Warm Welcome For Care Matters White Paper

The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has welcomed the publication of the DfES’ Care Matters White Paper which focuses on improving the lives of children in care. Michael Leadbetter, Chair of the CWDC, comments:

“This is a long-awaited and very welcome step-change in the provision of high quality care and support for our most vulnerable children and young people. They deserve the very best and it is our task to make sure that those who work with them have the very best training qualifications and support.

“We will continue working with the DfES on a range of projects such as the Common Assessment Framework, new approaches to integrated working and the development of lead professionals to ensure all aspects of the White Paper can be implemented successfully.”
 
This White Paper identifies the essential contribution of the children’s workforce and confirms the value of further investment and support for those working with children in care. Combining the contributions of social workers, social care staff, foster carers, residential care staff and many other occupational groups who work with children and young people, the White Paper sets out a strong case for greater workforce integration, remodelling and reform.
 
Commenting on the White Paper Jane Haywood, CWDC’s Chief Executive, said: “the additional support for foster carers provides further opportunities to focus on the needs and wishes or children in care, and offer high quality training.

The CWDC’s work on developing Foster Care Training, Support and Development Standards and Induction Standards for children’s social workers provide a good basis for working with training providers and other partners to develop new approaches to supporting all those who work with children in care. Over the coming months, CWDC will work with the DfES in order to set out a programme of work that realises the ideas in the White Paper”
 
CWDC believes that the proposals in the White Paper indicate a real willingness to support those who work with some of our children and young people with the greatest needs. CWDC looks forward to working with employers, the self-employed and volunteers across the sector in order to support the implementation of this agenda.