AN independent review of care proceedings is being planned, Tynwald was told.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw said a review of services to disabled children is also planned, while a review for looked-after children was complete and its recommendations are being considered.

Mr Robertshaw said his department had embarked on an ambitious programme to improve children and family services, including the recruitment of 10 additional skilled staff,

He outlined his department’s plans for the future development of Children and Family services following a question from Speaker Steve Rodan.

Mr Rodan suggested a change of approach was essential to ensure the ‘huge number’ of referrals to social services in 2010-11 was not repeated.

He said the system was ‘swamped’ by low-level referrals.

The minister agreed that drowning out social services with referrals actually decreased the likelihood of social workers focusing on serious and significant harm issues.

Mr Robertshaw has long warned of the danger of the island adopting the UK’s childcare intervention system called ‘Every Child Matters’.

This system, which he described as ‘over-bureaucratic and deeply flawed’ has now been dropped by the Coalition government which last year commissioned Professor Eileen Munro to produce a Review of Child and Family Services.

Mr Robertshaw described her report as a ‘seminal work’ which was now being used as a ‘touchstone’ for the way forward for childcare services in the island.

Of the 15 recommendations she made, he said his department has already implemented six, while three more were in the process of being implemented and three more planned for the next 12 months.

The remaining three require further consideration in conjunction with other government agencies, the Minister told Tynwald.

Brenda Cannell MHk (Douglas East) pointed out that before being appointed minister, Mr Robertshaw had voted against the recruitment of 10 additional social workers.

‘Has he now changed his opinion - if he has, why?’ she asked.

The minister replied: ‘There was – I have to be blunt – a lack of trust on my part in our direction.

‘However, since becoming Minister of Social Care, I am content that we are now going in the right direction and that the role of the 10 additional posts is very, very important indeed.’