Integrated Services for Children
What is ‘Every Child Matters’?
The Government has a national programme called ‘Every Child Matters: Change for Children’ which is their approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. This programme, together with the Children’s Act (passed in November 2004), puts children and young people at the centre of all policies and approaches to delivering services.
After consulting children and young people across the country, the Government agreed to focus on achieving five key outcomes. These are for all children and young people to:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve through learning
- Make a positive contribution to society
- Achieve economic well-being
Every Lambeth Child Matters
Lambeth Council is working in partnership with the Police, Health, Connexions, Surestart and voluntary and community groups to improve these outcomes for all children and young people in Lambeth, and especially the most vulnerable or poorest ones. The aim of this partnership is to create an environment where all children and young people can feel valued, happy, healthy and safe throughout their childhood and into adulthood, also enable them to fulfil their potential and take advantage of opportunities presented to them. We will do this by:
- Building on what already works
- Identifying areas of improvement, and
- Improving the way we work together
What sort of things are we doing?
We have produced a Children and Young People’s Plan for Lambeth which will ensure all partner organisations are working together on the same priorities. The plan was developed in conjunction with children, young people and their parents and carers.
We produce a newsletter to give you an update from Lambeth’s programme. You can download the Every Lambeth Child Matters Newsletter.
We have been consulting children, young people and their families about their experiences of living, playing and learning in the Borough. We are asking them what their priorities are and what they want us to concentrate on.
Would you like to get involved? We hold a range of regular meetings to discuss and move the Change programme forward.
The Children Act 2004 provides the legislative background on which the reform of children's services is based.
Useful links related to Every Lambeth Child Matters.
If you have particular views on any of the above or would like to be involved in consultation events or meetings, please contacts the Integrated Services for Children team at tac@lambeth.gov.uk or write to us at:
IS4C team
Floor 7, International House,
Canterbury Crescent
Brixton SW9 7QE