Moving Forward 

Building on success 

Every Child Matters (ECM) has set out a clear vision for children's services, based on the needs and experience of children and families.

This vision is geared towards one overriding objective: securing a better future for children, whatever their background.

Translating this into structural and cultural reform has been no small challenge.  But the commitment and appetite for change among those who work with children is clear and we are already seeing lots of benefits.

Of course, there's still much to do. These successes will gather pace as the tools and processes spread through England and become more embedded as "business as usual".  We need everyone who works with children to embrace these changes.

Further help and advice:

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is supporting these reforms by ensuring that people working with children have the appropriate skills and qualifications, new training opportunities, career development and flexible career pathways between sectors, as defined by the Children's Workforce Strategy.

It is helping the workforce deliver joined-up services and improved communication across the sectors, while recognising the unique qualities and contributions of individual professions.

The Government will continue to provide support at a national and local level, via the new children's services grant, and other funds.

Children's trust partnerships will continue to bring together local authority, health and other partners to decide priorities, pooling resources to commission services that meet local needs.

Children, young people and communities will have a voice in local planning, and a Children's Commissioner is now speaking on behalf of children nationally.