Vulnerable children: Doctors and charities give evidence to Lords committee
17 May 2021
Doctors and children’s charities will be questioned by the House of Lords Public Services Committee this week (Wednesday 19 May from 3.00 p.m.) as it continues its inquiry into vulnerable children and public services.
The committee will hear from:
At 3.00 p.m.
- Dr Joy Shacklock, Safeguarding Clinical Champion, Royal College of General Practitioners
- Dr Alison Steele, Officer for Child Protection, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Likely questions and areas of discussion include:
- What role do NHS clinicians play in ensuring that patients who have children and who suffer from mental illness, addiction or domestic abuse are directed to family support services?
- Will the government’s mental health strategy meet the needs of children who don’t reach the threshold for statutory support?
- Will the government’s NHS Bill facilitate greater integration of services around the needs of vulnerable children?
At 4.00 p.m.
- Andrew Fellowes, Associate Head of Policy and Public Affairs, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Dr Javed Khan, Chief Executive, Barnardo’s
- Imran Hussain, Director for Policy and Campaigns, Action for Children
Likely questions and areas of discussion include:
- What’s the role of charities in meeting the needs of vulnerable children and families who don’t reach the threshold for statutory support?
- Are you seeing more children pushed to ‘crisis point’ and, if so, why?
- Is early intervention the right response to rising vulnerability in families and outside the home?
The virtual session will be live on Parliament TV.
