Safeguarding is about culture, not box-ticking | Ofsted blog

Emma Ing, Her Majesty’s inspector and Ofsted’s regional director for the East Midlands, asks:Ā what is safeguarding? Earlier this month, Ofsted inspectors, school leaders and local authority representatives gathered at the Leicester Racecourse and Conference Centre to discuss 'what is safeguarding?'. They heard first-hand from local and national safeguarding experts about a range of problems, from … Continue reading Safeguarding is about culture, not box-ticking | Ofsted blog

LGA calls on the Treasury to carry out a full assessment of “growing funding gaps”

The Local Government Association on Monday called on the Treasury to carry out a full assessment of ā€œgrowing funding gapsā€ across the sector. A report by the National Audit Office in March said there 49% reduction in government funding for councils between 2010-11 and 2017-18. https://twitter.com/jomillerdonny/status/1047379558813585408 https://twitter.com/jomillerdonny/status/1047355481004621824 Read full piece at source:Ā Treasury minister accused of … Continue reading LGA calls on the Treasury to carry out a full assessment of “growing funding gaps”

Child spies: use of juveniles as covert human intelligence sources

British police and intelligence agencies are using children as spies in covert operations against terrorists, gangs and drug dealers. A committee of the House of Lords revealed the practice in a reportĀ heard by the House of Lords Scrutiny Committee in July 2018. The report raised alarm over plans to give law enforcement bodies more freedom … Continue reading Child spies: use of juveniles as covert human intelligence sources

Local councils at risk of bankruptcy

Councils are calling on the chancellor to use the autumn Budget to tackle the immediate funding crisis for local government in 2019/20, and to deliver a sustainable funding settlement for local government in the forthcoming spending review. It comes after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said in a damming reportĀ that budget cuts hadĀ left a number … Continue reading Local councils at risk of bankruptcy

The state of children’s social care in England

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children’s (APPGC) first Inquiry report into the state of children’s social care in England, No Good Options (March 2017), shone a light on a struggling system. The Inquiry also found that approaches to policy and practice varied across the country, with children, young people and families receiving different levels … Continue reading The state of children’s social care in England

Workplace Diversity

Ian ThomasĀ (formerly DCS at Rotherham, now Chief Executive at Lewisham) has called for positive action to addressĀ 'the worrying trend regards the low percentage of black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) senior leaders in local government'. 'for decades, BAME colleagues have been under-represented at this level within the sector'. - Ian Thomas, writing in the Musical … Continue reading Workplace Diversity

Access to justice increasingly only for the few, Law Society warns ministers

Law Society publishes LASPO review subsmission Public access to the justice system has never been so restricted, the Law Society has warned as it filedĀ  its submission to government, highlighting the "devastating consequences" of cuts to publicly funded legal advice. In its response to the Ministry of Justice's review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and … Continue reading Access to justice increasingly only for the few, Law Society warns ministers

Human trafficking: is our system for combating it fit for purpose? — UK Human Rights Blog

Human trafficking or modern slavery is one of the most appalling forms of criminal activity today. It’s also one of the most widespread and fastest-growing. The International Labour Organisation believes that at any one time at least 40.3 million people around the world are being coerced into a situation of exploitation or made toĀ work… Read … Continue reading Human trafficking: is our system for combating it fit for purpose? — UK Human Rights Blog

Further cuts to children’s services

Another body of councils has warned that further cuts are to come for children's services, this time the County Councils Network. CYP Now reports that all 36 county councils and unitary authorities expect to make cuts totalling Ā£918 million, including to early years and youth services, and departments of children's services. Read the full piece … Continue reading Further cuts to children’s services

Councils seek urgent assurances on controversial ‘mythbuster’ guidance | Children & Young People Now

https://twitter.com/article_39/status/1044228320622235650 Read at source: Councils seek urgent assurances on controversial 'mythbuster' guidance | Children & Young People Now