A local authority has been criticised after an “unbalanced” social work assessment led to the illegal removal of a child from their mother’s care and conflicting accounts amongst the professional network about of what happened in professional discussions. This case raises a number of important points - not least in relation to IRO scrutiny and … Continue reading IRO scrutiny in a case which saw a child unlawfully removed from their mother’s care
A flavour of a really important judgement by Sir James Mumby that needs to be read in full please. Read at source: [2017] EWHC 2036 (Fam) Extract: What this case demonstrates, as if further demonstration is still required of what is a well-known scandal, is the disgraceful and utterly shaming lack of proper provision … Continue reading “One of the measures of a civilised society is how well it looks after the most vulnerable members of its society.”
Children and Social Work Act 2017 The Children and Social Work Act 2017 (the Act) is intended to improve support for looked after children and care leavers, promote the welfare and safeguarding of children, and make provisions about the regulation of social workers. The Act sets out corporate parenting principles for the council as a … Continue reading Get in on the Act …
This new report, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP). Originally published by University of Manchester: 13 July 2017. Researchers examined the findings from a range of investigations into the deaths by suicide of people aged under 25 between January 2014 and December 2015 in England and Wales. Researchers wanted to find the common themes … Continue reading National suicide study calls for better support for children and young people
The overall effectiveness of Nottingham City Council children's services have been rated "good' following a trial of the new Ofsted inspection framework being introduced next year. However, some services for children are not yet good: 'independent reviewing officers do not have the capacity to sufficiently monitor the progress of children’s plans between review meetings'. Inspectors … Continue reading Ofsted finds independent reviewing officers need sufficient capacity …
Everyone would agree that local authorities have statutory care planning and review obligations and that includes consideration of the adverse impact on a child of delay. With this in mind, here's an interesting read ... 132.I appreciate that the Agency Decision Makers are very busy and the potential advantages both in saving time and resources, … Continue reading Responsibilities of the Agency Decision Maker for adoption @suesspiciousmin
A recent briefing by the Signis Group reports that that the new agreement launched by ADCS and Cafcass in February 2017 (made with regard to Public Law Outline Pre-proceedings and care proceedings and with implications for IROs), 'is not being taken forward at this time'. In March 2017 the Association of Lawyers for Children expressed … Continue reading ADCS and Cafcass Agreement
Family Rights Group has launched (10.07.2017) the Your Family, Your Voice Alliance Knowledge Inquiry report on section 20 voluntary arrangement for children coming into the care system. [...] there is no clear national picture of how local authorities go about discharging their duties and exercising their powers under section 20. The Inquiry has raised questions … Continue reading Children coming into the care system under voluntary arrangements
We were getting to the end of our assessment and panel was rapidly approaching, it had been long, intense and surprisingly emotional. We had a great social worker who we felt we got along with very well and who we found to be professional and very capable. Suddenly we hit a huge stumbling block and […] … Continue reading Not in front of the children. — wearefamily
Children and young people who leave the care system can go on to have positive and successful lives. But far too often their life chances are disrupted because the state is not a good enough parent. TACT works with its children, young people and foster carers, and with its colleagues in the voluntary sector, local … Continue reading Call to Action – TACT’s Manifesto for Children in Care and Care Leavers 2017 – 2020
