Childrens social care
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.
Open letter to Boris Johnson
In an open letter to new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Heather Jameson says: 'I would argue you only need to give councils one thing: respect.'
Government rebuffs new children's social care strategy
Demands for a cross-government strategy to improve children’s social care have been rejected.
‘Nothing like Tracey Beaker’
Amber James describes how Hampshire CC’s holistic approach to what is best for young people in its care has resulted in a £7m investment in residential care
Improvement notice handed to Hull children's services
Hull City Council children’s services have been issued with an improvement notice from the Department of Education.
Information sharing tensions found in child harm review
Legal and ethical tensions between maintaining confidentiality and sharing information are continuing, a review of some of the most serious child protection cases in Scotland has found.
Evidence emerges for the effectiveness of Intensive Family Preservation Services
A review has found evidence of the effectiveness of Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) in reducing the risk of care entry to children for up to two years after the delivery of the interventions.
Court ruling defends council but warns others
A crucial Supreme Court judgment has dismissed a family’s claim against a council for housing them next to an abusive household, but stressed authorities may still have a duty of care in other circumstances.
Turning around the turnover problem
The average length of tenure for directors of children’s services is four years. Lucy Butler asks why they stay in the sector for such a short time and if anything can be done to stem the flow of losses.
Trafford handed improvement notice
The Government has ordered Trafford MBC to improve its inadequate children’s care within 15 months.
Spending Review should put aside £3bn for children's services - MPs
The Government needs to release at least £3bn of non-ring-fenced funding to local authorities to save children’s services from the ‘crisis’ they are in, MPs have said.
Austerity holding back local government fight against knife crime
‘Inadequate’ Government leadership and funding is hindering local government in tackling knife crime, a former Whitehall tsar has said.
Call for clarity after children's service advice withdrawn
The Government needs to urgently clarify its guidance on the duties of councils regarding vulnerable children and young people, according to the Local Government Association.
Commissioner appointed to Blackpool
An Essex CC director has been drafted in as a commissioner to oversee Blackpool Council’s children’s services after an Ofsted report last year found it was ‘inadequate’.
MPs launch missing children inquiry
MPs have today launched an inquiry into the increasing number of children being placed in homes out of their boroughs.
New burdens funding to be reviewed
Hopes of increased funding for new burdens have been raised by ministers.
Worcestershire to transfer education services to company
Worcestershire CC is expected to give the green light to widen the scope of its children’s services company next week.