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Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA's Children and Young People Board responded to the Ofsted report on children's social care.

"Protecting children is one of the most important jobs councils do and this report restates the pressure the system is under. Children's services are creaking under the strain as they work to protect the most vulnerable children from abuse, neglect and child sexual exploitation. In an NHS system failing to cope with winter pressures, the Government recently pledged £2 billion to alleviate the crisis. We need Whitehall to redress the balance and give us adequate resources we need to get on with the vital job of protecting children.

"High-profile crimes of abuse and neglect have brought sharply into focus the need for vigilance. As a result, there are rightly thousands more children on the radar of social services now. But this is in a climate where councils have faced cuts to their budgets of 40 per cent since 2010.

"Councils know they have a key role to play in looking after children but it is not a job which they can do alone. We need a million eyes and ears looking out for our young people. Far too many times social workers hear of abuse too late, when we need to be intervening earlier."

Commenting on the credibility of Ofsted, Cllr Simmonds added:

"Parents, communities and councillors need to have confidence in the credibility and independence of Ofsted's judgments. There is a need for an urgent, back to basics review of Ofsted, as there are big question marks over the quality of judgements following what has happened in Rotherham and Birmingham, among others. We are concerned that by trying to be an improvement agency as well as an inspectorate, Ofsted is marking its own homework."

Notes to editors

1. Referrals to children's social services have increased by 20 per cent since 2009 and 10 per cent over the past year alone.
2. There has been a 65 per cent increase in children on child protection plans since Baby P.
3. ;Central government funding for councils has been cut by 40 per cent during this Parliament.
4. The LGA's most recent press release on child sexual exploitation
5. In January the LGA warned the ‘blinkered' focus of inspection could obscure the quality of work to tackle child abuse. Last week, Ofsted announced multi-agency inspections which will mirror the work of councils, the police, health services and schools in tackling this crime.

Contact

Ruth Pott-Negrine, Senior Media Relations Officer
Local Government Association
Telephone: 020 7664 3351
Mobile: 07979 803158
Media Office (for out-of-hours contact) 020 7664 3333
Email: ruth.pott-negrine@local.gov.uk
Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ