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Councils attack government's 'misleading' adoption scorecards
Controversial adoption scorecards, published for the first time today, find nearly half of councils have failed to meet national targets.
11 May 2012
Therapy for neglected siblings
CASE NOTES: Practitioner: Jamie Bromfield, Caldecott Foundation Field: Residential child care Location : Ashford, Kent Clients: George, a 6-year-old boy and his sister Samantha, 5, were subject to a Care Order having experienced chronic neglect and abuse. Case History As looked after children, George and Samantha were placed with foster families together. George has assumed an 'adult' persona caring for his sister, but this has resulted in confrontation with foster carers and placements breaking down. Dilemma Whether to continue placing the children together in the hope George's behaviour improves, put the
09 January 2009
Wales faces radical shake-up of social work regulation
The proposed Social Services (Wales) Bill promises a radical shake up of social services in Wales, particularly in extending the regulation of social work.
19 March 2012
Social workers want compulsory registration of students
Social workers have given strong backing to the compulsory registration of students with the regulator, a survey has found.
09 March 2012
ADCS condemns 12-month adoption target
Ofsted’s proposal to award oustanding ratings only to councils that place children for adoption within 12 months has been condemned by directors of children’s services who warn it could reduce adoption numbers.
27 February 2012
Adoption inspections to get tougher, Ofsted warns
Local authority adoption services will need to place children for adoption within 12 months in order to be rated outstanding by Ofsted, the watchdog announced today. (Pic: RunPhoto/Getty Images)
27 February 2012
Ten days' notice on adoption inspections mooted
Adoption support agencies could be given just 10 days’ notice before an Ofsted inspection, rather than the current eight-week period, under proposals outlined today.
10 January 2012
Government orders 'rapid review' of adoption
The government has ordered the Treasury to conduct a "rapid review" of adoption focused on speeding up the process and increasing the number of adoptions from care, Community Care has learned.
18 November 2011
Book review: How to Think About Caring for a Child with Difficult Behaviour
I wish I had written this book, writes Lynn Baxter! It is an excellent handbook for foster carers and adoptive parents in particular, but all child care workers and parents would benefit from it.
11 November 2011
Book reviews: Understanding and working with parents of children in long-term foster care
More relevant for less experienced workers or students, there is nothing in this book that empathetic and experienced social workers would not know already.
11 November 2011
Social workers criticise quality of work by guardians
Social workers say their relationship with court guardians is close to breaking point and having a direct impact on their ability to support and protect children.
31 October 2011
Government publishes 'crude' adoption league tables
The government has published league tables which, for the first time, rank local authorities on how quickly they are placing children for adoption. (picture Rex, posed by models)
31 October 2011
Ofsted could accompany social workers on child visits
Social workers could soon be accompanied by Ofsted inspectors when carrying out visits to children, Ofsted has revealed. John Goldup (pictured), Ofsted's director of social care, said the practice would help inspectors gauge the standard of services provided to children and families.
24 October 2011
Gove urges social workers to act earlier to protect children
Social workers are failing to intervene in the lives of troubled children because they fear intense criticism from the public and the media, education secretary Michael Gove (left) has claimed.
21 October 2011
'Adoption template will highlight best practice locally'
The government is about to publish an "adoption template" highlighting good practice around the country, the children's minister has revealed.
Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services conference, Tim Loughton said he had become frustrated by varying practice around the country and wanted to encourage authorities to "learn from each other".
"Everything we need for a perfect adoption system is happening already, but in different parts of the country," Loughton said. "It's not rocket science. I want everyone to take the initiative and learn from each other to deliver better services."
He said he was concerned about the "lack of sharing" among authorities. "Often I'll find an excellent initiative happening in one local authority and discover the neighbouring authority has no idea about it. Why is that happening?" he asked.
The document, which Loughton said he would publish shortly, will highlight best practice, based on information gathered by
20 October 2011
Bringing adopted children together
A project that brings together young adopted people to share their experiences is finding that anxiety and feelings of isolation are reduced while participants' self-esteem grows. Jackie Cosh reports
14 October 2011
Councils pressurise foster carers to become special guardians
Foster carers are facing increasing pressure to become special guardians as local authorities try to balance their budgets, Community Care has learned.
14 October 2011
Foster children locked out of home until carer returns
Foster children are being locked out of their homes after school until their carer returns from work, the Department for Education has revealed. (Picture: Rex Features, posed by model)
12 October 2011
MP criticises government 'obsession' with adoptions
John Hemmings MP (left) has accused the government of being "obsessed" with adoption while ignoring other permanency orders for children, despite not knowing how many adoptions end up breaking down.
07 October 2011
Is it unethical to publish adoption photos on the web?
Is it unethical to publish the photos of children waiting for adoption on the internet? Claudia Megele argues it is
30 September 2011
