Originally published on 28 November 2018. Source: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care Author: Professor Jonathan Scourfield Most people reading this blog will be well aware, because it has been widely reported, that in all UK countries the rates of children looked after are increasing year on year. In England, the number has risenĀ from … Continue reading Not all local authorities have rising care rates. How do we explain this? | What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care
Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division recently Key Note Address: āCrisis; What Crisis?āAssociation of Lawyers for Children Conference 2018Ā 23 November 2018. This conference is meeting at a time when an unprecedented number of applications are being made each month by local authorities for care or supervision orders in relation to children. … Continue reading Keynote by Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane āCrisis; What Crisis?ā
The government must do more to divert families with āentrenchedā problems away from the courts, research by the chief childrenās social worker has concluded. The āCase for clear blue waterā briefing by Isabelle Trowler found too many marginal cases involving children at risk of significant harm were entering the family justice system. The study argued … Continue reading Families must be diverted away from courts, Trowler report argues
How will the Ā£84m funding announcement to expand Leeds, Hertfordshire and North Yorkshire's innovation projects make a difference to the sector as a whole? Read more at source: Zahawi announces plans to extend DfE innovation projects to more councils | Children & Young People Now
Services supporting families at an early stage in order to prevent child safeguarding issues are "under serious threat", due to pressure on budgets as a result of rapidly rising numbers of children at risk of serious harm, and short-term funding arrangements, children's services leaders have warned. The Association of Directors of Children's Services annual Safeguarding … Continue reading Future of early help ‘under serious threat’ | Children & Young People Now #SGP6
A council rated as "outstanding" by Ofsted is planning to make cuts totaling Ā£3.7m to its children's services but has warned the move is likely to mean more children are taken into care. East Sussex County Council has delivered the warning as the council considers council-wide funding reductions, including cuts to programmes aimed at avoiding … Continue reading ‘Outstanding’ council issues blunt warning over impact of proposed cuts | Children & Young People Now
This policy briefing highlights the findings from an exploratory study of care proceedings in 4 local authorities across England. The study found that the vast majority of decisions taken to initiate care proceedings were certainly reasonable but the question is whether or not they were always necessary. The study found that the difficulties facing families … Continue reading Care Proceedings in England: The case for clear blue water | Isabelle Trowler
A recently publishedĀ Serious Case Review investigation by Newham local safeguarding children boardĀ identifies a number of opportunities to learn from the tragic death of Chris, a 14 year old victim of exploitation. The review points to a particular need to address culturally competent and anti-oppressive practice linked to the approach taken to assessment, analysis, planning, intervention … Continue reading Serious Case Review draws attention to the requirement for culturally competent and anti- oppressive practice in safeguarding children
Source: National Children's Bureau There is compelling evidence that the services and support that children rely on are at breaking point. NCB is proud to be part of aĀ group of 120+ organisations calling for the Government to act swiftly to put children at the heart of its spending decisions. Supporters include teaching unions, children's charities, … Continue reading More than 120 national organisations accuse Government of āignoring childrenā
By Luke Haynes and Mithran Samuel The government will amend its planned replacement to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) so that it applies to 16- and 17-year-olds, not just those over 18, a minister has confirmed. Junior health minister Lord OāShaughnessy pledged to amend the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill yesterday so that the proposed … Continue reading Government to amend deprivation of liberty scheme to cover 16- and 17-year-olds
