With just two weeks to go until Community Care Live, here’s a bit of background on the big issues we’ll be covering. And there’s still time to register for the free event. Day 1 – May 16 Making adoption reform a reality Preparing and assessing prospective adopters: the new framework For an overview of the adoption [...]
Recently I learnt that some social work teams are struggling to deal with an unexpected consequence of the government’s adoption reforms. Social workers are used to the ritual battering they get from certain newspapers – the Mail leads the way with its headlines, personal favourites: ‘Why do social workers hate adoption so much?’ and ‘Social [...]
It’s not easy to be nominated for a BAFTA, but, the annual list of nominees is out and, sandwiched among some very impressive films, is a well-deserved nomination for the BBC’s social work series – Protecting Our Children. Does this mean the television industry has recognised the value of social work? Perhaps, but I think it already [...]
Collective sigh of relief, a government minister has, finally, admitted there are “causes for concern” about UK Border Agency (UKBA) plans to use dental x-rays to determine the ages of asylum-seeking children. Addressing a committee of MPs today, education secretary Michael Gove said: “I am concerned obviously to ensure that we do not have people [...]
Michael Gove has expressed concern over the UK Border Agency’s child x-ray trial, but is it too little too late? In this guest blog, Lisa Nandy MP argues the trial, and Gove’s response, signals a worrying shift in the government’s priorities. At the education select committee this morning Michael Gove expressed cautious concern about ongoing [...]
How you’re feeling about the Olympics, or Londinium MMXII, may well be dictated by where you live and work at this stage. If I wasn’t a Londoner – totally dependent on public transport and, I’ll admit, fairly ambivalent about most competitive sports – I reckon I’d be getting pretty excited by now. It is, of course, [...]
Annual care applications have exceeded 10,000 for the first time. Sian Heffey, a Cafcass guardian, describes the pressures staff are working under and explains why guardians believe referrals are still rising. I’ve seen first-hand how rising careapplications have increased guardians’ caseloads. We often work long hours, it’shard work and a lot of pressure, but it’s [...]
Current neglect laws are failing to protect children and need to be urgently reviewed, according to a report published today by Action for Children. The charity claimed the law does not cover all forms of neglect, while its report revealed two-thirds (67%) of parents say a clear law on child neglect would help them to [...]
After an eye-opening few days shadowing social workers (more on that soon), it’s back to business as usual. Here’s a quick spin around this week’s social care news. Yesterday’s big story: An Oxford university study has found independent social workers do not delay family court proceedings and add considerable value in complex cases. This is, of course, contrary [...]
A magistrate has condemned children’s homes for inappropriately criminalising young people, the Daily Mail reports. According to the paper, Janis Cauthery, a magistrate in Warwickshire, says homes are too quick to call the police and prosecute disruptive behaviour, such as pushing, shoving and breaking crockery. It’s not a new issue – TACT recently published a big piece of [...]
The Children's Services blog covers the latest news, views, gossip and analysis in children’s social care. It is aimed at professionals working with these children, young people and their families.
It is written by Community Care’s children's beat editor Camilla Pemberton.
Email: Camilla Pemberton
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