Should private companies be allowed to look after vulnerable kids?

[Cambo]

Would you trust private companies like G4S, Atos or Serco to look after vulnerable children? Or to influence decisions about taking children into care? Protecting children is one of the most difficult and sensitive roles for a government to perform. But education secretary Michael Gove is consulting on whether to outsource this role to profit making companies. [1]

[Cambo]

I think Michael Gove is despicable to even consider letting private companies make money out of vulnerable kids! they need the right sort of help not some shareholders getting rich out of them just because they've had a tough start out in life!!

[Roger]

I haven't spoken to anyone who agrees with Michael Gove on this one ... 

[dippyhippy]

When I first started this blogging lark, one of the first things I posted was that just because some services are statutory, it doesn't mean that they will be delivered in the same way.

 

Safeguarding is one of the most sensitive subjects.....yet there is talk of even this area of council responsibility being outsourced.

 

This cannot be allowed to happen.

 

Private companies benefitting from personal misery. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

 

Some may say that private companies already have a foot in the door, with private fostering , specialist "educational"provision, and all manner of other associated businesses.

 

I await the latest OFSTED report for Herefordshire, due out at the end of June. I truly hope that enough improvement has been shown, so that whatever "hit list" of authorities Michael Gove has in mind - we aren't on it.

[Cambo]

I didn't even have a clue this was even being discussed until I received a email from 38 degrees informing & for me it's a none starter it shouldn't be allowed to happen!! I will post up the email so folks can have a read.

[Cambo]

 

 

Dear Michael,

 

Would you trust private companies like G4S, Atos or Serco to look after vulnerable children? Or to influence decisions about taking children into care? Protecting children is one of the most difficult and sensitive roles for a government to perform. But education secretary Michael Gove is consulting on whether to outsource this role to profit making companies. [1]

 

If we want to stop this, we don’t have long - the consultation closes this Friday. So far, the issue’s had very little media coverage, and the consultation has barely been publicised. If thousands of us write in today, we can show Michael Gove that we’re watching - and make sure he drops these plans.

 

Please can you write to the consultation today:

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/childprotection

 

Decisions by child protection professionals affect lives and can break up families, these decisions should be kept miles away from any hint of a profit motive. Adoption services have already been protected from privatisation. And there’s no evidence to suggest that outsourcing services is a good idea anyway. [2]

 

The government’s proposal argues that letting private companies provide children’s services will encourage innovation.[3] But we all saw the mess that G4S made of providing security at the Olympics, would we really want them to care for vulnerable children’s lives?

 

Experts have already voiced outrage at the plans, now we need to hammer the message home with people power. [4] Previously when 38 Degrees members have responded to Michael Gove’s consultations, our voices have been heard loud and clear. Last year, he dropped his plans to remove climate change from school curriculums after we wrote in our thousands to oppose them. [5]

 

Can you write into the consultation and help stop these plans today:

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/childprotection

 

 

Thanks for everything you do

 

Robin, Ali, Blanche and the 38 Degrees team

 

 

NOTES:

[1] The Guardian - Privatise child protection services, Department for Education proposes: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/16/privatise-child-protection-services-department-for-education-proposes

[2] Public Finance - Child protection: not for sale: http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2014/05/child-protection-not-for-sale/

[3] The government proposal: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/304660/Powers_to_Delegate_Con_Doc.pdf

[4] The Guardian - Child protection services too important to be privatised: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/16/child-protection-privatised

[5] 38 Degrees blog - Victory: Climate change will stay in the curriculum: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2013/07/09/victory-climate-change-will-stay-in-the-curriculum

[dippyhippy]

It's nothing short of criminal Cambo.

[Cambo]

That it is hopefully it doesn't happen?