David Batty plots the
development of child welfare policy over a century of legislation
Wednesday May 18,
2005
The Guardian
1889
The first act of parliament for the
prevention of cruelty to children, commonly known as the "children's
charter" was passed. This enabled the state to intervene, for the first
time, in relations between parents and children. Police could arrest anyone found
ill-treating a child, and enter a home if a child was thought to be in danger.
The act included guidelines on the employment of children and outlawed begging.
1894
The act was amended and extended. It
allowed children to give evidence in court, mental cruelty was recognised and
it became an offence to deny a sick child medical attention.
1908
The Children's Act 1908 established
juvenile courts and introduced the registration of foster parents. The
Punishment of Incest Act made sexual abuse within families a matter for state
jurisdiction rather than intervention by the clergy.
1932
The Children and Young Persons Act 1932
broadened the powers of juvenile courts and introduced supervision orders for
children at risk. The following year, a further act brought together all
existing child protection law into a single piece of legislation.
1948
The Children Act 1948 established a
children's committee and a children's officer in each local authority. It
followed the creation of the parliamentary care of children committee in 1945
following the death of 13-year-old Dennis O'Neill at the hands of his foster
parents.
1968
Under the 1968 Social Work (Scotland) Act,
local authority social work depart-ments replaced children, welfare, health and
probation committees. Local authorities also took over responsibility for
investigating child abuse.
1970
Under the Local Authority Social Services
Act 1970, councils' social work services and social care provisions, including
those for children, were amalgamated into social services departments.
1974
The inquiry into the death of Maria Cowell
at the hands of her stepfather highlighted a serious lack of coordination among
services responsible for child welfare. Its report led to the development of
area child protection committees (ACPCs) in England and Wales, which coordinate
local efforts to safeguard children at risk.
1989
The Children Act 1989 gave every child the
right to protection from abuse and exploitation and the right to inquiries to
safeguard their welfare. Its central tenet was that children are usually best
looked after within their family. The act came into force in England and Wales
in 1991 and - with some differences - in Northern Ireland in 1996.
1991
Staff guidance on working together under
the Children Act required ACPCs to conduct an investigation to establish
whether child protection procedures were followed when child abuse is suspected
or confirmed to be the cause of a child's death. Updated in 1999.
1995
The Children (Scotland) Act incorporated
the three key principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child into Scottish law: protection from discrimination, ensuring that child
welfare is a primary concern and listening to children's views.
1999
The Protection of Children Act 1999 was
passed, aiming to prevent paedophiles from working with children. It requires
childcare organisations in England and Wales to inform the Department of Health
about anyone known to them who is suspected of harming children or putting them
at risk. A similar act was passed in Scotland in 2003.
2001
Then Scottish education minister Jack
McConnell (below) ordered a review of child protection in Scotland following
the inquiry into the murder of three-year-old Kennedy McFarlane. An audit
published the following year found that half of all children at risk of abuse
and neglect in the country fail to receive adequate protection. Two years
later, the Scottish executive published a children's charter, setting out how
carers and professionals should protect and respect their rights.
2003
In January, Lord Laming published his
report into the death of child abuse victim Victoria Climbié, which found that
health, police and social services missed 12 opportunities to save her.
Margaret Hodge is appointed the first children's minister in June. In
September, a government green paper, Every Child Matters, proposed an
electronic tracking system for England's children; 150 children's trusts to be set
up by 2006, amalgamating health, education and social services; a children's
director to oversee local services; statutory local safeguarding children
boards to replace ACPCs; and a children's commissioner for England.
2004
The Children Act 2004, which pushes forward
the main proposals of the green paper - electronic children's files; children's
directors; and a children's commissioner - is passed by parliament. But it
allows local authorities more flexibility in organising their children's
services, with the amalgamation of education and social services no longer
mandatory. Councils are also given another two years to set up children's
trusts.
2005
Professor Al Aynsley Green is appointed as
England's first children's commissioner. Former Home Office minister Beverley
Hughes replaces Margaret Hodge as minister for children. Former education
secretary Estelle Morris is appointed to oversee the government's reform of the
children's services workforce.