Today we're looking at the lack of refuges for young runaways, a damning report about mental health services for children and young people in Wales and a pilot study looking into the effects of Asbos.
- There are currently only nine refuge places for young runaways in the country despite 100,000 young people and children running away every year according to a new report. The report "Commissioning, Delivery and Perceptions of Emergency Accommodation for Young Runaways", has been published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and recommends a network of emergency accommodation be created across the UK. The report is due to appear on the DCSF website later today.
- The government has announced it will establish an improvement board with an independent leader in Cornwall. The DCSF said it would step in after Cornwall's children's services department was rated as "inadequate" by Ofsted in October and director Dean Ashton resigned. The DCSF has also issued an improvement notice for Warrington's children's services.
- Mental health services in Wales are failing children and young people according to a damning report from four inspectorates published this week. It found care leavers were left in a void after they left children's services and before they reached 18. Wales is also the only place in the UK with no specialist mental health services for children under five. The Welsh Assembly Government has six months to produce a detailed national plan with clear priorities.
- A pilot study into the impact of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) has suggested the orders can have a harmful effect on young offenders and questioned whether they may lead recipients deeper into criminality. A more in-depth study to investigate the findings further will be conducted by Kingston University.
- The government is consulting on the care planning, placement and case review regulations as well as practice guidance on short breaks and the independent reviewing officer handbook. The consultation will close in February, 2010.
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