Residents have raised concerns that services at Doncaster children's centres will deteriorate after the council takes over the running of all of the borough's settings.
In August, plans were approved for Doncaster Council to manage all of the metropolitan borough’s 21 children’s centres. Currently the council runs just six settings, with the remaining 15 managed by the charity Action for Children, school governing bodies and the NHS Foundation Trust.
However, fears have been expressed that the council will fail to provide the same high-quality service as the current providers, after the previous government in 2009 admitted it had ‘serious concerns’ over Doncaster’s ability to care for vulnerable children, following the deaths of seven children through abuse or neglect.
In a letter to Doncaster Free Press, Michael Burdis, church council secretary of St Andrew’s Methodist Church, which supports one of the children’s centres run by Action for Children, said, ‘We are extremely disappointed that Doncaster Council, with its recent shocking record in respect of its management of child care issues, should now believe it is capable of matching the level of service achieved by an organisation that has worked tirelessly in this field since 1869.
‘Our concern is that the quality of service will be reduced to the detriment of children and their families who are most in need within our society.’
The retired senior police officer told Nursery World that the church believes Action for Children can do a better job of running the children’s centre, and he is worried that if the council fails to make savings they will consider closing the centre.
He added, ‘Under the old government, local authorities were encouraged to work with organisations and agencies and Doncaster Council is now doing the reverse.
However, despite his concerns, Mr Burdis said that St Andrew’s Methodist Church would continue to support the children’s centre when it is under the control of Doncaster council.
Chris Pratt, Director for the Children and Young People’s Service, said, ‘Although there is still work to be done, there has been considerable improvement in Doncaster’s Children’s Services, and Ofsted have recognised that in recent inspections. Six of the 21 children’s centres are already successfully run by the council.
‘With the current contracts for the children's centres due to run out on 31 March 2012 and uncertainty around funding after March 2013, we need to look at how the children’s centres best fit with our plans for the new Integrated Family Support Service. We believe that the best option is for centres to be brought in-house. There are no plans to reduce the services that are currently delivered.
‘Children's centres are at the heart of our communities. We really value them and the services they provide to families, and we are determined to do what is best for the centres and their long term future.’
Julie Longworth, operational director of children’s services for Action for Children in the North, said, ‘Having worked with Doncaster Council for over 20 years, providing the best quality services to children and parents throughout the area, it was disappointing to learn of the decision of Cabinet.
‘Action for Children has a long-standing reputation of successfully supporting families in Doncaster through our services. As an organisation we have a proven track record of expertise in this sector, running seven children's centres across Doncaster and more than a hundred others nationwide. Our staff work tirelessly to provide the best start for the children in their care, with the charity's values of hope, passion and equality at the heart of everything they do.
‘We are keen to gain clarification as to why this decision has been taken, and as such, have written to the chief executive of Doncaster Council to get a better understanding of the situation.’
However, fears have been expressed that the council will fail to provide the same high-quality service as the current providers, after the previous government in 2009 admitted it had ‘serious concerns’ over Doncaster’s ability to care for vulnerable children, following the deaths of seven children through abuse or neglect.
In a letter to Doncaster Free Press, Michael Burdis, church council secretary of St Andrew’s Methodist Church, which supports one of the children’s centres run by Action for Children, said, ‘We are extremely disappointed that Doncaster Council, with its recent shocking record in respect of its management of child care issues, should now believe it is capable of matching the level of service achieved by an organisation that has worked tirelessly in this field since 1869.
‘Our concern is that the quality of service will be reduced to the detriment of children and their families who are most in need within our society.’
The retired senior police officer told Nursery World that the church believes Action for Children can do a better job of running the children’s centre, and he is worried that if the council fails to make savings they will consider closing the centre.
He added, ‘Under the old government, local authorities were encouraged to work with organisations and agencies and Doncaster Council is now doing the reverse.
However, despite his concerns, Mr Burdis said that St Andrew’s Methodist Church would continue to support the children’s centre when it is under the control of Doncaster council.
Chris Pratt, Director for the Children and Young People’s Service, said, ‘Although there is still work to be done, there has been considerable improvement in Doncaster’s Children’s Services, and Ofsted have recognised that in recent inspections. Six of the 21 children’s centres are already successfully run by the council.
‘With the current contracts for the children's centres due to run out on 31 March 2012 and uncertainty around funding after March 2013, we need to look at how the children’s centres best fit with our plans for the new Integrated Family Support Service. We believe that the best option is for centres to be brought in-house. There are no plans to reduce the services that are currently delivered.
‘Children's centres are at the heart of our communities. We really value them and the services they provide to families, and we are determined to do what is best for the centres and their long term future.’
Julie Longworth, operational director of children’s services for Action for Children in the North, said, ‘Having worked with Doncaster Council for over 20 years, providing the best quality services to children and parents throughout the area, it was disappointing to learn of the decision of Cabinet.
‘Action for Children has a long-standing reputation of successfully supporting families in Doncaster through our services. As an organisation we have a proven track record of expertise in this sector, running seven children's centres across Doncaster and more than a hundred others nationwide. Our staff work tirelessly to provide the best start for the children in their care, with the charity's values of hope, passion and equality at the heart of everything they do.
‘We are keen to gain clarification as to why this decision has been taken, and as such, have written to the chief executive of Doncaster Council to get a better understanding of the situation.’
