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Adoption view details
This site on the DfE website will provide you with up to date statutory guidance and legislation related to adoption.
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Association of Directors of Children’s Services view details
The Association of Directors of Children's Services - ADCS - is the national leadership Association in England for statutory directors of children's services and other children's services professionals in leadership roles
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Audit Commission view details
The task of the Audit Commission is to ensure that public money is used economically, efficiently and effectively in local government. From April 2004 it will cease to be involved in joint reviews or other inspection or assessment work on social care, thought it will retain its duties with respect to other local authority services, including Comprehensive Performance Assessment work.
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Best Value view details
Best Value, located within the Office of Deputy Prime Minister, specifically refers to the duty of continuous improvement for local authorities as set by the Local Government Act 1999. It was one of the first instruments to stress the government's explicit commitment to high quality public services.
Best Value runs the whole gamut of local services – from continuous improvements in service to costs and quality. The key principles of Best Value assert that the duty of Best Value is one owed by councils to council tax payers and residents; achieving it is not just about economy and efficiency, but also about effectiveness and quality. There is no presumption that services should be privatised, but there is no reason why services should be directly delivered if other methods are deemed more efficient. Competition remains important, but is only one tool of many.
The basic framework of provision should be set by central government and
• detailed local targets should have regard to national targets and performance indicators
• while local and national targets should be based on performance information
• Audit processes should "confirm the integrity and compatibility of performance information
• external audits will monitor best value achievements
Last, the secretary of state, on the advice of the Audit Commission, can intervene where a local authority fails
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CAFCASS view details
CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) was set up on 1 April 2001. It was created by the amalgamation of the 54 services of the Family Court Welfare Service, which was part of the probation service, the 57 panels of the Guardian ad Litem and Reporting Service, which was run by local authorities, and the children's branch of the office of the Official Solicitor. CAFCASS is independent of the courts, social services, education and health authorities and all similar agencies.
The functions of CAFCASS are set out in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. They relate to family proceedings where the welfare of children is or maybe in question. CAFCASS functions are to:
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of the child
• Give advice to the court about any application made to it in such proceedings
• Make provision for children to be represented in such proceedings
• Provide information, advice and support for children and their families.
• Children and Family Reporters become involved when parents who are divorcing or separating have not been able to reach agreement about arrangements for their children. Sometimes agreement can be reached without having to involve the court any further but if not the Children and Family Reporter writes a report for the court.
• Children's Guardians represent the interests of a child during cases in which social services have become involved and in contested adoptions.
• Reporting Officers ensure parents understand what adoption means for them and their child and whether or not they consent to it.
Guardians ad Litem are occasionally appointed by the court in cases when parents who are divorcing or separating have not been able to reach agreement. This only happens if there is some particular difficulty in the case. The role of the Guardian ad Litem is to provide separate representation of the rights and interests of the child.
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Care and Social Inspectorate for Wales view details
The Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (SSIW), through its inspection and development programme, seeks to promote the provision by social services authorities in Wales of high quality services to service users and carers.
The Inspection Unit carries out inspections of local authority and other social services in Wales, under statutory powers held by the National Assembly. Jointly with the Audit Commission, it commissions joint reviews of local authority social services. It acts as the Best Value inspectorate for social services. It also participates in multi-disciplinary youth justice inspections and in multi-disciplinary inspections of the new Children and Family Court Advice and Support Service (CAFCASS).
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Care Quality Commission view details
Launched on April 1 2009 the Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It’s responsibilities include the regulation of health and adult social care services, whether provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. It absorbs the previous responsibilities of the CSCI social care function, the Healthcare Commission’s role in health regulation and the Mental Health Act Commission’s responsibility for protecting the interests of detained patients.
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Child Poverty view details
These pages on the DfE website contains core publications concerned with the government’s target to reduce child poverty and information and resources for the work of local authorities in tackling child poverty.
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Children's Commissioner for England view details
In March 2005 the Government appointed Professor Al Aynsley-Green as England's first Children's Commissioner. The need for a Children's Commissioner was established through the consultation that led to the Children Act 2004. The role aims to give a national voice to all children and young people, especially the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
Independent of government, the Commissioner's remit is to promote awareness of views and interests of children. He is expected to raise the profile of the issues that affect and concern children in England, and promote awareness and understanding of their views and interests among all sectors of society.
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Children's Commissioner for Wales view details
Wales’ first Children’s Commissioner started in his post on 1 March 2001. The establishment of the Commissioner's post followed a 10 year campaign led by children’s organisations and co-ordinated by Children in Wales. This page provides information about the Children's Commissioner and details about the work that his office currently undertakes.
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putting it into practice 
