'Every Child Matters - Delivering Change for Children' emphasises the need to work together and promote an integrated frontline delivery. Statutory Guidance has been produced to detail what is required from a Children's Trust and emphasises that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work, but a local solution is required.
The legal spine to enable integration is found in section 10 of the Children Act 2004. This legislates the duty of the Children's Services provider to promote co-operation and integrated working in the local area among the relevant partners, and the duty for these partners to reciprocate. It details establishing and maintaining a pooled fund to which partners can contribute.
The duty to establish Children’s Trust arrangements to improve outcomes for children and young people is being taken forward strongly in Yorkshire and The Humber. Most local authorities have already established Children’s Trusts, building on early learning from the 6 Pathfinder areas in the region that were funded for this purpose to March 2006.
