My Lords, we very much support the Government in their initiative on social work practices to see, as the Minister said on Second Reading, whether giving social workers more freedom and flexibility will enable them to deliver a more personalised service and create more continuity for children in care. That...

My Lords, we very much support the Government in their initiative on social work practices to see, as the Minister said on Second Reading, whether giving social workers more freedom and flexibility will enable them to deliver a more personalised service and create more continuity for children in care. That...

As I said at Second Reading, it is vital for children and young people to know their social worker and to have a real relationship that develops over time. If this new model of social work practices can go some way to providing that, we welcome it, although we think...

As I said at Second Reading, it is vital for children and young people to know their social worker and to have a real relationship that develops over time. If this new model of social work practices can go some way to providing that, we welcome it, although we think...

moved Amendment No. 1: 1: Clause 1, page 1, line 6, at end insert ““but only after sufficient provision has been made for early intervention to prevent a child from being taken into care”” The noble Baroness said: I begin by wishing everybody a very happy new year. In speaking...

moved Amendment No. 1: 1: Clause 1, page 1, line 6, at end insert ““but only after sufficient provision has been made for early intervention to prevent a child from being taken into care”” The noble Baroness said: I begin by wishing everybody a very happy new year. In speaking...

I had not intended to speak on this, but I cannot resist the gauntlet laid down by the noble Lord, Lord Judd, that there should be cross-party support. It is rather straightforward to make arguments for this amendment. If we are to have a first-rate social workforce, it is undoubtedly...

I had not intended to speak on this, but I cannot resist the gauntlet laid down by the noble Lord, Lord Judd, that there should be cross-party support. It is rather straightforward to make arguments for this amendment. If we are to have a first-rate social workforce, it is undoubtedly...

I thank the Minister for his thorough explanation and his customary constructive engagement. I thank all noble Lords for what has been an excellent debate at the beginning of our Committee stage. The noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, is quite right to point out the deficiencies of Amendment No. 1. We...

I thank the Minister for his thorough explanation and his customary constructive engagement. I thank all noble Lords for what has been an excellent debate at the beginning of our Committee stage. The noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, is quite right to point out the deficiencies of Amendment No. 1. We...

There is much merit in the idea that social work services co-operate with other agencies where it is beneficial to the provision of their services and the promotion of the well-being and the health of the child. As the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, said, Section 10 of the Children Act...

There is much merit in the idea that social work services co-operate with other agencies where it is beneficial to the provision of their services and the promotion of the well-being and the health of the child. As the noble Baroness, Lady Sharp, said, Section 10 of the Children Act...

The noble Earl, Lord Listowel, knows that this is a matter close to our heart and one that we gave great thought to in our commission on social workers. I have one copy of the report; I do not have a box of them, but I could arrange to get...

The noble Earl, Lord Listowel, knows that this is a matter close to our heart and one that we gave great thought to in our commission on social workers. I have one copy of the report; I do not have a box of them, but I could arrange to get...