Social workers
Unlock potential of social workers through self-management, report argues
A new report has called for a radical reduction in middle management to boost the time social workers spend with families.
Reflecting on the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) president, vice president and past presidents reflect on the successes of the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004, and what has changed since they became law.
‘We need to myth-bust here’
As the sector heads to Bournemouth for the National Children and Adult Services (NCAS) conference this week, Ann McGauran talks to Rachel Dickinson about how the country’s young are faring 30 years after the seminal 1989 Children Act.
Turning agency fees into more spending for children
Cllr James Valentine explains how Bedford BC has been able to attract the permanent employees needed to support children and save £1.5m on agency workers in the first 12 months.
Shaping a 21st century Jersey
Charlie Parker arrived in the top job at the States of Jersey determined to bring in a programme of change. Heather Jameson talks to him about the scale of the task he faced and what he’s achieving.
Reaping the benefits of a whole-service approach
Leigh Zywek describes how a programme of long-term support for a young mother is making a vital difference.
Long-term Norwich chief to step down
Norwich City Council’s chief executive for 14 years, Laura McGillivray, will step down from her role later this year, it has been announced.
Support from care sector sought for campaign
An appeal has been made to the social care sector to back a Government recruitment campaign.
Promising findings from social work pilots
Devolving budgets to frontline workers to directly support families could reduce the likelihood of children going into care, pilots have found.
Report: 580,000 more social workers needed by 2035
More than 500,000 social care jobs in England will need to be filled by 2035, a new report has predicted.
Children's services progress 'slow and uneven'
Ofsted has described the progress of Reading BC to improve its children’s services as ‘slow, uneven and not always sustained’.
Time to reassess children’s mental health
In over a third of local areas spending on children’s low-level mental health services dropped in real terms between 2016/17 and 2018/19. Charlotte Levey says councils need to work alongside health partners to prioritise vital provision.
Nine in 10 social workers hampered by austerity
Social workers say repeated cuts that have created a crisis in the sector, according to a trade union survey published today.
'Slow progress' two years after inadequate judgement
Gloucestershire CC is making ‘slow progress’ in improving its services for its children and young people two years after it was judged inadequate, Ofsted has found.
Birmingham to scrap controversial care service reorganisation
A long-running industrial dispute between Birmingham City Council and care workers is expected to end after reorganisation plans were dropped.
Recruiting for Liverpool’s future
Liverpool City Council is recruiting more social workers to cut workloads and improve outcomes for children in an unprecedented investment, says Steve Reddy
Inspectors criticise council's pace of improvement
The overall pace of improvement in Reading Council’s children’s services has ‘not been sufficient’ three years since the authority was judged inadequate, Ofsted inspectors have said.
Directors' commitment after culture shift call
Children’s services directors have insisted they are ‘committed’ to protecting face-to-face work after social workers suggested too much time was being spent doing paperwork.
Councils transfer services amid healthcare trust closure
A healthcare trust running care services across two counties has announced it is likely to close.
Baby P fallout still having impact, committee hears
High turnover rates – and the ongoing risk aversion generated by the Baby P case – are exacerbating the funding crisis in children’s services, MPs have heard.