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Reform fragmentation could risk children’s safety

The Health and Social Care Bill could risk vulnerable children’s safety, due to the fragmentation of the system, according to a survey of risk assessments produced by PCTs in response to the legislation.

But the Government maintains that the reforms are “right” and measures are in place to protect children.

Risk assessments suggest that child protection procedures could be threatened, as fragmentation makes it difficult to swap sensitive information between staff concerning cases of risk.

The risk analysis, produced by a group of five PCTs in south-east London and the Bexley care trust in late January, says: “There is a risk that children’s safeguarding arrangements may not be satisfactory, caused by insufficient rigour of processes and capacity during the transition, leading to individuals potentially being placed in an unsafe environment or receiving uncontrolled care.”

Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: “All risk registers will consider the worst case scenario but it’s troubling that fragmentation of services has been highlighted as such a serious risk amongst these PCTs.

“Everyone knows how important it is to join up health care and social care and it remains one the most challenging priorities for professionals working with children. It’s crucial that any impact of the reforms on safeguarding for children is anticipated and robust guidance sets out clearly how agencies will work together during this time of turbulence.”

However, a Department of Health spokesman said: “Robust measures are in place to continue to protect children as management arrangements are changed. Departmental risk registers are management tools that play a key role in the formation of Government policy. They are separate and independent to Strategic Health Authority risk registers, which include all risks identified by a regional health board.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has defended the need for reforms, stating that they are “unavoidable and urgent” at the Conservative spring conference.

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