Funding children’s social services has become the most pressing concern for finance heads, according to local government experts.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and service delivery specialists Peopletoo say it has edged ahead of adult social care as the main priority in upper-tier councils.

But they say there needs to be greater focus on effective use of public money when demand is outstripping budgets and there has been no radical improvement in children’s services in a decade. ?

Their report, Changing Children’s Lives, calls for effective leadership and performance management at the corporate level as well as improving the skills of service managers and frontline staff.?

CIPFA director of local government Sean Nolan said the current funding regime was geared mainly towards addressing adult social pressures.

But he warned: ‘The reality is that funding for children’s services is reducing as demand is rising. This is not sustainable.

‘As a result it is not surprising that this area has now edged ahead as the number one concern for CFOs in upper-tier councils.’

Mark Whitehead

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