Must knows for children’s services

Chief executives' 'must know' for children's services

This publication has been shaped by chief executives who are either former directors of children’s services or for other reasons have been closely associated with leading improvement journeys in council children’s services.

Corporate Core cross working

This guidance has been developed for each of the following areas: finance, human resources (HR), information technology (IT) and legal. The intention is to further support and strengthen the development of a strong corporate and whole council approach to delivering effective services for children.

Must know: A guide to education

Despite considerable changes in national education policy and school organisation over recent years, councils retain the bulk of their statutory duties when it comes to education. This guide aims to support councils in their work delivering an excellent education for all children and young people.

Leaders of councils

Is your council in a strong position to continue to improve outcomes for children and young people and their families? This guide, specifically developed for the council leader, has been shaped by current and former leaders, lead members and chief executives with experience of children’s services improvement.

Must knows for elected members: The Healthy Child programme

The Healthy Child programme is the cornerstone of England’s universal public health nursing offer for babies, children and young people. It is delivered by health visitors (for children aged 0–5) and school nurses (for children and young people aged 5–19, or up to 25 for care leavers and those with special educational needs and disabilities).

Must know: Healthy weight

Is your council using the National Child Measurement Programme to promote healthy weight? The purpose of this ‘Must Know’ is to understand the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and how it is used locally to support local planning.

Must know: Safeguarding children

The guide offers a high-level overview for all councillors of key issues with regard to child safeguarding. Councillors should ensure their council is effectively meeting these duties by considering child safety in all services and decisions.

Obesity

This document from 2019 is currently under review.
The guide describes a six-phase process, which can be used flexibly by local authorities, taking into account existing structures, relationships and actions that are already in place to tackle obesity.

Special educational needs and disability

Councils, schools, colleges and health services must work together to support children and young people with special needs and disabilities.

Top tips for council leaders: early years speech, language and communication 

The early years (0-5) is a critical time for language development, and it impacts on all areas of a young child’s learning. It enables them to manage their emotions, communicate feelings, build and maintain relationships and learn to read and write.

What happens if your children's services are judged inadequate by Ofsted?

A council children's services department is likely to face central government intervention following an As children's services portfolio holder you hold political responsibility for the leadership, strategy and effectiveness of council children’s services and will work closely with the director of children’s services who carries the professional accountability.

Youth services

Councils have a statutory duty to ‘secure, so far is reasonably practicable, equality of access for all young people to the positive, preventative and early help they need to improve their wellbeing', and to enable young people to lead their local offer. There are no longer separate inspections of local authority youth services.