Now Dorset has taken one of the early leaps as a first wave Pathfinder. It narrowly won a critical bid, enabling its children’s services to prosper long before many other areas. The national program created tremendous opportunities to improve child welfare. To date, it has delivered promising outcomes, notably in reducing the number of children coming into care and with Child Protection Plans. As the program concludes, Dorset now faces a potential £3.5 million funding shortfall, raising concerns among local officials about future support for these vital services.
Over this same period, 2024-25, Dorset experienced a reduction of 22 children going into care, attributed specifically to the national program’s work. The overall number of children subject to Child Protection Plans has seen a significant drop. This marked reduction is an incredible testament to how the program was able to address pressing needs within the local child welfare system. Stella Jones, a leading campaigner for children’s services, lauded Dorset for being chosen as a first wave Pathfinder. She painted the picture of how proactive the region has been to keep kids safe.
Sadly, despite these successes the close of this ground-breaking program brings heavy financial burdens for Dorset. Corporate director for care and protection in Dorset, Paula Golding, gave evidence to the council’s people and health overview committee. She expressed alarm at the upcoming cliff. She stressed the need for continued support and funding to keep the momentum created during the pilot phase going.
Paul Dempsey, a member of the overview committee, expressed his concern over the long-term funding of Dorset’s children’s services. His biggest worry, though, is about the uncertainty of these allocations. This uncertainty over how much support — if any — Dorset can expect has created increased anxiety among local decision-makers and stakeholders. And they fear that without robust local and national investment, the benefits just starting to be experienced from the national program could be lost.
The committee met to provide an overview of how the national program has benefited children and families in Dorset. Members acknowledged the program’s dramatic positive changes. They cautioned that its intended conclusion could undo these advances if fiscal resources aren’t managed properly.
