NCAS
Labour 'will prioritise early intervention'
The next Labour government will prioritise early intervention and provide open access mental health hubs to children in every community, says shadow minister for education Kate Green.
Social care reform plans fall 'woefully short'
The Government has ‘fallen woefully short of the mark’ with its proposals for social care reform, according to shadow minister for social care Liz Kendall.
Watchdog's concern over deprivation of liberty orders
Ofsted highlighted a ‘huge rise’ in the use of deprivation of liberty orders by councils.
Javid aims for 'integration by default'
Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid has said he wants to push through integration reforms to ‘stop people from bouncing around the system’.
Councils battle to prevent 'lost generation'
Children’s services directors have said they face a challenge to avoid the emergence of a ‘lost generation’.
Boosting children’s chances
Chair of the independent review of children’s social care Josh MacAlister speaks to Ann McGauran about the inquiry’s progress so far and his hopes for a simpler system built on firmer foundations.
LGA warning over soaring care costs
Soaring adult and children’s care costs mean councils could ‘soon fail to support everyone they need to,’ town halls have warned.
What reform of adult social care should look like
Ahead of the National Children and Adult Services Conference this week, ADASS trustee Cath Roff outlines the four elements she believes should be at the heart of social care reform.
We have proved that councils are the place for social care - ADASS
The ‘joining up’ work done by local government during the pandemic has made it clear to Government and Whitehall that social care ‘needs a home’ in councils, says the president of ADASS.
Spike in child abuse
Ofsted’s chief inspector has warned of an increase in the number of child injuries and deaths uncovered by local authorities since the onset of the pandemic.
Redesign services for a COVID era, says CQC chief
The chief executive of the Care Quality Commission has called for services to be redesigned for a ‘COVID era’ that could last for many years.
Care home occupancy down over Grim Reaper fears
People are reluctant to put their relatives into care homes because they think the ‘Grim Reaper is waiting at the gate,’ a senior councillor has warned.
Top civil servant opens up on asylum challenge
A senior Whitehall official has admitted she has a ‘knot in my stomach most days’ as she grapples with the unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) influx.
'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’.
NCAS: Experts call for a social care solution
There must be ‘no more procrastination’ on resolving the issues of adult social care that have been exposed by the COVID crisis, experts have warned.
Party people
Diary still hasn’t decided which of the local government professional groups has the best reputation for partying.
Transformation can still yield more savings, claims mandarin
Further transformation may still help councils make savings in children’s services, a top Department for Education (DfE) civil servant has claimed.
Director recalls 'huge shock' of child abuse scandal
A council criticised for failings over a historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) ring has warned other authorities not to fall victim to complacency.
Burnham calls for transfer of powers from 'dysfunctional' Westminster
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has called for further devolution of powers to local government in a week of political turmoil in Westminster.
Pressure piled on children's secretary over funding
Councils have increased pressure on children and families secretary Nadhim Zahawi to secure more funding from the Government’s spending review.