What Role is there for a Canadian Children’s Commissioner? Perspectives and Insights from Jurisdiction to Opportunity

Anne LongfieldChildrens Commissioner for England.

Anne Longfield OBE is the Children’s Commissioner for England. She has a statutory duty to promote and protect the rights of all children in England in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

She speaks for wider groups of children on non-devolved issues such as immigration (for the whole of the UK) and youth justice (for England and Wales.

The Children and Families Act 2014 gives her special responsibility for children in or leaving care, living away from home or receiving social care services

She is supported in her work by a small team of experts at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

Relationship with Government and Parliament

• I report directly to Parliament• I have a 6 year term of office• Budget envelope is set by Government• Office of approximately 25 staff to assist with this• I set my own strategic priorities

Independence

• The Children’s Commissioner legal status is permissive• Independent from Government• Paris principles“Consultative, inclusive and transparent, initiated and supported at the highest levels of Government, the legislature and civil society”• Balance of trust and independence

Childrens Engagement

• All of the work I do is informed by children• Including decisions at an individual level• I work at both levels to ensure that children’s voices are heard,

and that their voices make a difference• Children and young people inform my business plan• Participate in my projects• Shape my thinking on policy issues through direct consultation

Powers

The ‘Super Powers’• Powers to gather information and data• Powers of entry

Help at Hand

• The Children’s Commissioner must have ‘particular regard’ for children who are in care or who live away from home

• Help at Hand• Correspondence from approximately 1,000 children of their

representative per year• Lead to wider investigations• Advisors will listen and ask questions• Representation

Ambitious For Children – 5 year Plan

Ambitious for Children

• Growing up, childhood and children’s rights• Being ambitious for children in care• Preventing and protecting children from harm• Sustained action to reduce inequalities• Action to ensure that children’s best interests are

considered in all policy making

Focus children in need/in care/all children

Lightening reviews

The unique role of the Childrens Commissioner