Childcare Act 2006

Childcare Act 2006

2006 CHAPTER 21

Commentary on Sections and Schedules

Part 1:  General Functions of Local Authority: England

Section 4: Duty of local authority and relevant partners to work together

32. Section 4 creates a reciprocal duty between the local authority and relevant partners in the NHS and Jobcentre Plus to work together in delivering integrated early childhood services to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities in achievement.

33. In order to deliver an integrated service for children and parents, the local authority and its partners must work with each other and may share their resources and pool budgets, allowing them to deliver fully integrated front-line services, for example where early years provision, social services support, health services and the employment service may all be found on one site. Local authorities and their health partners must have regard to statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Jobcentre Plus officials (who work on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions) will also be required by the Secretary of State to work in line with the guidance. It is intended that the statutory guidance will be issued jointly by all three Secretaries of State (DfES, DWP and DH).

34. This duty is consistent with section 10 of the Children Act 2004 under which children’s trust arrangements have been made. The duty in section 4 puts the authority and their local partners in the NHS and Jobcentre Plus under a particular obligation to work together in improving outcomes for the youngest children in the local area. Guidance will set out how this co-operation can operate through the Government’s preferred delivery model of children’s centres.