1. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk Setting the scene – Working Together, government reforms and safeguarding pressures 2013 Debbie Jones President, Association of Directors of Childrens Services (ADCS)

2. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk Where are we now? Rise of 9% in the number of looked after children since 2007 High profile cases; Operation Yewtree, Edlington Case, Rochdale and Birmingham. Variations between different authorities in levels of child protection activity. Whole system reform rather than piecemeal reform to take into account the cumulative effect of smaller reforms.

3. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk Changes for 2013 Publication of slimmed down Working Together guidance. Separate guidance for health professionals Demand for real leadership Inter-relationship between agencies crucial for success in the future.

4. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk Responsibility All responsible for the welfare of our children. Making the most of the circumstances that we find ourselves in. Need for clarity on respective roles and responsibilities.

5. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk Family Justice Review Desperate need for the system to be reviewed Equipping social workers to make representations in court without the need for the use of experts who currently slow down the process. Need for the process to be child-centred. Speed is an issue; but finding the right parents for a child is crucial.

6. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk New model of care for adolescents Southwark judgement Improving outcomes Changes to Serious Case Reviews Challenges to measure and improve outcomes for adolescents

7. The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd www.adcs.org.uk Debbie Jones President of the Association of Directors of Childrens Services (ADCS)