A Bill described as “a bonfire of child protection rights”, which would let councils opt out of key legal duties to children, was debated on Tuesday. The Children and Social Work Bill would let local councils apply to set aside children’s rights and checks on care to try out innovative ways of working.
The government argues it is a bold approach to removing red tape. But campaigners say allowing councils to opt out of these long-standing duties is risky and unnecessary.
The legal duties affected by the Bill relate to nearly all the social care services children receive from local authorities laid down in numerous acts of Parliament. These include statutory rights on child protection, family support, children’s homes and fostering, support to care leavers and services for disabled children.