debates in the House of Commons on the Children Bill, which establishes a post of Children’s Commissioner for England. Both Commissioners expressed disappointment at the reversal of the Lords’ amendments by the Government in the House of Commons debates, and commented on the weak powers of the Commissioner. Both Peter and Nigel raised the importance of the proposed Commissioner being able to safeguard rights; and of ensuring that proposals for how the 4 Commissioners would work together across the UK in respect of devolved and non-devolved matters be properly thought through.

Every Child Matters – the Children’s Workforce
Lord Filkin, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families in the DfES, gave a presentation outlining the Government’s vision for the children’s workforce. He said that problems around systems and supply must be addressed, and that the children’s workforce strategy, which is expected to be published in January 2005, would look at:
• The lack of integration and coherence
• The status of working with children
• Alarming vacancy and turnover rates in some sectors
• Quality and skills
• Leadership, management and supervision
• Progression barriers
• Better ways to deliver
The Minister said that the workforce strategy would build on the common core of skills and knowledge; the common assessment framework; new Sector Skills Council arrangements and experience from workforce reform elsewhere.

The APPGC also heard from Paul Ennals, interim chair of the Children’s Workforce Development Council for England, which is one of five bodies that will form the federated UK Skills for Care and Development (the Sector Skills Council for Social Care, Children and Young People). The Council represents the early years sector, including childminders, day care workers and nursery teachers; educational welfare, learning mentors and Connexions advisers; foster care; and social care, including children and families social workers, staff in residential and day care children’s homes, and CAFCASS.

Jeanette Pugh, Director of the Children’s Workforce Unit, and Chris Wells, lead civil servant on the children’s workforce participated in a question and answer session. A range of key stakeholders were also invited to participate in the debate including: TOPSS, Pre-School Learning Alliance, Parenting Education & Support Forum, Skills for Health, NCVCCO, General Social Care Council, Skills Active SSC, Early Childhood Forum, Teacher Training Agency, Skills for Justice, Sure Start Unit, Employers Organisation for Local Government, National Day Nurseries Association and the General Teaching Council for England.

Future meetings
30 November 2004 – Drugs and Families: is there enough support? Current service provision, the needs and gaps, where do families go?
This will be a joint meeting with four other All Party Groups that cover alcohol misuse, drugs misuse, parents and families and youth affairs. Speakers include the National Treatment Agency, Adfam, and NAFAS Bangladeshi Drugs Project.

14 December 2004 – Lord Filkin, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families in the DfES, will outline his new role and responsibilities. The Minister has a specific focus on safeguarding children, family policy and the children’s workforce, but also covers all children and families issues for the DfES in the House of Lords.

Please contact Alison Linsey, Clerk to the Group (email: alinsey@ncb.org.uk):

• To be added to the email mailing list to receive minutes and notices of meetings
• For copies of minutes from any of the meetings
• For a free copy of the Group’s report ‘Commitment to Children’
• For any further information about the Group.