Initial Inquiry
In July 2011 the Committee undertook an inquiry into the Child Protection system in England
Child Protection Initial inquiry page
Child Protection: Written evidence
The Committee accepted as evidence 99 written submissions from a wide range of individuals and organisations. It received a number of submissions describing individual cases where a child had been removed from their family: some of these were accepted as written evidence, others were taken as background papers.
Written evidence
Oral evidence sessions
The Committee has taken evidence on nine occasions, as follows
19 October 2011 - Key Challenges for the child protection system
Strengths and weaknesses - read uncorrected transcript
Strengths and weaknesses - listen to session
Witnesses: John Goldup, National Director, Development and Strategy, Ofsted, Jim Gamble, former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and Professor Harriet Ward, University of Loughborough, Professor Nina Biehal, University of York and Dr Marian Brandon, University of East Anglia
2 November 2011 - Identifying abuse and Supporting children
Identifying and Referals - Uncorrected Transcript
Identifying and Referals - Watch session
Witnesses: Dr Richard Quirk, GP Safeguarding Children, Emma Grove, Headteacher, George Green School, Tower Hamlets, Theresa Lane, Headteacher, Rachel McMillan Nursery School and Sue Minto, Head of Childline, John Cameron, Head of NSPCC Adult helpline and Joe Ferns, Director of Research, The Samaritans
30 November 2011-'Specialised' forms of abuse and children in particular situations
Identification of children at risk of different forms of abuse - uncorrected transcript
Identification of children at risk of different forms of abuse - watch session
Witnesses: Joanna Sharpen, Aganist Violence and Abuse (AVA), Kathy Rowe, Karma Nirvana, Colin Walker, (ECPAT UK), Prospera Tedam, Africans Unite Aganist Child Abuse, and Judith Dennis, Refugee Council, Andy McCullough, Railway Children, Christine Leneham, Council for Disabled Children and Mark Johnson, User Voice
13 December 2011- Thresholds for care and adoption
Thresholds for intervention: uncorrected transcript
Thresholds for Intervention - watch session
Witnesses: Martin Narey, Government Adviser on Adoption and John Hemming MP, Founder and Chairman, Justice for Families
11 January 2012 - View from the children's charities
Revised inquiry themes - uncorrected transcript
Revised inquiry themes - watch session
Witnesses: Phillip Noyes, NSPCC, Kate Wallace, Barnardo's and Enver Solomon, The Children's Society
7 March 2012 - View from the local authorities
Challenges of providing services - watch session
Witnesses: Jennie Stephens, Devon County Council and Rory McCallum, Devon County Council and Nigel Richardson, Leeds City Council and Steve Walker, Leeds City Council, Sue Woolmore, Independent Chair, Wigan Safeguarding Children Board & Chair, Independent LSCB Chairs' Network and Jane Held, Independent Chair, Leeds and Birmingham Safeguarding Children Boards
16 May 2012 - police, health and social work structures
police, health and social work structures - uncorrected transcript
Police, health and social work structures - watch session
Witnesses: Peter Davies, Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and Dame Moira Gibb CBE, Social Work Reform Board (SWRB), Dr Folashade Alu, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)
22 May 2012 - Professor Eileen Munro; the role of the courts
Professor Eileen Munro; the role of the courts - uncorrected transcript
Professor Eileen Munro; the role of the courts - watch session
Witnesses: Professor Eileen Munro, Professor of Social Policy, LSE and Anthony Douglas, CAFCASS, District Judge Nicholas Crichton
12 June 2012 - The Government view
The Government view - watch session
The Government view - corrected transcript
Witness: Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Department for Education
Visits
The Committee conducted a number of visits: summary notes will be published as annexes to the final report:
- Independent children's homes in Barnsley (October 2011)
- Silverdale school in North Tyneside (December 2011)
- NSPCC Adult Helpline and ChildLine (March 2012)
- Tower Hamlets children's services (March 2012)
- York children's services (March 2012)
- Doncaster children's services (March 2012)