Waltham Forest Council has launched a partnership with children's charity Coram to reduce delays for vulnerable children (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Waltham Forest Council has launched a partnership with children's charity Coram to reduce delays for vulnerable children

9:46am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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A PIONEERING project to get at-risk children into care quicker has been launched.

It is hoped the partnership between Waltham Forest social services and charity Coram will speed up the process of applying for care orders which place vulnerable children under the protection of the local authority.

The charity’s experts will assess families involved in care proceedings in an attempt to reduce the number of court visits required in order to guarantee a child’s safety.

Coram will provide the external expert advice often requested by judges.

The scheme also aims to reduce workloads of social worker’s, who are dealing with a sharp increase in the number of referrals due to the Baby Peter case in neighbouring Haringey.

At the launch at the charity's assessment centre in Hurst Road, Walthamstow, yesterday (July 9), head of children and families Jo Olsson, said: “Sometimes children experience trauma within their family. It is painful and distressing for them and their families.

“The courts, quite rightly, want to ensure decisions are made properly and promptly for children, but that hasn't always been the case and for some children decisions have drifted, which can be disastrous for them.”

Ms Olson added that because of Coram's independence, they can engage with families who had “given up” on social services and lost contact with the council.

Cllr Liaquat Ali also welcomed the partnership. He said: “This partnership will improve the lives of many vulnerable people. It releases a lot of time spent in court and will reduce the workload for social workers who have a really hard job.”

Coram also provides parenting courses for families in attempt to reduce the number of cases going to court, and says many parents have already benefited.

The chief executive of the Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, Anthony Douglas said: “Since the Baby P case, the rise in the number of applications is phenomenal and still continuing at its highest level last month.

“We need to work differently to be effective for these children who need their lives worked out in a matter of months.”