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 [...]
I recently blogged about an art competition for young people with autism, which sparked a lot of interest. Today, a similarly brilliant initiative has been launched – the first ever autism-specific film festival. Organised by the charity Ambitious about Autism to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day 2012, Autism Film Club will screen four international films throughout [...]
If you know or work with an autistic young person why not encourage them to enter the Create! Art for Autism 2012 competition, launching later today. It’s open to any 11-25-year-old, from anywhere in the UK, who has been formally diagnosed with an autistic spectrum condition, including Asperger’s syndrome. There are four main categories – [...]
A high court judge has halted plans to close a London children’s centre due to a legal challenge by the mother of a disabled child, according to reports.The centre, which specialises in short breaks for autistic children, was due to close next month, but the judge said the unit must remain open while parents have [...]
Last week, American autism campaigner Dr. Temple Grandin visited Ambitious about Autism and TreeHouse School in north London.Grandin said: “It has been a wonderful experience to visit Ambitious about Autism and TreeHouse School and see the work done to support children and young people with autism. It is important to identify children with autism when they [...]
Dimensions, a service provider for people with learning disabilities and autism, have teamed up with Odeon cinemas to screen a sensory-friendly version of Mr Popper’s Penguins for children with autism.The screening will take place on 11 August in 38 cinemas across the UK. The aim of the project is to allow families with autistic children [...]
The quality of care received by many people with autism could become more highly regulated if a bill presented to Parliament today goes through.Robert Buckland, MP for Swindon South, has presented the 10 Minute Rule Bill urging the Secretary of State to commission a NICE quality standard for autism.This standard, which would be developed in [...]
More targeted intervention for toddlers showing signs of autism is now possible, according to a report published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry this week.By presenting toddlers with different types of play techniques, experts have been able to determine where the children lie on the autism spectrum sooner than with traditional techniques, and [...]
Morning all. On our radar today: Scotland’s children’s commissioner has criticised police for failing to convict any child traffickers, despite a huge rise in the number of children trafficked into Scotland over the last 18 months. The BBC reports that a couple with learning disabilities feel let down by social services and courts after being forced to put their [...]
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has drawn up a draft of clinical guidance saying the NHS needs to improve how it diagnoses autism in children and teenagers.The guidance says at least 1 in 100 children under the age of three years has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but levels of understanding [...]
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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