Fostering
Disabled people could be part of the answer to the fostering crisis
Thousands of disabled people could help relieve the long-standing recruitment crisis in fostering if only they are given the chance, says Dr Peter Unwin.
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.
Tribunal rules foster care workers entitled to employee rights
A UK tribunal has ruled that foster care workers are council employees and therefore entitled to employment rights.
Mockingbird: Supporting foster families
A Flintshire CC support system for foster families was awarded innovation funding last week. Angharad Dalton of Nesta looks at what it offers.
Children should not carry the cost of this crisis
Emergency funding for the pandemic is welcome, but it is not enough to cover costs. Children should not bear the brunt of the cuts, says Jenny Coles.
Keeping youngsters away from the edge
The Edge of Care programme is breaking the cycle of children and young people becoming looked-after. Anne Stoker describes the key aspects of the approach.
Councils urged to improve information sharing
Local authorities have been urged to improve information sharing following two serious case reviews (SCRs) into horrific child deaths.
Giving frontline staff in Norfolk the time to make a difference
Sara Tough explains how Norfolk CC is transforming services by investing £15m in new projects to help build resilience in families and give staff more time to work with children and parents.
Newham failing vulnerable children - Ofsted
Vulnerable children in are being ‘failed’ by Newham LBC, an Ofsted report has found.
Fostering opinion
Rachel Dickinson reacts to recent Government activity reviewing fostering activity across the country and says there is more to be done if local authorities are going to break the systemic issues plaguing the care sector.
Children's services blow for new chiefs
Surrey CC’s children’s services are still inadequate, according to Ofsted – three years after they received the same grade.
Council chief welcomes 'misleading' judgement
Tower Hamlets LBC’s chief executive has welcomed a judgement that found a Times article about a fostering case was misleading.
Foster care recruitment warning
Ofsted’s senior adviser on looked-after children has warned of an ‘urgent’ need to recruit more foster carers.
Tories oust leader as Northants signs off budget
Northamptonshire CC today signed off its redrafted budget – but the council’s leader has been ousted as head of the ruling Conservative group.
Government fostering report calls for councils to work with agencies
Collaboration between local authorities and the private sector would improve foster care for children, a new Government report has suggested.
Liverpool moves away from joint ventures with private sector
Liverpool City Council has indicated a move away from joint venture partnerships as it decides whether to lay the foundation for a new housing company.
Committee calls for ‘fundamental review’ of foster system
MPs have called on the Government to carry out a ‘fundamental review’ of the whole foster care system to ensure children and foster parents are supported.
