Cabinet Office
The role of the Task Force is to coordinate the Government's drive against social exclusion, ensuring that the cross–departmental approach delivers for those most in need. The Task Force champions the needs of the most disadvantaged members of society within Government, ensuring that as with the rest of the public service reform agenda, we put people first.
One year on from the publication of the Social Exclusion Action Plan, we have made some significant achievements across government.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families are consulting on their ‘Staying Safe’ strategy. Its purpose is to set out how we can work together to help children and young people stay safe, and make the most of their talents and new opportunities to fulfil their potential. The consultation runs until 31 October 2007. For more information please see the Staying Safe website.
The Government is providing funding of up to £7 million to launch up to six local pilots of multi–systemic therapy targeting young people at risk of being placed in care. Multi-systemic therapy (MST) is a family and community–based treatment for young people with complex clinical, social and educational problems, including violence, anti–social behaviour, drug abuse and school expulsion. The primary goals of MST programmes are to decrease rates of anti–social behaviour and other clinical problems and improve family functioning.
The closing date for tenders has now passed. Further details on the pilots will be available soon.
As part of the Social Exclusion Task Force's work on systems reform the Code of Practice will set out guiding principles for evaluating services and programmes for socially excluded groups. The Code will support commissioners and providers in conducting and using service evaluations to drive improved service delivery. It will be a tool that can be used by Local Strategic Partnerships to aid identification of ‘what works’.
Ed Miliband MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Gillian Merron MP, Parliamentary Secretary, are now responsible for social exclusion policy following the Prime Minister's announcement of his new ministerial appointments.