Safeguarding
The value of licensing tools for councils
Nicola Ray offers advice to councils on the best way of collaborating with an external tech supplier to improve digital systems’ standards and safety as they move from legacy to cloud.
Children abused for decades under care of Lambeth LBC, inquiry finds
Hundreds of children were subjected to decades of cruelty and sexual abuse while in the care of Lambeth LBC, a damning inquiry has found.
Councillors to bring supported housing closer to home
Senior Haringey LBC councillors have moved to develop supported housing for young people with complex learning disabilities and autism within their own borough.
Call for 'radical system change' after children's home claims
A charity chief has called for ‘radical system change’ after whistleblowers claimed youngsters with autism were ‘abused’ and mistreated at a Cardiff children’s home.
Call to tackle children's services 'postcode lottery'
National standards are needed to tackle variation in the quality of children’s services, the House of Lords' Public Services Committee has heard.
Support when and where it’s needed
An animation about a young woman on the edge of care gives staff and families an easy explanation of how the No Wrong Door approach works, says Sally Britton.
Domestic abuse victim funding fails to meet demands
New funding to support victims of domestic abuse does not go far enough, campaigners have argued.
Advocacy services remain crucial despite COVID pressures
Councils must ensure social care providers understand that the legal obligations to refer to advocacy services remain fully in place during COVID, says Jonathan Senker.
A very blunt instrument
Carolyne Willow says it is to this Government’s shame that it found time to carry out a ‘massive deregulation project during COVID-19, yet failed to introduce any legal protections for over 6,000 looked-after children in unregulated accommodation’.
Rising to the back-to-school challenge
Newham is anticipating an increase in demand for services as schools return, says Tim Aldridge, and COVID-19 has thrown a spotlight on existing inequalities.
Responding to the rise in parental conflict during lockdown
Despite a divergence in referral rates during COVID, research has found that councils are responding dynamically to deliver services, says Virginia Ghiara of the Early Intervention Foundation.
We must find a way to invest in our future
The ‘hidden harms’ to children over the past six months will be uncovered when schools fully open in September. We need an urgent and transparent discussion about funding, says Jenny Coles.
Tackling the barriers to information-sharing
Graham Bright looks at the perceived legal and ethical barriers to sharing information about children, and how they can be overcome.
New safeguarding system delayed
The full implementation of the replacement of the ‘overly bureaucratic and complicated’ deprivation of liberty safeguards has been delayed by 18 months.
Strengthening safeguarding by placing social workers in schools
The best aspects of a pilot that places social workers in schools are going to be tested more widely in a randomised controlled trial in at least 10 areas, says Michael Sanders.
Charity applies for judicial review of changes to children's social care law
A children’s rights charity has applied to the High Court for a judicial review of changes made to social care law by the Department for Education.
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.
Time for some creative thinking on safeguarding
With many key partners having closed their doors, local authorities need to think differently about safeguarding children to make sure they don’t fall through the net, warns Anne Longfield.
Judge highlights Haringey safeguarding failures
A London borough has defended its social care service following scathing criticism from a High Court judge.
There is no return to yesterday
Social services have adapted rapidly to the disruption of COVID-19, says Tony Hunter. As we emerge from the crisis, we need to think about what lessons we should learn and how we can harness data to make better social care decisions.
