Care for at-risk children is to be brought together under new umbrella organisations covering social services, health and education, the government has announced.

Children's Trusts will be "one-stop shops", so that services can be integrated in a bid to improve care for vulnerable children.

They will be able to plan, commission, finance and also deliver children's services, and could cover services ranging from special educational needs to child protection and mental health services.

Their formation is part of a major shake up of social services departments in England which will also see care trusts bringing together health and social services for the elderly.

Structural change doesn't necessarily mean there will be an actual change in services

Janice Miles, NHS Confederation

Announcing the measures, Health Secretary Alan Milburn told the National Social Services Conference in Cardiff that the monolithic "one size fits all" structure of social services had to be broken up.

There will also be an enhanced role for the voluntary, private and charitable sector to blur the distinction between them and statutory social services departments.

Those social services departments which fare best in the star ratings system launched last year will have fewer inspections, and more freedom over how to spend budgets, he announced.

But Mr Milburn said those departments which consistently fail to deliver good services would face management intervention.

Support

He added: "Children's Trusts which commission services will be based in local councils with the power for the first time to commission health as well as social care.

"Our task - together - is to reform social services so they are better able to empower the individual; better resourced to support the vulnerable; better structured in the interests of the user."

In December, the Departments of Health and Education will ask for expressions of interest from local organisations, including who want to be involved in the pilot schemes for the trusts.

Not-for-profit public interest companies from the private sector will be able to bid to be involved.

Mr Milburn also announced that older people in need of care could choose whether to have a direct service or cash to cover the cost of buying care.

Around �9m will be made available for the direct payment scheme.

The Health Minister also proposed new social care professions should be developed, such as family care workers, who could combine the skills of the health visitor and social worker.

Relationships

Janice Miles, policy manager of the NHS Confederation, reacted to Mr Milburn's announcement with caution.

She said: "We will be watching closely to see whether they are valuable or not.

"Structural change doesn't necessarily mean there will be an actual change in services.

"What's important is local relationships between the different bodies. The creation of Children's Trusts should be the result of those relationships, not the first step towards achieving them."

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "The Secretary of State is simply shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

"Britain's social services need more investment, not constant change."

Mark Jones, Director of the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association. said: "The proposal to bring together services under the auspices of a Children's Trust is an innovative proposal and worthy of exploration.

"It is essential this is done with due emphasis on the value of health promotion and public health activity."