Severe funding shortages for social services that protect vulnerable children have pushed nearly nine in 10 councils into the red, new analysis by the LGA reveals today, prompting warnings that funding for childrenās care is now in a country-wide crisis. New figures show that a total of 133 out of 152 councils (88 per cent) … Continue reading Children’s care cash crisis: nine in 10 councils pushed into the red | LGA
The Department for Education could face legal action for publishing guidance that might lead local authorities to break laws protecting vulnerable children, a charity has claimed. Read full piece at source: DfE faces legal action over 'misleading' safeguarding guidance | Children & Young People Now
Teens in care are being housed alone in B&Bs Observer investigation finds increased use of āindependent living arrangementsā.Ā An increasing number of under-18- year-olds in care are being housed in 'independent living accommodation' by local authorities, according to an investigation by The Observer and BBC 5 Live. The report, based partly on answers to Freedom of … Continue reading Teens in Care Placed in B&Bs
Thank you to Sueesspiciousminds for his post of 10th December 2018 regards the matter of: A & B (care orders and placement orders ā failures) [2018] EWFC 72 (30 November 2018) http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2018/72.html The following extract is from Mr Justice Keehan's judgement: 50.I am appalled at the manner in which and the serial occasions on which the … Continue reading Multiple failings, IRO and whistleblowing | Suesspiciousminds
Cuts by local authority funding are already impacting on childrenās services, Ofsted has said. Ofstedās national director for social care, Yvette Stanley, told Community Care that while most local areas are managing to make savings without compromising frontline services, āwe are seeing resources reduced in terms of the whole continuum of early help and prevention … Continue reading Ofsted warns against āfalse economyā of cuts to preventive services loading pressures onto social care | Community Care
In the matter of BT & GT (Children : twins - adoption) [2018] EWFC 76 (29 November 2018), Mr Justice Keehan has awarded costs against a local authority for the "serious and serial basis" of failures towards two children. Keehan said the IROs in this matter had 'failed to take any steps to oversee and/or … Continue reading BT & GT (Children : twins ā adoption) [2018] EWFC 76 (29 November 2018)
The Women and Equalities Committee has held a session examining violence against women and girls from Gypsy Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities. In particular, the Committee examined: The context in which abusive relationships may arise in GRT communities The barriers that GRT women face when trying to leave abusive situations The relationship between GRT communities … Continue reading #EqualityMatters: Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
The Home Office failed to fulfil its duty of care to members of the Windrush generation, which led to serious consequences for the people affected. Watch this video about how this happened and what the Home Office is doing now: Read the National Audit Office report at source:Ā Handling of the Windrush situation
The government is urging councils, the police and courts across England to sign up to an agreement aimed at reducing the unnecessary criminalisation of looked-after children and care leavers. The national protocol calls for a reduction in the number of incidents at children's homes that police are called out to. Read full piece at source: … Continue reading Call to end unnecessary criminalisation of children in care | Children & Young People Now
This is a reported case from a Circuit Judge, so not binding, but very interesting.Ā Ā Effectively the IRO backed a plan of adoption based in part on abysmal home conditions, but had not been told by the social worker of dramatic improvements. 17.Ā Ā The IRO Handbook places a high burden on social workers to ensure … Continue reading S (Recognising The Role of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)) [2018] EWFC 71 (08 November 2018)
