Children's social care


Calls for more funding as child abuse increases 20/08/2021 Incidents involving death or serious harm to a child have risen in the past year, leading to calls for further funding.
Unravelling the knot of education, health and care plans 29/07/2021 Leo Jones lays out the deeper challenges that need to be recognised and addressed if the SEND review is going to tackle the complex problems behind rising numbers of education, health and care plans.
How to make life good for children in care and care leavers 21/06/2021 Dr. Claire Baker and Linda Briheim-Crookall examine how sharing local authority best practice can boost the well-being of children in care.
Most children in care feel safe where they live 21/06/2021 A new survey has found that while the majority of children in social care settings are happy where they live, nearly one in 20 regularly feel unsafe.
Children's social care a 'Jenga held together with Sellotape' says damning review 17/06/2021 The children's social care system is too focused on investigating families rather than providing them with support, according to an independent review of services.
Eight in 10 councils forced to overspend on children’s social care 03/06/2021 More than eight in 10 councils were forced to overspend on children's social care budgets last year due to soaring demand, new research has shown.
Children’s social care services ‘creative’ during pandemic, study finds 03/06/2021 A new study has found that children’s social care services have been ‘flexible’ and ‘creative’ in their responses to supporting care leavers during the pandemic, but it also found COVID-19 has exposed fragility in current systems.
Care leavers moved into unsafe and unhealthy homes, says charity 25/05/2021 Many young people leaving the care system are being forced to live in unsafe and unsuitable accommodation, a charity has warned today.
Professionals back use of standalone supervision orders 12/04/2021 Nine out of ten professionals think standalone supervision orders should continue to be an option in care proceedings, according to a new survey.
Investigation launched into children’s care market 12/03/2021 A study into the increasing costs in children’s social care provision and lack of appropriate placements has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Children’s services face £824m budget gap 24/02/2021 A funding shortfall of £824m is being faced by children’s services, according to research published today.
Council pays mother £8,000 after failing to protect her from violent son 19/01/2021 Three young children were left without any protection from their violent older brother after Somerset County Council failed to help their family, Ombudsman finds.
Review pledges to radically reform children's social care 15/01/2021 Council chiefs have welcomed the launch of an independent review into children’s social care.
Secure children's home places 'inadequate' 02/12/2020 Young people are being ‘failed’ by a lack of places in secure children’s homes, research published today has revealed.
Children in care system are being 'failed by the state' 11/11/2020 Thousands of children are being failed by the ‘broken’ residential care home market, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned today.
Spike in child abuse since pandemic 06/11/2020 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.
Coronavirus could create a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable teenagers 07/07/2020 Thousands of vulnerable teenagers are at risk of falling through gaps in the school and social care systems, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned today.
Extra funding to protect vulnerable children during Covid-19 27/04/2020 Projects that protect vulnerable children will share more than £12m to help keep them safe during the coronavirus outbreak.
Social care ‘crisis’ inquiry launched 10/03/2020 A Parliamentary inquiry has been launched to find out what needs to be done to solve the ongoing social care funding and workforce crisis.
Councils report 'huge overspends' on social care 04/03/2020 More than eight out of ten councils overspent on children's social care last year, with nearly half (47%) spending more than their adult social care budget, new figures have shown.
Council chiefs warn social care company debts are putting children's care ‘at risk’ 27/02/2020 Six of the 10 largest independent groups of providers of children’s care had more debts and liabilities than tangible assets last year, council leaders say.
Thousands of children passed around care system ‘like parcels’, report warns 24/12/2019 A new report published today has revealed that thousands of children in the care system are living ‘many miles’ away from family and friends.
Stoke-on-Trent CC given three months to improve ‘inadequate’ children’s services 01/11/2019 Williamson issues a direction which gives Stoke-on-Trent three months to establish a partnership with another council to deliver children’s social care.
Children’s voices missing from care records, study warns 03/10/2019 The voices of children and young people are missing from their social care records causing significant distress and upset, research has warned today.
Repairing children’s services is an investment worth making 12/09/2019 Spending more on services to stop the rising costs of taking children into care must be worth the investment, says Heather Jameson.
Commissioner appointed to oversee council’s ‘inadequate’ children’s services 27/08/2019 The Government has appointed a commissioner to improve Medway Council’s children’s services after Ofsted rated them ‘inadequate’.
Councils exceed children’s social care budget by £800m 27/08/2019 Funding shortages and demand pressures forced local authorities to overspend on their children’s social care budgets by nearly £800m last year, LGA warns.
More children being cared for in failing council services, says think tank 12/08/2019 Nearly 50,000 children are being cared for in areas where council services are failing, a think tank has warned today.
Foster carers need ‘more support’ to look after LGBTQ young people 30/07/2019 More support is needed for foster carers looking after LGBTQ young people, new study says.
Stop 'criminalisation' of children in care homes, council chiefs say 09/07/2019 More must be done to stop the 'criminalisation' of children in care homes, according to local government leaders.
Adoptive families ‘fighting losing battle’ for support 02/07/2019 Adopted children are twice as likely not to be in employment, education or training as their peers, according to the first ever UK-wide assessment of adoption.
Charity calls for protected funding for children’s hospices 20/06/2019 NHS England is being urged to keep its promise to protect and increase funding for children’s hospices by charity Together for Short Lives.
Councils warn of national 'special needs emergency' 06/06/2019 Councils are supporting more than 130 extra children and young people with special education needs every day, new figures have revealed.
Sure Start had ‘major benefits’ for disadvantaged children, think tank says 04/06/2019 The twenty-year-old childcare programme has had major health benefits for children in poorer neighbourhoods, a new analysis reveals.
Council funding system ‘unsustainable’, financial experts warn 29/05/2019 Spending on local services has fallen over the last decade and the funding available to councils will become ‘inadequate’, according to financial experts.
Hancock pledges review of every patient in long term segregation or seclusion 21/05/2019 Health secretary Matt Hancock today ordered a review of the care that patients in long term segregation or seclusion receive.
What I've learnt from reading my social services file 16/05/2019 Louise Hughes explains what impact reading her care file had on her, and calls on social workers to write their case notes with young people in mind.
Government launches £2m programme to tackle child exploitation 09/05/2019 The Department for Education has launched a new programme designed to provide specialist support for children at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation.
Councils receive extra £30m to care for asylum seeking children 09/05/2019 The amount of funding councils receive to look after unaccompanied asylum seeking children is set to rise by £30m.
Children’s social care ‘not financially sustainable’, MPs warn 22/03/2019 MPs have criticised the Department for Education for what they describe as ‘slow progress’ in improving children’s social care.
Thousands of babies at risk due to children’s services cuts 17/10/2018 There are nearly 16,000 babies growing up in households where they are at risk from harm, the commission that monitors the care of children has warned.
Social care system demonstrates ‘remarkable resilience’ 15/08/2018 Local social care services have demonstrated ‘remarkable resilience’ in the face of Government cut backs and demographic changes, think tank says.
An 'outstanding' example for children's services 09/08/2018 A county in the north of England provides a shining example of how to run children's care services, writes Mark Whitehead.
County first to be rated 'outstanding' in all areas of children's social care 06/08/2018 North Yorkshire County Council has become the first authority to receive an ‘outstanding’ grade in every category under the new social care inspection framework.
Care leavers exempt from paying council tax in Manchester 26/07/2018 Manchester City Council has announced care leavers will be exempt from paying council tax until they are 25.
North Tyneside saves over £100,000 thanks to children’s charity 13/06/2018 A local authority has saved more than £100,000 and reduced the flow of children into care by 16% thanks to its partnership with an ‘innovative’ charity.
Commissioner’s report on children in care ‘disappointing’, say council chiefs 01/06/2018 Local government leaders have branded a report warning of the dangers of children being shifted around the care system as 'disappointing'.
Whitehall announces £1,000 apprenticeship bursary for care leavers 18/05/2018 Care leavers who choose to start an apprenticeship are to receive a £1,000 bursary to help the transition into the workplace, the Government announced yesterday.
Minister releases £17m for children’s services 16/03/2018 The children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi has today announced a package of support worth £17m to help local authorities support vulnerable children.
Council chiefs warn of children’s social care crisis in the north west 07/03/2018 Local government leaders in the north west have warned of a ‘growing’ children’s social care crisis in their area.
Should councils be launching their own charities? 21/02/2018 Mark Whitehead explores why Barnet has become the first council to set up a charity to support children in care.
Council launches apps for children in care to share views 29/11/2017 Norfolk County Council has launched two new apps designed to help vulnerable children and young people in Norfolk share their views and feelings.
Research partner chosen for children's social care project 15/11/2017 Cardiff University has been named as the research partner for a new centre to find out what works best in children's social care.
Young people surveyed about care experiences 30/10/2017 Young people leaving care will be asked for their views on their experiences in a survey being sent to local authorities.
Councils awarded £20m to improve children's services 13/10/2017 A multi-million pound government initiative aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children and families has been announced.
Childhood in care linked to mums who have babies removed by courts 05/10/2017 A new study has revealed that 40% of women who lose children into public care or adoption because of child protection concerns have been in care themselves.
Essex appointed to improve Worcestershire CC children’s services 20/09/2017 Essex CC will work alongside Worcestershire County Council’s children's services team after county criticised for ‘serious failures’.
Children placed in homes outside their borough ‘soars’ 80%, figures reveal 18/09/2017 MP ‘disappointed’ after new figures revealed number of children being sent to live in children’s homes outside their own borough increased 80% in four years.
Making life easier for care leavers 13/09/2017 Local authorities have been urged to make care leavers exempt from paying council tax until the age of 25. Tom Redfearn explains why.
Council criticised after reducing care for autistic brothers without consulting mother 07/09/2017 A London council has been criticised for reducing the care and support packages of two autistic brothers without involving their mother in the decision.
Vulnerable youngsters ‘left in limbo’ due to underfunding of social services 14/08/2017 Local government children and young people's leader Richard Watts has backed a report showing vulnerable youngsters are being 'left in limbo'.
What does local government want from the next Government? 05/06/2017 William Eichler explores what local government organisations hope to see from the next Government.
Children’s services face £2bn funding gap by 2020 11/05/2017 Council leaders have warned that children’s services are rapidly becoming unsustainable and are facing a funding gap of £2bn by 2020.
Sunderland completes transfer of children's services to new company 03/04/2017 A new company to deliver children’s services has been set up by Sunderland City Council following an ‘inadequate’ rating by Ofsted back in July 2015.
Funding for children’s services failing to keep up with demand, MPs warn 21/03/2017 Nearly 90% of directors of children’s services find it increasingly difficult to fulfil their duties to children ‘in need’, report reveals.
Whitehall announces £36m of funding to support vulnerable children 20/03/2017 Projects supporting vulnerable children will be awarded £36m as part of the Government’s social care innovation programme for children.
Council finance chiefs warn demand for social care is putting other services at risk 13/12/2016 Adult and children's social care are the areas hardest hit by pressure on council budgets, according to finance experts.
Autumn Statement: Councillors 'furious' at failure to address social care funding crisis 23/11/2016 Local government has reacted with fury after the chancellor failed to address cross-sector calls to plug the soaring social care funding gap.
Social workers reject 'unsafe' reforms 03/11/2016 Plans to allow councils to set up social work trusts could prove dangerous for children, according to a new report from Unison.
Birmingham faces £712m health and social care ‘funding black hole’ 28/10/2016 Birmingham health bosses have drawn up a plan to transform the city's health and social care system in a bid to avoid an estimated £712m funding black hole in the next five years.
Social care faces £2.6bn funding crisis 27/10/2016 Social care for the elderly and disabled could be facing a potential funding gap of at least £2.6bn by the end of the decade, council chiefs warn.
Care budgets at 'breaking point' warns report 13/10/2016 The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) has today raised concerns that social care is approaching a ‘tipping point’.
Child protection services judged 'unsatisfactory' by watchdog 12/10/2016 Six years of reforms to child protection services have failed to make significant improvements, a damning report from the National Audit Office has said.
Sandwell’s children’s services to be transferred to a trust 06/10/2016 Sandwell Council’s children’s social care services are to be run by a trust despite Ofsted reporting ‘positive progress’ had been made.
Research claims councils could save £186m a year through 'quick-wins' in care services 29/09/2016 Councils could save at least £186m a year by transforming the way they deliver care services, according to new research published today.
Social work in Scotland at ‘watershed’ moment 22/09/2016 Public service users must play a more active role in shaping the future of social work in Scotland, report says.
Burnham calls for care services to be handed to NHS 21/09/2016 The ‘only answer’ to the problems facing adult social care is to bring care services into the NHS, Greater Manchester’s mayoral hopeful Andy Burnham has argued.
Judge warns child care cases pushing family courts to crisis 21/09/2016 Family courts are facing an imminent crisis due to the ‘relentless’ rise in the number of child care cases they deal with, a senior judge has warned.
Council apologises for deaths of two teenagers in their care 15/09/2016 Sunderland Council has apologised ‘strongly and unreservedly’ after an independent review discovered it failed two teenage girls who died in 2013.
School nurses ‘unhappy’ with local authority children’s services 12/09/2016 More than a third of school nurses are dissatisfied with council children’s services' responses on at least half of referrals, according to a new report.
Sunderland children’s services makes 'significant progress' 02/09/2016 Children's services in Sunderland have made 'significant progress' since being judged inadequate last year, Ofsted inspectors have said.
Vulnerable children ‘re-traumatised’ by services, charity says 18/07/2016 Vulnerable children risk being ‘re-traumatised’ by services designed to help them, charity warns.
Vulnerable children need better protection from harm, finds report 08/07/2016 Healthcare services are failing to identify and protect children at risk of abuse and exploitation, a new report has warned today.
Children’s care homes often ‘underestimated', review finds 05/07/2016 Children’s care homes are too often viewed as an ‘anachronism’ and they are frequently ‘underestimated’, but improvements can still be made, report concluded.
New care roles are a distraction warn experts 30/06/2016 New integrated care jobs are not necessarily the best way of bringing services together, a leading think tank has warned.
Report calls for new health and care department 28/06/2016 A new Whitehall department should be set up to manage an integrated health and social care budget, a new report has said.
Weak leadership is letting children down says Ofsted 28/06/2016 Vulnerable children are being let down by weak leadership in too many local authorities, inspectors have claimed.
Sunderland Council to transfer children's services to new company 23/06/2016 Sunderland has decided to set up a new organisation to deliver its children's services.
Council duties to young people under threat 14/06/2016 Hundreds of local authority duties to young people could be removed as the Government seeks to ‘radically alter children’s social care’, according to industry professionals.
Sandwell children’s services facing move to voluntary trust 10/06/2016 Children’s social care services at Sandwell Council could be transferred to a voluntary trust, after being rated as 'inadequate' by inspectors last year.
Birmingham’s children’s services to face more revelations 25/05/2016 Birmingham City Council’s under-fire children’s services department is to face fresh revelations in a documentary to be broadcast tomorrow night (26 May).
Half of children in custody have been in care system, report finds 23/05/2016 Action is needed to keep children in care out of prison, a review chaired by crossbench peer Lord Laming has demanded.
Cameron outlines reforms for social workers 16/05/2016 David Cameron has pledged to change the way local authorities help children in care with a new regulator and further reforms.
Lack of funding forces councils to ‘turn away’ children with mental health issues 28/04/2016 A significant number of local authorities and health services are failing to identify mental health issues when children enter care, select committee reports.
Agile working in social care 15/04/2016 Agile working in social care is all about working smart, taking costs out of the system and being more efficient. Michael White reports.
Former health secretary to head up Birmingham and Solihull health reforms 06/04/2016 Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell has been appointed to oversee the transformation of health and social care in Birmingham and Solihull.
Council’s children's services ‘inadequate’, Ofsted warn 06/04/2016 A council’s children’s services are suffering from ‘serious and widespread failures’, says Ofsted report.
Millions invested by Whitehall into helping vulnerable children 04/04/2016 Hundreds of millions will be invested to support vulnerable children and families, the education secretary announced yesterday.
Report: Teenagers criminalised due to children’s homes failures 30/03/2016 Children’s homes too often resort to involving police rather than offering teenagers in their care the support they need, according to a new report.
Chancellor attacked for ‘ignoring’ social care in Budget 17/03/2016 Chancellor George Osborne has been criticised for failing to address the subject of social care in yesterday's Budget announcement.

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