I recently took on the role of deputy spokesperson around children and families for the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). Discussions with colleagues make clear there is growing consensus that the whole social care system is under severe strain and ie even at crisis point.

Although much is made of the pressures facing adult services, there has been less thought given to the challenges facing our children's system. Colleagues have reflected that too often in discussions with government this is characterised as an issue concerning individual council's ‘overspends', as opposed to one of real systemic problems which need addressing nationwide.