Running with Scissors has been online for a couple of weeks now. This is a selection of relevant tweets and links about cuts and children’s services in general that we have shared so far.
When we launched the website there was a political crisis in Birmingham children’s services. Peter Duxbury, the strategic director, was gone and nobody knew if it was for ever. Finnally, the City Council announced that he wasn’t comming back.
Peter Duxbury, strategic director for children's services, has left his job after a few weeks of uncertainty http://t.co/Ai9XzSLWFN
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 19, 2013
"Drift. A crisis dealt with by drift. Bore, Jones and Duxbury the driftwood.While others drown." Councillor's DM to @politicsinbrum #bcc
— Politics in Brum (@politicsinbrum) July 19, 2013
Children’s services boss police officers leaves after 15 months http://t.co/5spga7LPz7
— Birmingham Mail (@birminghammail) July 18, 2013
"Children’s social services ‘in meltdown’, claims Labour city councillor" by @PaulmDale http://t.co/zSVZRwjDWe
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 22, 2013
Birmingham children's services could get government intervention according to @birminghammail http://t.co/7C8YpgpUMg
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 25, 2013
But children’s services are also a hot topic outside Birmingham. Because of the crisis affecting the local directorate, the government is considering taking the control. In fact, privatisation looks like a realistic alternative, and this is not just for Birmingham but for the whole country.
Social services for vulnerable children in England to be privatised http://t.co/l7QFEpTzzP
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 19, 2013
With significant cuts in local funding how many councils will support the privatisation plans of children's services to balance their books?
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 19, 2013
Gove has ordered that all children's services in Doncaster apart from education be run by an independent trust http://t.co/laKxE28Pyc
— GdnLocalLeaders (@GdnLocalLeaders) July 19, 2013
Last two weeks were also important for national charities. A study made by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) concluded that child poverty in Birmingham costs £914 million per year. The research includes all the local authorities in the UK.
Children’s Society also published an interesting report about children happiness and wellbeing. Maybe you are not surprised, but British teenagers don’t think they are very happy.
A new study made by @CPAGUK estimates that child poverty in Birmingham costs £914 million per year http://t.co/hcqQWvc9L9
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 19, 2013
.@childrensociety publishes a report about #GoodChildhood. Check their dynamic online version http://t.co/bCUq9y424g
— RunningWithScissors (@Scissors_Brum) July 22, 2013
And going back to Birmingham, Peter Hay, strategic director for adults and communities, will replace Peter Duxbury in front of the children’s services until the end of the year. He announced that he won’t make major changes.
Peter Hay will be interim director of Brum children's services until end of year (didn't say whether calendar or municipal) #bccscrutiny
— Neil Elkes (@neilelkes) July 24, 2013
Peter Hay tells #bccscrutiny the 'leadership capacity to improve wasn't there' in children's services.
— Neil Elkes (@neilelkes) July 24, 2013
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