Brexit is consuming all of the focus and attention in Westminster and beyond. It is inescapable. It seems to permeate the nation's every waking hour yet, at the time of writing, the way forward for the country was still unclear. Meanwhile there are a growing number of issues that require urgent action at home, and crucially, investment.

As we enter our ninth year of austerity it's the issues of the day affecting children, young people and families that keep me awake at night as a director of children's services.