Safeguarding
Struggles continue for scandal-hit council contractor
A council contractor previously at the centre of a residential care abuse scandal has continued to struggle since it closed the sites.
Finley Boden: Council apologises for ‘missed opportunities’
Derbyshire CC has apologised for the ‘missed opportunities’ to do more to safeguard 10-month-old Finley Boden who was murdered on Christmas Day in 2020.
Learning from tragedy
Debbie Jones looks at the lessons emerging from an independent review focused on the children found guilty of the deaths of three young people in Croydon.
A first step in tackling abuse
As the Government finally moves to introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, councils are warning a complete programme of action is needed to significantly reduce the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. Mark Conrad reports.
Government 'may have underestimated' mandatory reporting impact
The Home Office may have underestimated the additional number of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases when mandatory reporting is introduced, experts have warned.
Bronson Battersby: Review launched after toddler’s death
Lincolnshire County Council has launched a review after the tragic death of two-year-old Bronson Battersby.
The asylum mess needs cleaning up
'The current conditions in some asylum hotels make the prospect of Rwanda look like a soft option', says Heather Jameson. 'Hounslow has been heroic in highlighting the problems local staff have seen.'
Damning reality of asylum
Shocking public health report by Hounslow LBC exposes bleak conditions as councils urge Home Office and contractors to improve
DLUHC defends homelessness monitoring
Mandarins have denied they do not have a clear picture of homelessness levels among Ukrainian refugees.
Safeguarding review after 10-year-old's death
An independent safeguarding review is to begin following the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif.
Children and young people in care are at risk of becoming invisible
The Government must 'urgently look at ways to find more funding for children’s care and safeguarding, that will allow us to change the system', says Michael Hudson.
Stepping up post-adoption support
Properly resourced and funded therapeutic services post-adoption need to be the norm and not simply the aspiration, says Baljinder Bath.
Scandal-hit firm reports losses
A firm at the centre of a residential care abuse scandal has reported operating losses of £5.8m for the year to June 2022.
Complaints: heed the warnings
Housing ombudsman and Local Government Association conference speaker Richard Blakeway offers key lessons from complaints. He says landlords are too often failing to recognise, record or respond to the welfare needs of residents.
Putting families first in Herts
Hertfordshire CC’s Families First approach has secured a host of achievements and cost benefits, and helped to inform the development of one element in the Government’s response to the McAlister review, says Karen Dorney.
Safeguarding overhaul called for after child abuse
Council leaders have called for more powers to hold local partners to account after a review into the abuse of children with disabilities.
Independent review into baby murder case
The case of a 10-month-old baby murdered by his parents just 39 days after being placed back into their care is to be independently reviewed.
Welsh Government 'deeply disappointed' at delay to deprivation of liberty overhaul
The Welsh Government is ‘deeply disappointed’ that UK ministers have delayed reforms to the deprivation of liberty regime.
Scale of exploitation of refugees unrecorded
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has no figures tracking the scale of abuse and exploitation of Homes for Ukraine refugees, it has been forced to admit.
Safeguarding review of child sex abuse case withheld
Walsall Safeguarding Partnership (WSP) will not be publishing its review into the largest child sex abuse case investigated by West Midlands Police.