Vulnerable children: Schools charities and safeguarding experts give evidence to Lords committee

Charities and children’s services experts will be questioned by the House of Lords Public Services Committee this week (Wednesday 26 May from 3.00 p.m.) as it continues its inquiry into vulnerable children and public services.

The committee will hear from:

At 3.00 p.m.

• Catherine Roche, Chief Executive, Place2Be
• David Carney-Haworth OBE, Founder, Operation Encompass
• Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE, Co-Creator, Operation Encompass
• Lucy Heller, Chief Executive, Absolute Return for Kids – ARK

Likely questions and areas of discussion include:

• How large is the gap between the provision of support and the number of schoolchildren who have mental health needs, are at risk of criminal exploitation or who live in families where addiction, poor mental health and abuse are present?
• How do schools support or direct support to vulnerable children who do not meet the threshold for statutory services?
• What can be done to improve data-sharing between agencies and the integration of schools with police, NHS and local authorities to support early intervention?

At 4.00 p.m.

• Annie Hudson, Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
• Mark Douglas, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, Bradford Council
• Dr Andrea Cooper, former Director of the Cabinet Office Policy Lab

Likely questions and areas of discussion include:

• What are the most common failings identified in serious child safeguarding reviews?
• How well do public services learn from failure?
• How can the government support local public services to improve?

The virtual session will be live on Parliament TV.