There have been a bunch of questions about the review over the weekend. Here’s my best go at answering ones that have been asked by a few people..

1) Is this a review of ‘care’ or of the whole of children’s social care? It’s the whole thing and that’s why it’s exciting. The system of CSC is so interconnected that to look at one part (say, residential children’s homes) alone would limit the opportunity for big change
2) Why are you creating an Experts by Experience Group? It shouldn’t be down to me alone to decide how the review hears from the thousands of people who need this system to work. I need help deciding this and the EbE is *one* structured way of doing this https://t.co/NCoAcvPb1F
3) Why do people need to apply to join this group? With so many people who could be on this group (lots have already generously offered to help) there needs to be a fair way of deciding. The application process has been made as simple as possible. https://t.co/EJIKbYl6TO
3 continued) … I understand why some may not want to apply - there will be lots of ways to contribute to the review in a big way once we’re up and running.
4) Who can be on the EbE Group? The group is for anyone who's had a social worker + therefore personal experience of children’s social care. Includes children, parents, carers, extended family members, adults with care experience. Been asked about foster parents- yes also welcome
5) How else can I get involved? I start chairing the review in March so need a few more weeks to pull plans together but there will be extensive opportunities to engage in the review. Very open to your ideas too https://t.co/fRXCC3uEZ1
6) How will I be independent? I’m standing down from my current role and charity boards so that I'm focussed on the review. I’ve spent 8 yrs working in children’s social care and many in DfE and elsewhere will tell you that I have my own views and share them!
6 continued) .. A few suggest that because I've secured government funding for charitable programmes I won’t be independent. By this logic, those in LAs, academia or elsewhere who secure public funding for projects would fail the independence test
6 continued) ..If that's the logic then fair enough but I ask that those who are sceptical to judge me by my actions. Helping to get children a decent and fair start in life has been the focus of my career and that’s what will drive this review
7) Why has my email/message not been answered? The review team is still coming together and I don’t start the role until March so please bear with us. We will reply. I would also gladly share my own review email address but I don’t have one set up yet!
Finally, a plea from me that we be a bit more generous with one another on social media. It’s a notoriously bad forum for discussion but we can disagree without being disagreeable

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Two things can be true at once:
1. There is an issue with hostility some academics have faced on some issues
2. Another academic who himself uses threats of legal action to bully colleagues into silence is not a good faith champion of the free speech cause


I have kept quiet about Matthew's recent outpourings on here but as my estwhile co-author has now seen fit to portray me as an enabler of oppression I think I have a right to reply. So I will.

I consider Matthew to be a colleague and a friend, and we had a longstanding agreement not to engage in disputes on twitter. I disagree with much in the article @UOzkirimli wrote on his research in @openDemocracy but I strongly support his right to express such critical views

I therefore find it outrageous that Matthew saw fit to bully @openDemocracy with legal threats, seeking it seems to stifle criticism of his own work. Such behaviour is simply wrong, and completely inconsistent with an academic commitment to free speech.

I am not embroiling myself in the various other cases Matt lists because, unlike him, I think attention to the detail matters and I don't have time to research each of these cases in detail.
Imagine if Christians actually had to live according to their Bibles.


Imagine if Christians actually sacrificed themselves for the good of those they considered their enemies, with no thought of any recompense or reward, but only to honor the essential humanity of all people.

Imagine if Christians sold all their possessions and gave it to the poor.

Imagine if they relentlessly stood up for the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner.

Imagine if they worshipped a God whose response to political power was to reject it.

Or cancelled all debt owed them?

Imagine if the primary orientation of Christians was what others needed, not what they deserved.

Imagine Christians with no interest in protecting what they had.

Imagine Christians who made room for other beliefs, and honored the truths they found there.

Imagine Christians who saved their forgiveness and mercy for others, rather than saving it for themselves.

Whose empathy went first to the abused, not the abuser.

Who didn't see tax as theft; who didn't need to control distribution of public good to the deserving.

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