Speechless

I must confess to having been temporarily speechless, there is so much going on at the moment that I can't figure out where to start and how to phrase it.

For the moment I'll just throw in the latest thing I've seen from the Association of Directors of Children's Services who, like ACPO, are not actually an organisation set up with any state authority but are a LIMITED COMPANY.

This distinction very conveniently allows them to fall outside any scrutiny of government bodies, they don't have to answer to the National Audit Office or respond to Freedom of Information requests yet they work "closely with Ministers, government officials, the community and voluntary sectors, local government organisations and other key local and national agencies".

I was first incensed by their statement in their press release welcoming the Badman HE Review - "Registration that links every home educated child to a school as well as some form of monitoring will ensure that every child gets all the help that they need."

I then read one of their 'Notes to editors' - "Directors of Children's Services have responsibility for the well‐being f all children in a local authority area, ensuring that children achieve all five Every Child Matters outcomes"

This is plainly not the case when you read the DCSF extract from the childrens act "The DCS is professionally accountable for the delivery of authorities' education and social-services functions for children, and any health functions for children delegated to the authority by an NHS body. The DCS, together with the LM, has a key role in driving the local children's trust arrangements and the provision of services for children and young people."

More and more we are seeing state service providers seeking to redefine their role in terms of policing others rather than providing services, they then get so wrapped up in their misplaced policing role that they don't provide the services they have primary responsibility for.

They, like many arms of government, are operating well outside their remit. I've sent in a complaint, please send in your complaint as well as we need to remind these people who they are, who we are and what they should be doing FOR us instead of TO us.

I am aware that I am kind of stumbling over my words here but it's difficult to think straight when all I can see is a red mist GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!