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Resolution 9
Oppose the Privatisation of Children’s Services
(1)
Government have planned for the marketization and privatisation of children’s social
services, including child protection investigations and assessments, since early 2014. After huge
public opposition to initial proposals, Government moderated regulations to limit transfers to not-
for-profit mutual or charities.
(2)
This U-turn is a sham. Similar rhetoric was constant throughout the part- privatisation of
probation, with the Cabinet Office spending around £2.5 M promoting not-for-profit and mutual
bids. The outcome saw the 3rd Sector excluded apart from a few minor partners in for profit multi-
national consortia - Interserve and Sodexo winning over half of all probation contracts between
them.
(3)
The DfE are actively encouraging big corporates to set-up “charitable not-for-profit fronts”,
who they control, direct and ‘sell’ their support services to, justifying their corporate investment.
Privatisation fails to deliver what’s promised for users and taxpayers. Expected savings are
unrealistic and user interests become secondary to reducing costs and maximising profits. Services
become less accountable as local, regional and national politicians shift the blame when things go
wrong and the companies blame poor contract design and management when they get caught
ripping off the public (e.g. Serco and G4S in prison and tagging contracts). For these profiteers
negotiating with Government is like playing cards with a drunk.
(4)
But most importantly, morally some things should just never be sold for a profit.
Support and help to our most vulnerable young people should never be for sale.
(5)
The GFTU calls for:
a.
The new Children’s Minister demanding that all plans for the marketization and privatisation
of children’s services are stopped.
b.
All unions with an interest in children’s services to work together to campaign in the public
and parliament against this threat to ensure that resources continue to be directed at
providing good public services for children and families on a “not for profit” basis.
(6)
This biennial Conference is appalled the Government proposed wholesale privatisation of
Children’s Services. Decisions about vulnerable children, including removing them from their
families, are some of the most difficult and sensitive that child protection professionals have to
make.
(7)
Conference believes establishing a market in child protection would create perverse
incentives for private companies to either take more children into care or leave too many living
within dangerous families.
(8)
Napo is already witnessing the chaos, confusion and increased risks arising from
Government efforts to privatise a huge part of the Probation Service despite the work/staff being
awarded the gold standard for service provision. The Government repeated the same argument
about private companies providing children’s services to “encourage innovation and improve
outcomes for children”.