VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Councils create largest fostering partnership
09/07/2024 Twenty councils in the south east of England have formed the country’s largest local authority fostering partnership in a bid to boost the number of carers in the region. |
Councils team up for new fostering initiative
31/05/2024 Eleven local authorities in the East of England have teamed up as part of a new initiative aimed at recruiting more people to become foster carers. |
Eight councils launch fostering hub
28/05/2024 A fostering hub has been created by eight councils in Cheshire and Merseyside with the aim of ‘urgently’ recruiting carers. |
Social work development programme 'pulled' by Department for Education
16/04/2024 A Government decision to end a training and development programme for social work managers has been branded a ‘kick in the teeth’ for the sector. |
Negative fostering experiences undermining recruitment
24/05/2023 Poor communication, delays or insufficient information from fostering services are putting people off being foster parents, new research reveals. |
How councils can improve services for care leavers
14/02/2023 Ian Stewart-Watson, programme manager of New Belongings at Coram, looks at how councils can work with their young people to improve services for care leavers. |
DfE supports proposals to help vulnerable children
03/02/2023 Local authorities might soon be able to draw on the support of regional bodies to help them find suitable placements for children, the DfE says. |
Councils urged to check information sharing agreements
26/01/2023 Councils are being urged to check they have adequate information sharing agreements with their providers, after one council struggled to access essential data. |
Schools should be better utilised for local safeguarding, report says
23/01/2023 Schools and primary care networks should be better utilised in supporting Local Safeguarding Partnerships, a new report into foster care has concluded. |
Social care failing LGBTQ+ young people, study reveals
01/12/2022 The social care system needs to improve how it cares for LGBTQ+ young people in residential and foster homes, University of Birmingham researchers say. |
Number of fostering homes down by a quarter
11/11/2022 The number of available homes for foster children in England has fallen by almost a quarter in four years, according to the latest Ofsted figures. |
Foster parent shortage ‘financially ruinous’ for councils
28/09/2022 Foster carers have called for more support to help with the cost-of-living crisis and warned a shortage of carers is likely to be ‘ruinous’ for councils. |
The state is failing foster children, charity says
28/06/2022 The needs of many children in foster care are not being properly looked after, a leading fostering charity has warned. |
Tens of thousands fewer children could avoid going into council care
09/03/2022 Tens of thousands of young people could avoid going into council care if services are reshaped under a new ‘optimised delivery model’ based on a family-focused way of delivering support, says a report. |
'Crumbling' fostering system failing vulnerable children
06/12/2021 Urgent action is needed to fix the 'crumbling and failing' fostering system, a charity has warned. |
Figures paint 'bleak picture' of foster care
12/11/2021 A lack of foster carers means vulnerable children are not getting the support they need, Ofsted has warned. |
A third of kinship carers warn children are missing support
29/09/2021 Thousands of vulnerable children being looked after by kinship carers are not getting the support they need, a new survey has revealed. |
Why a new law discriminates against over-16s in care
22/09/2021 Malcolm Johnson warns that a new law governing decisions about children in care in England could put vulnerable 16 and 17 year-olds at risk. |
Union calls for 'new deal' for Shared Lives foster carers
14/09/2021 Councils have been urged to provide a 'pay rise' and respite care for Shared Lives foster carers who look after vulnerable adults in their homes. |
Charity warns children needing care rises by a third
07/09/2021 The number of children being referred to its fostering service has risen by a third in the past year, a charity has warned. |
Councils failing to plan for fostering provision, think tank warns
25/06/2021 Three quarters of local authorities are failing to meet their legal duty to plan for future demand in foster care, a report has warned today. |
BCP Council agrees to check past payments to foster carers
08/06/2021 BCP Council has agreed to check whether it has paid friends and family foster carers properly over the past five years following an investigation. |
Charity calls for ‘fair’ financial support for kinship carers
01/06/2021 A charity has called on the Government to ensure that kinship carers receive the same amount of financial support as foster carers. |
The biggest providers of children's care placements report £216m profits
29/01/2021 The six biggest independent providers of children’s residential and fostering placements made £219m in profit last year, a new report has found. |
Capacity in foster care is stalling, data reveals
13/11/2020 The number of applications to become a foster carer has fallen by 10% since March last year, new data has revealed. |
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Tribunal rules foster care workers entitled to employee rights
01/09/2020 A UK tribunal has ruled that foster care workers are council employees and therefore entitled to employment rights. |
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Charity declares ‘state of emergency’ in foster care
23/06/2020 A children’s charity has warned that the number of children needing foster care has increased by 44% during the pandemic. |
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Councils warned to cover foster carers’ school transport costs
17/01/2020 Councils have been reminded by the local government ombudsman that they should be providing financial support to foster parents to pay for school transport. |
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Foster carers experience high-levels of ‘burnout’, study reveals
16/12/2019 Psychologists have called for more support to be provided to foster carers after a new study reveals the extent of ‘burnout’ in the sector. |
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Foster parents at risk of burnout and stress, study warns
12/12/2019 Foster carers are more likely to suffer from secondary traumatic stress due to their exposure to the trauma stories of their foster children, a study has revealed. |
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Kinship carers ‘lack support’ in times of crisis, charity warns
07/10/2019 Family members who take on the responsibility of caring for children who are not their own risk being penalised due to a lack of support and independent advice, a charity has warned. |
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Whitehall launches 10 new foster projects
04/10/2019 The Government has today launched fostering projects in 10 new locations in a bid to provide foster families with practical and emotional support and advice. |
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Kinship carers blast lack of support from children's services
24/09/2019 Local authorities should have a legal responsibility to support people looking after the children of family and friends, campaigners have argued. |
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Nottinghamshire councils apologise for ‘decades’ of child abuse
01/08/2019 Nottinghamshire councils have apologised for letting survivors ‘down in worst possible way’ after an inquiry found hundreds of children were abused in care. |
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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. |
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Ambitious for adoption
03/07/2019 Dr Carol Homden argues the closure of the Adoption Register for England means all parts of the system must work together to ensure the best possible service to children. |
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Council accused of ‘negligence’ over Parsons Green bomber
08/03/2019 Surrey has been accused of ‘negligence’ by the foster parents of the Parsons Green bomber who claim the authority failed to warn them he had been radicalised. |
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Foster carers feel ‘undervalued’, report reveals
04/02/2019 Foster carers do not feel treated as an ‘equal and valued’ member of the social care team looking after fostered children, a new report has revealed. |
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Number of looked after children rises to over 75,000
16/11/2018 The number of children looked after by local authorities has increased since last year, prompting council chiefs to warn of the ‘huge demand’ this is placing on children’s services. |
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Home Office announces £13m fund to support vulnerable children
22/08/2018 Councils have welcomed £13m of funding to help vulnerable children but warned cuts to children’s services are making it ‘difficult’ to help families. |
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Foster parents to receive free childcare
22/06/2018 Foster parents will have access to the government’s 30 hours free childcare offer for the first time from September. |
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Children's services blow for new chiefs
16/05/2018 Surrey CC’s children’s services are still inadequate, according to Ofsted – three years after they received the same grade. |
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Urgent need for another 8,000 foster families says charity
15/05/2018 The UK needs another 8,000 new foster families to ensure all fostered children can find the right home, a charity has warned today. |
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The scrutiny of foster care costs
04/04/2018 Ray Hart questions why foster care costs aren’t subject to the same level of scrutiny as other social care costs. |
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Government fostering report calls for councils to work with agencies
07/02/2018 Collaboration between local authorities and the private sector would improve foster care for children, a new Government report has suggested. |
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Committee calls for ‘fundamental review’ of foster system
22/12/2017 MPs have called on the Government to carry out a ‘fundamental review’ of the whole foster care system to ensure children and foster parents are supported. |
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Counting the cost of foster care abuse
12/12/2017 Ceri Sian Williams warns local authorities could face a significant increase in foster care abuse claims following a recent court ruling. |
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Investigation concludes ‘Christian’ child happy with Muslim foster parents
02/11/2017 Inquiry by Tower Hamlets into allegations a Muslim couple fostering a ‘Christian’ child coerced her into following their faith concluded claims were baseless. |
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Council liable for foster care abuse, judge rules
19/10/2017 Local authorities could face a big increase in claims by foster children over historic or recent child abuse after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court. |
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Safeguarding foster children from radicalisation
18/10/2017 William Eichler finds out how the fostering sector can protect children from radical ideologies. |
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Record number of children in care system
12/10/2017 Council leaders have warned a record number of children are now in the care system, with 90 youngsters a day entering care last year. |
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Council charges foster family for free school transport
11/10/2017 Councils are putting foster children at a disadvantage compared to their peers when it comes to school transport, ombudsman says. |
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Shocking survey reveals 'true scale' of foster care crisis
11/09/2017 A new poll by a children’s charity has revealed over 85% of UK adults surveyed show little or no interest in fostering, raising concerns over the future of foster care in the UK. |
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London boroughs awarded £1m for innovative fostering scheme
20/07/2017 Six London boroughs have been awarded £1m for a scheme improving access to high-quality residential care and fostering placements for looked after children. |
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Watch - Foster with Nottingham City Council
19/05/2017 Hear from the council's foster carers about the importance of fostering with Nottingham City Council. |
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Cracks within fostering system 'likely to get bigger' warns charity
31/01/2017 The fostering system in the UK is under ‘unsustainable strain’, with ‘hard-won improvements’ at risk of being eroded, a report has warned today. |
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Foster care system in need of ‘urgent attention’, MPs say
07/10/2016 MPs have launched an inquiry into fostering in England today at a time when the number of looked-after children is at its highest point since 1985. |
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Charity to take over Peterborough’s fostering and adoption services
27/09/2016 Peterborough Council has agreed to transfer all its fostering and adoption services to a charitable organisation. |
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Councils call for ‘golden hellos’ in fostering to be banned
08/09/2016 Town hall leads have called for a ban on independent agencies offering foster carers cash to switch from working for local authorities. |
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Councils hit out at 'golden hellos' in fostering
05/08/2016 Children’s services directors have called for private agencies to be banned from offering golden hellos of up to £3,000 to poach foster carers from councils. |
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Foster care children do better at school, report finds
25/05/2016 Town hall bosses have highlighted research that shows children in foster care do better at school to help promote Foster Care Fortnight. |
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Queen's Speech 2016: Councils face fresh demands under ‘care covenant’
18/05/2016 Proposals to speed up child adoption and raise council support for young people were outlined in the Queen’s Speech today. |
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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. |
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Foster children ‘under threat’ from budget cuts
14/04/2016 Government funding cuts to local authority budgets are putting the wellbeing of foster children at risk, survey finds. |
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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. |
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Liverpool foster carers to be exempt from council tax
22/02/2016 Foster carers working directly for Liverpool City Council will no longer have to pay council tax. |
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Rehab company to run children’s homes in Birmingham
07/01/2016 Birmingham City Council has selected the Priory Group to run five of its residential children’s homes. |
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Rise in number of children missing from foster care warns report
11/12/2015 The number of children going missing from foster care rose by almost a fifth in the last year, according to the latest report from Ofsted. |
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Being in foster care can boost GCSEs grades, finds research
01/12/2015 Children who are fostered do better at school than those who live with their families while receiving social work support, according to new research. |
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Council explores new fostering service
06/11/2015 Peterborough City Council has proposed setting up new partnerships to improve services for young people in care. |
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Young care leavers being ‘cut adrift’ warn MPs
30/10/2015 Vulnerable young people leaving local authority care are not receiving the help and support they need, a new report from the Public Accounts Committee has warned. |
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Councils told to 'weigh up all options' when safeguarding children
22/10/2015 Councils have been reminded to consider all the options available when safeguarding vulnerable children to avoid making ‘knee-jerk reactions’. |
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Council issues urgent plea for foster carers
07/10/2015 Islington Council has issued an appeal for more foster carers to help with unaccompanied asylum-seeker children. |
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Council offers staff extra time off for fostering
30/09/2015 Coventry City Council has announced it will give its staff an extra five days of leave if they are applying to be a foster carer. |
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FOI request exposes upheaval experienced by foster children
21/09/2015 A freedom of information request has revealed that a quarter of foster children have to move home at least twice a year. |
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Children in care should stay until 25 says commissioner
08/07/2015 Young people should be allowed to stay in care until they are 25 years old as thousands are leaving before they are ready, a new survey has revealed. |
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Children 'at risk' due to unregistered private fostering
06/07/2015 Local authorities are not being notified of the majority of private fostering arrangements, according to new research. |
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Foster children moved too many times warns charity
01/06/2015 Nearly half of teenagers in foster care are already living with their third family, according to a new survey. |
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Councils triple number of special guardianship orders
22/05/2015 An investigation has revealed that that the number of councils placing babies under a special guardianship order has tripled in the past two years. |
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Norfolk given £1m to develop child care project
17/02/2015 Over £1m of government funds has been awarded to a Norfolk County Council project designed to prevent 180 children coming into care every year. |
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Dog adoption blacklist barking up the wrong tree, charity warns
02/02/2015 An adoption charity has launched a best practice guide to prevent foster children being denied the physical and emotional benefits of having a pet. |
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Charity calls for research on cost of siblings separated in care
23/01/2015 Local authorities have been urged to provide data on the number of siblings separated in care by a charity, after figures show it costs the UK economy £800m a year. |
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Council not liable for foster care abuse finds court
12/12/2014 A judge has ruled a local authority can not be held legally responsible for abuse that happened to a woman in foster care and at the hands of her mother’s partner. |
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Record numbers of children in care, finds watchdog
27/11/2014 Numbers of children in care have reached a 20-year high, with the Coalition making ‘no progress’ on improving the system – auditors have warned. |
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Yearly cost of children going back into care reaches £300m, report says
22/09/2014 Some 5,000 children return to care after being reunited with their families at a cost of £300m every year – a report claims. |
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A third of foster children split from siblings
08/09/2014 One in three children placed into foster care have been separated from their siblings, according to new research. |
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Best practice guide for Staying Put arrangements
15/07/2014 A best practice guide to help support foster children who choose to stay in care until they turn 21 has been launched by the Children’s Partnership. |
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Take children at risk of radicalisation into care, Boris Johnson says
03/03/2014 Muslim children who are at risk of being radicalised should be taken into care, London mayor Boris Johnson has said. |
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Improve data security for vulnerable children, councils told
05/02/2014 Sensitive information about vulnerable children is at risk due to 'insecure' links between fostering agencies and councils, a report claims. |
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Extent of private fostering ‘unknown’ in many areas
27/01/2014 Councils have been urged to work with local safeguarding boards and the Government to improve awareness of private fostering. |
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Adoption campaign begins in Birmingham
20/01/2014 Birmingham City Council has launched a campaign to locate local adopters and foster carers, deploying prime-time television advertising and a new website. |
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Charity warns thousands new foster families needed this year
08/01/2014 Nearly 9,000 new foster families will be needed during 2014 to replace the 12% that leave each year, according to new figures. |
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Charity's plea for children with complex needs
06/01/2014 Councils faced with reduced budgets are having to make difficult choices that are often cost driven and not needs led, charity Action for Children has warned. |
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Report: Three in four foster carers share same values set
20/12/2013 Almost three-quarters of foster carers share the same values set, according to a new report published by the Fostering Network charity. |
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Foster children to stay with families until 21
04/12/2013 Councils will be given £40m to allow children in care to stay with foster families until they are 21, the children and families minister Edward Timpson has announced. |
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Charity warns of ‘huge variation’ in foster carer recruitment
04/12/2013 Recruitment of foster carers varies hugely across councils, with some authorities ‘struggling’ to recruit the workforce they need, a report indicates. |
