Children
Medway’s children’s services commissioner is stood down
Medway Council will continue to run its own children’s services after the independent commissioner is stood down due to good progress on improvement.
How COVID confirmed Greater Manchester’s focus on people not programmes
Daisy Carter outlines how the citizen experience across Greater Manchester changed during COVID and shows the impact of ‘doing things quite differently’.
Call for inquiry into COVID’s 'devastating' impact on children
A coalition of child health experts has called for a wide-ranging independent commission to examine the ‘devastating impact’ of the pandemic on children.
Councils to feed children during half-term
Local authorities have been told to fund free meals to schoolchildren during half-term week next month, prompting an outcry from the sector.
‘We’re still not doing what works in many areas’
Are the Government’s latest early years’ initiatives enough to improve the life chances for vulnerable children – or is more leadership and vision needed? Ann McGauran reports from the Early Intervention Foundation conference.
Secure children's home places 'inadequate'
Young people are being ‘failed’ by a lack of places in secure children’s homes, research published today has revealed.
Seven reasons for hope
Seven projects were successful in What Works for Children’s Social Care’s ‘highly competitive’ first open funding round to support innovative practice. Dr Michael Sanders explains why they stood out.
Child vulnerability evaluated
Deven Ghelani looks at what more can be done to stop children from falling into crisis, and examines how data can be used to secure better outcomes for the most vulnerable.
Councils still hungry for cash despite winter grant scheme
Councils that want to use the new £170m COVID winter grant scheme to stop children going hungry during school holidays may need more cash, the Government has been told.
Portsmouth no longer taking in asylum seeking children
The council is providing support to three times its quota of children.
COVID has highlighted the importance of community ‘bridges’
Andrew Laird and Chris Wright put the case for working through ‘community bridge’ organisations to not only improve resilience and responsiveness through times of crisis, but to deliver services in a co-operative way in normal times.
A mature assessment
The Early Intervention Foundation has published a new version of its Maturity Matrix. The self-assessment is the kind of tool needed now, given the impact of the pandemic on the youngest citizens, says Ben Lewing.
Ensuring a brighter future for care leavers
As Care Leavers' Week begins today, the Government is publishing best practice guidance for councils on accommodation and support that's designed to help them ensure young people can flourish, say ministers Kelly Tolhurst and Vicky Ford.
A step forwards for children in Sandwell
The STEPS school-like setting has transformed the lives of children newly arrived in the UK. Lesley Hagger says Sandwell MBC won the Innovation in Children’s Services category of The MJ Achievement Awards 2020 'due to the hard work of our staff'.
Councils step in after government rejects Rashford campaign
Councils around the country have quickly stepped in after the Government voted against providing free school meals to families who need them over half-term.
Healthy Relationships Week: local progress in tackling parental conflict
To mark the start of Healthy Relationships Week, Virginia Ghiara of the Early Intervention Foundation shines a spotlight on local progress in tackling parental conflict.
If Robin Hood ran our SEND services
Nottinghamshire CC is one of the 11 local authorities on IMPOWER’s 2020 Index of the best performing councils for High Needs. Colin Pettigrew offers insight into the reasons behind its success.
Improving foster care recruitment using service design techniques
Kat Thackray explains how local authorities can use service design techniques to improve the foster care recruitment experience.
Responding to the rise in parental conflict during lockdown
Despite a divergence in referral rates during COVID, research has found that councils are responding dynamically to deliver services, says Virginia Ghiara of the Early Intervention Foundation.
High hopes for high needs
IMPOWER has published a list of the best performing councils on high needs. Leo Jones takes a look at who's on it and at what makes them so good.
