Forum Brief: Children's commissioner

England is to have a watchdog to safeguard children's rights under new plans published by the government.

Provision for a children's commissioner were included in the green paper to be released by ministers.

The long-awaited document is the government's response to the recommendations made by the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie.

Forum Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Alison Johnston, senior professional officer at PAT, said: "We would welcome the creation of such a post. We have been calling for a children's commissioner for England for some time, and supported the introduction of commissioners in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"It is important to have a commissioner, independent of government and party politics, with powers to represent and promote the interests of children. Children need a voice to speak on their behalf."

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the NUT, said: "The green paper responds to a tragedy that must never happen again. The agencies must work together to ensure that no child ever suffers again as Victoria Climbie did.

"The children's commissioner can help focus services to support the most vulnerable.

"In education what is essential is that roles are not blurred. It is the responsibility of social workers to follow up potential cases of abuse. Teachers are responsible for children's learning but the teacher may spot a potential case of abuse because a child's approach to school alters. That is when a range of other services must swing into action. But all agencies must work together and exchange information.

"The government must remember that teachers are already over-burdened. It needs to make sure there are adequate staff and investment to deliver the change and ensure the potential benefits from the green paper are achieved."

Forum Response: General Social Care Council

Rodney Brooke, chairman of the General Social Care Council, told ePolitix.com: "Social workers and the wider social care workforce support up to half a million children and their families each year. But it is still too easy for children in need to slip through the gaps between health, education and social care. The Laming Report showed the potentially disastrous and tragic consequences which can follow.

"The GSCC is working with the National Care Standards Commission, Topss England and the Social Care Institute for Excellence to ensure service providers and the workforce are equipped to deliver joined-up care to the highest standards.

"We welcome this opportunity to contribute to the major debate on the future shape and direction of children's services, with the needs of children and their families at its heart."

Forum Response: National Care Standards Commission England

Roger Morgan, National Care Standards Commission England's Children's rights director, said: "I welcome the clear commitment in the green paper to focusing services on the needs of individual children and on seeking children's views and taking them firmly into account.

"If we can put into place better co-ordination between services together with extra specialist help for individuals who this should improve the quality of life not just for those who most need support but for children as a whole.

"Now the green paper has been published, the debate needs to focus on how to make this happen in practice, and to find practical ways of ensuring that children have real choices.

"As part of my role, I will now be consulting with groups of children on the green paper's proposals ensure their views are fed directly into government."