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By Wayne Reid, BASW England professional officer and social worker Following the constructive feedback received on my article on UK social work’s response to the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, I’ve been ruminating about clear actions that social work educators, employers and key stakeholders can take to promote anti-racism. My … Continue reading How to promote an anti-racist culture in social work

The duration of care proceedings reached 10 weeks over the 26-week target following the coronavirus lockdown, despite the number of cases starting being 4% less than during the same period in 2019. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures showed that, from April to June 2020, the average length of proceedings was 36 weeks and the proportion … Continue reading Length of care cases 10 weeks over 26-week target on back of Covid-19

Story updated  Cultural stereotyping among social workers and other professionals is creating barriers to people from ethnic minority communities disclosing child sexual abuse, the inquiry into CSA has found. Victims and survivors reported being told that abuse was part of their culture and also said that professionals failed to act for fear of being perceived … Continue reading Stereotyping by practitioners preventing disclosure of child sexual abuse in ethnic minority groups

Social workers have been honoured for their service in tackling Covid-19 — Read on http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2020/10/15/social-workers-celebrated-covid-19-service-leadership-queens-birthday-honours/

Education Secretary @GavinWilliamson, in a speech and Question and Answer session hosted by @Coram, has outlined his plans to “break down the barriers to adoption, to help children find the love and stability they desperately need.” The Secretary of State points to “overly bureaucratic system that is putting too high a burden on potential adopters, … Continue reading Education Secretary urges overhaul of adoption system

This was a successful appeal against a decision of HHJ Lea to refuse a mother’s application for direct contact to her children (who were being cared for by the Local Authority) as the lockdown restrictions eased. Appeal allowed.  This was an appeal in care proceedings by a mother (M) seeking contact to her three children … Continue reading RE D-S (CONTACT WITH CHILDREN IN CARE: COVID-19) [2020] EWCA CIV 1031

So, it’s concerning to hear that many children’s homes and providers are still unable to access COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment. Given the vulnerability of the children involved, making sure providers have ready access to tests must be given greater priority. Children in care cannot be allowed to fall by the wayside. This is … Continue reading Our regulatory work during lockdown – Ofsted: developments in children’s social care

Emerging research findings show that children’s social care have improvised in creative ways during the pandemic, that if sustained could renew practice. — Read on http://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/news-views/2020/august/how-social-work-and-child-protection-are-being-creative-and-helping-children-and-families-during-covid-19-and-can-do-so-beyond-it/

Thousands of care leavers left without access to the internet during lockdown missed out on education, training and work, a coalition of charities has found. — Read on http://www.cypnow.co.uk/news/article/care-leavers-at-risk-of-digital-isolation-as-covid-19-restrictions-tighten

Ofsted has published the first reports on how schools and children’s homes are addressing the needs of children at this time. In the 70 children’s homes visited for the social care research, staff have worked hard to maintain an environment that is COVID secure, while keeping children’s spirits up. Where restrictions allowed for it, staff continued … Continue reading Now published: first reports from Ofsted’s autumn visits to schools and children’s homes