Childrens social care
'Wide-ranging' government care review 'very imminent'
Children’s minister Vicky Ford has promised that the long-awaited review into the care system is ‘very imminent’ and will be ‘wide ranging’.
Restored visits by Ofsted are ‘not about judging’
Rather than creating something new, Ofsted’s visits from September to schools and social care and early years providers represent an adjustment to get the assurance needed about the decisions being made for children, says Yvette Stanley.
Council concern over falling child referrals
Councils have expressed concerns about falling referrals to children’s social care amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Helping other care leavers in Hull during the coronavirus crisis
Mark Jones outlines how a group of Hull care leavers has set up a walk-by food hub to help others in their position, making more than 20 donations a day.
Aspire towards achievement
Rachel Dickinson argues the review of children’s care in England must challenge the stereotype that care is a bad place to end up and be more ambitious about what children can achieve.
What does a public health approach to childhood trauma look like?
Local government and agencies cannot tackle the deep-rooted problems arising from adverse childhood experiences on their own, says Donna Molloy.
Creating communities for all ages
Bringing younger and older people together produces dividends, says Stephen Burke, who outlines how councils can encourage more intergenerational care and living.
‘Things will not get better: We need radical action’
Neil McInroy argues that a crisis in children’s and adults’ services calls for ‘a new spirit of action which challenges economic and political power’.
Local government are the systems thinkers and the time to act is now
Systems thinking - considering the whole, not just the parts, and how those parts interact - brings new rigour to identifying possible actions and their consequences for children's social care, says Tim Hobbs.
Signs of improvement in inadequate children’s services
Two councils subjected to Government intervention due to poor children’s services have received praise from inspectors.
Fair redistribution must play a continuing part in council funding
SIGOMA chair Sir Stephen Houghton trusts ministers will ‘recognise the key role that councils must play in their ambition for a united and equal nation’ - and Government should commit to supporting the same level of service across the country.
Quotas call for UASC transfers
Each local authority should have a quota for the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) they accept via the National Transfer Scheme (NTS), says the former leader of Kent CC.
Steep rise in unaccompanied children aged 14-17 seeking asylum
The latest statistics released by the Home Office reveal a sharp annual rise in the number of asylum applications lodged in the UK by unaccompanied children aged 14-17.
Turning agency fees into more spending for children
Cllr James Valentine explains how Bedford BC has been able to attract the permanent employees needed to support children and save £1.5m on agency workers in the first 12 months.
Poverty driving up children's care costs
Councils have seen an 85% increase in child protection plans over the decade, with poverty and poor housing among the key factor behind the rise.
More victims of gangs, trafficking and asylum seekers reported
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of children who are unaccompanied asylum seekers or affected by gangs or trafficking, according to new Government figures.
The war against County Lines
Paul Marinko looks at how local authorities are tackling the scourge of County Lines – and finds that the dexterity of gangs in adapting to agencies’ responses makes a ‘monumental task’ even harder.
Northants commissioner quits
The commissioner appointed to oversee children’s services at Northamptonshire CC has resigned.
Children are this country’s future
Ahead of the spending round, Rachel Dickinson is urging the Treasury to think of investment in children and their families not as a burden but as potentially life changing.
Children's care in Northamptonshire remains inadequate
Children’s social care in Northamptonshire has failed to improve on its inadequate Ofsted rating following a visit by inspectors.
