13.10.11
Casey appointed head of troubled families unit
Louise Casey has been appointed to lead the Troubled Families Unit, the Government’s response to the summer riots. Casey will work in the Department of Communities with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to oversee issues such as Britain’s 120,000 problem families, school truancy, antisocial behaviour and gangs.
Having previously worked under Labour, developing ASBO’s, as well as proposing a range of measures to make community punishment a credible alternative to prison, Casey is a surprising choice from Prime Minister David Cameron.
Casey is expected to produce an action plan by November, and will assess the extent to which organised gangs were a central force behind the riots. She is leaving her previous role as victims’ commissioner in England and Wales, and it is currently unclear whether she will be replaced.
Dr Katherine Rake, CEO of the Family and Parenting Institute, said: “We warmly welcome the Government’s move to put families at the centre of its policies. The government’s own analysis shows it is not uncommon for up to 20 local agencies to overlap when intervening with troubled families.
“This has been shown to be ineffective and very expensive. The new Troubled Families Team must focus on establishing a co-ordinated approach to intervention. We should not pre-judge the complex nature of the issues facing these families. The response needs professional, skilled intervention over a substantial period of time.”
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