A new book examined partnership working and governance under the New Labour government in the United Kingdom. It said that, despite substantial investment in the partnership agenda, there was little evidence that this had significantly improved outcomes. It examined three areas of policy (child safeguarding, urban regeneration, and the modernization of health and social care), applying a new framework to the analysis before making recommendations about effective collaboration.
Source: Helen Dickinson, Performing Governance: Partnerships, culture and New Labour, Palgrave Macmillan (Publication date: May 2014)
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Dec
The government announced a new legal duty for local authorities to support care leavers to stay with their foster parents until their 21st birthday ('staying put' arrangements). An amendment would be made to the Children and Families Bill, currently passing through parliament, to introduce the duty from April 2014. The government announced that local authorities would receive £40 million over the following three years to introduce the support arrangements.
Source: Press release 4 December 2013, Department for Education
Links: DE press release | Action for Children press release | Catch22 press release | NCB press release | Who Cares Trust press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Dec
The inspectorate for education and children's services began consultation on proposals to change the framework for inspection of children's homes in England. The consultation would close on 21 February 2014.
Source: Inspection of Children's Homes, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Consultation document | OFSTED press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A Scottish government-backed group published a report from their review of foster care in Scotland. The review had been established to assess a range of potential reforms, and provide direction on policy questions regarding: the organization and management of foster carers; carers' learning and development; and the financial and practical support offered to carers. The report made recommendations in all three areas.
Source: National Foster Care Review: Final report, Looked After Children Strategic Implementation Group, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Survey analysis
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined children's subjective well-being in rich countries. It developed a new domain index of subjective well-being based on seven indicators, including: life satisfaction; relationships with family and friends; well-being at school; and subjective health. Changes in subjective well-being between 2001-02 and 2009-10 were analyzed, along with the relationships between subjective well-being and objective domains – material, health, education, behaviour, and housing and environment. At a macro level subjective well-being was associated with all these domains. It concluded that subjective well-being should be included in comparative studies of well-being, but not necessarily as just another domain: it was a related but different order measure.
Source: Jonathan Bradshaw, Bruno Martorano, Luisa Natali, and Chris de Neubourg, 'Children's subjective well-being in rich countries', Child Indicators Research, Volume 6 Number 4
Links: Abstract
See also: Jonathan Bradshaw, Bruno Martorano, Luisa Natali, and Chris de Neubourg, Children's Subjective Well-Being in Rich Countries, Working Paper 2013-03, UNICEF
Date: 2013-Dec
A report examined local authority fostering services in England. It said that, on average: services generated 0.7 enquiries about fostering per looked-after child needing foster care; 11 per cent of enquiries resulted in new, approved foster carers; 69 per cent of foster carers were utilized by local authorities; the approval process for new carers took an average of 9.2 months, but there was a wide range of times; and 13 per cent of the foster care workforce were lost each year. Recommendations included: more detailed needs assessment by local authorities; a review of marketing and communications strategies; exit interviews to identify why carers leave; more and better data; and further research on the assessment process.
Source: Local Authority Fostering Service Benchmark 2012/13, The Fostering Network
Links: Report | Fostering Network press release
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined the extent and nature of kinship care in the United Kingdom, drawing on 2001 census micro data. It said that more than 173,000 children were living with relatives, without their parents, and the majority of these lived in poor and deprived circumstances. It highlighted the relevance for policy, and particularly for the needs of carers.
Source: Shailen Nandy and Julie Selwyn, 'Kinship care and poverty: using census data to examine the extent and nature of kinship care in the UK', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 43 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
A report examined the Department of Education's A Long Way from Home initiative. The initiative was developed to explore the long-distance commissioning of children's homes placements, in particular: the extent to which long-distance commissioning was problematic; issues related to education and health; leaving care; and notifications. It said that there were many examples of good practice, but long-distance placement of children in residential care remained a complex and contentious issue that was under-researched. The report made recommendations.
Source: Findings and Recommendations from the Department for Education s A Long Way from Home Initiative 2012, Department for Education
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined the use of restorative approaches within a secure childcare centre in England, drawing on a small scale evaluation study. It said that restorative approaches provided considerable benefits for both young people and staff, although some staff viewed restorative justice as a 'soft option'. The article raised questions about the role of restorative approaches and whether they might facilitate change in the ethos of secure establishments.
Source: Jo Staines, 'The implementation of restorative approaches in a secure child care centre', Restorative Justice, Volume 1 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
A report examined the experiences of six police forces in handling cases of 'absent' children and adults, to assess perceptions of best policy and practice. It evaluated the roles of call handlers, supervisors and missing person co-ordinators, and examined the instances of collaboration with other agencies in endeavouring to investigate and safeguard absent people. The report highlighted areas of variation between the forces and identified potential risks to absent people.
Source: Karen Shalev Greene and Francis Pakes, Absent: An exploration of common police procedures for safeguarding practices in cases of missing children and adults, Association of Chief Police Officers/National Crime Agency/University of Portsmouth
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A coalition of Royal Colleges, trade unions and Equality Now published a report examining the issues surrounding female genital mutilation. The report said that a comprehensive multi-agency action plan was urgently required to ensure that girls were protected by the existing United Kingdom legal framework. The report's recommendations included that FGM should be treated as child abuse, with frontline professionals held accountable against agreed standards.
Source: RCM, RCN, RCOG, Equality Now, and UNITE, Tackling FGM in the UK: Intercollegiate recommendations for identifying, recording, and reporting, Royal College of Midwives
Links: Report | Joint press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the contribution of the first Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) within care proceedings in England and Wales, in the context of changes under the Children and Families Bill of 2013. It concluded that FDAC could play a role in safe reunification at the end of care proceedings, but adaptations would be necessary to meet challenges posed by the new legislation.
Source: Judith Harwin, Bachar Alrouh, Mary Ryan, and Jo Tunnard, 'Strengthening prospects for safe and lasting family reunification: can a Family Drug and Alcohol Court make a contribution?', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the views and experiences of National Health Service Named and Designated Nurses and Doctors for Safeguarding Children about their involvement in serious case reviews. It said that staff found SCRs to involve additional work, and they did not always feel adequately supported. The process was sometimes found to detract from the case itself and there were mixed views about the value and applications of the reviews to everyday practice.
Source: Sue Peckover, Sue Smith, and Fiona Wondergem, 'Doing serious case reviews : the views and experiences of NHS named and designated safeguarding children professionals', Child Abuse Review, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A study examined younger children's use of social networking sites. It said that: 23 per cent of 11 and 12 year olds who had a user profile had been upset by something on it over the past year; around one-fifth of those children experienced this every day or almost every day; and more than half of those upsets were caused by strangers, people they only knew online, or they did not know who caused it. The report called for: agencies to liaise more on prevention with social networking sites; and for better information for parents on the risks and benefits of social networking.
Source: Claire Lilley and Ruth Ball, Younger Children and Social Networking Sites: A blind spot, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | NSPCC press release
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the outcomes for neglected children following structured assessment and intervention. It said that improvement was seen in the level of concern about neglect in 79 per cent of cases, with only 21 per cent showing no improvement. In 59 per cent of cases, concern about neglect was removed completely. It discussed aspects of the engagement by and with parents, and the impact on children.
Source: Tony Long, Michael Murphy, Debbie Fallon, Joan Livesley, Patric Devitt, Moira McLoughlin, and Alison Cavanagh, 'Four-year longitudinal impact evaluation of the Action for Children UK Neglect Project: outcomes for the children, families, Action for Children, and the UK', Child Abuse & Neglect, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the Allen report (2011) on early intervention. It criticized the way in which the report attributed the disadvantages faced by working-class children to the parenting practices of their mothers. The report was part of a long tradition in which elites linked notions of respectability to the parenting and housekeeping skills of mothers. It failed to acknowledge the income needs of poor working-class mothers, and denied the importance of material conditions to mothering.
Source: Chris Grover and Claire Mason, 'The Allen report: class, gender and disadvantage', Families, Relationships and Societies, Volume 2 Number 3
Links: Abstract
See also: Graham Allen MP, Early Intervention: The Next Steps, Cabinet Office (2011)
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined whether children in care and care leavers were receiving the support to which they were entitled. It said that the majority did not think they had all the information they needed about the support they should receive from their local authority. Over one third of children in care did not know whether they had a care plan in place, while only half of care leavers said they had a pathway plan for their transition to independent living. Many were unaware of available financial support for post-16 education, finding work, and setting up home. More than one in five said that their social worker did not conduct visits on a one to one basis.
Source: The Entitlements Inquiry: Report with recommendations, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers
Links: Report | Summary | Who Cares Trust press release | NIACE press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
A serious case review was published by the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board into the case of Hamzah Khan, who died in 2009 at the age of 4 as a result of parental neglect.
Source: A Serious Case Review: Hamzah Khan – the overview report, Bradford Safeguarding Children Board
Links: Report | Summary | Learning and Improvement Report | Statement from Chair of BSCB | Statement from Chair of SCR | Letter from DoE to BSCB Chair | NSPCC press release | Action for Children press release | 4Children press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined the work of children's guardians in care cases in England.
Source: The Work of Children s Guardians in Care Cases, Cafcass
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined failures by local authorities in their duty to provide support for family and friends who care for others' children. Drawing on lessons from complaints received by the Ombudsman, the report highlighted areas of unfair treatment, as well as the common issues found in the complaints it handles.
Source: Family Values: Council services to family and friends who care for others children, Local Government Ombudsman
Links: Report | LGO press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
A survey of children supported by Action for Children found that they were trying to cope with problems such as parents' unemployment, illness, family breakdown and domestic abuse. Frontline staff reported an increase in support needs, including a need for more emotional support, and a deterioration in children's mental health. The survey report called for greater certainty over funding, with five year budget cycles to coincide with the electoral cycle, and a firm commitment to spending on early intervention.
Source: The Red Book 2013: Children under pressure, Action for Children
Links: Report | Summary | Action for Children press release
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined research evidence on independent visitor schemes, and considered what visitors offered to young people. It said that visitors were viewed as friends and sources of support, encouragement and advice, while providing a consistent adult presence for children.
Source: Claire Hurst and Mark Peel, 'What does the Independent Visitor role offer looked after children?', Adoption & Fostering, Volume 37 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined data on child deaths from 35 individual management reviews undertaken between 2009 and 2013, and data provided by serious incident notifications. The data included seven cases of homicide/suicide, where a parent killed a child or children, then themselves. The report said that there was insufficient data to identify motive, but there was sometimes a mental health element and, in some cases, the act was designed to cause distress to the other parent. The report noted that good safeguarding practice would identify cases of high risk, but it would rarely be possible to identify when, how, or by whom the child/ren would be killed.
Source: Richard Green and Holly Jeapes, Learning from Cafcass Individual Management Reviews (IMRs): Case dynamics, Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Links: Report | Cafcass press release
Date: 2013-Nov
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that some local authorities did not know enough about the levels of education received by children and young people who were not in full-time education in the usual way. The report said that inspectors had found insufficient provision, low expectations, and poor information sharing. It also said that some local authorities were failing to arrange, and monitor properly the effectiveness of, education for children directly in their care. Recommendations included: better recording of information; better information sharing between relevant organizations; clear lines of responsibility; and ongoing inspection. The report highlighted examples of effective practice.
Source: Pupils Missing Out on Education: Low aspirations, little access, limited achievement, HMI 130048, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the school meal choices made by young people. The study found that the most popular dishes were 'grab and go' foods, such as sandwiches, pizza, or desserts. Pupils receiving free school meals were more likely to select the more nutritionally valuable dishes. The article said that school food standards should be reassessed in light of students' preferences.
Source: Hannah Ensaff, Jean Russell, and Margo Barker, 'Meeting school food standards: students food choice and free school meals', Public Health Nutrition, Volume 16 Issue 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A survey examined awareness of issues surrounding child sexual exploitation and the roles of parents, schools and other professionals in keeping children safe. The report noted that mobile phones, rather than computers, were a primary tool used in exploitation attempts. It said that parents had a key role in safeguarding their children, and should be enabled to be more involved.
Source: Are Parents in the Picture? Professional and parental perspectives of child sexual exploitation, YouGov
Links: Report | Pace comment | NSPCC press release
Date: 2013-Nov
A children's charity published a collection of essays on children's centres. Essay topics included: the purpose of children's centres; key outcomes and indicators from the national evaluation of Sure Start; a call to refocus services on supporting younger children; the case for integrating health services within children's centres; effective services; and the future development of children's centres.
Source: Partnerships for a Better Start: Perspectives on the role of children s centres, National Children s Bureau
Links: Report | NCB press release
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the application of the continental European model of social pedagogy in English residential care. Drawing on existing theories of policy transfer, experiences in continental Europe, and an evaluation of an English pilot scheme, it concluded that there were 'major hurdles' to widespread implementation in England.
Source: David Berridge, 'Policy transfer, social pedagogy and children's residential care in England', Child & Family Social Work, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
The government began consultation on proposed changes to family legal aid remuneration schemes. The consultation would close on 25 November 2013.
Source: Supporting the Introduction of the Single Family Court: Proposed changes to family legal aid remuneration schemes, Ministry of Justice
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2013-Oct
A study examined how to support families with different levels of need across the early intervention spectrum to engage with services within an overall framework of neglect. Nine authorities from across England carried out research into this topic, supported by the researchers. The research found that practitioners and families felt that more help needed to be offered to families early on and that authorities' and different practitioner groups' responses might vary. Practitioners and families suggested changes and improvements to overcome both existing gaps in provision and challenges to supporting families effectively. Further summaries for target practitioner audiences were to be issued in late 2013.
Source: Claire Easton, Emily Lamont, Robert Smith, and Helen Aston, 'We Should Have Been Helped From Day One': A unique perspective from children, families and practitioners, National Foundation for Educational Research
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
A report examined how to make better national use of the information collected through the child death review processes.
Source: Jennifer Kurinczuk and Marian Knight, Child Death Reviews: Improving the use of evidence, Department for Education
Date: 2013-Oct
The Crown Prosecution Service issued guidelines on the prosecution of cases of child sexual abuse. Alongside this, the CPS also issued a joint protocol, drawn up with a range of connected agencies, on the sharing of information.
Source: Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases of Child Sexual Abuse, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Guidelines | Protocol | CPS press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report | Victim Support press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report provided an overview of usage of the helpline provided by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. There had been a 15 per cent increase in the volume of calls over the previous year.
Source: Helpline Highlight 2012/13: More people speaking out to protect children, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Date: 2013-Oct
A serious case review was published by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board into the case of Keanu Williams, who died in 2011 at the age of 2 as a result of parental abuse.
Source: Birgitta Lundberg, Serious Case Review: In respect of the death of Keanu Williams, Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board
Links: Report | BSCB press release | Key facts | NCB press release | Action for Children press release | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Oct
The Scottish Government published its play strategy action plan.
Source: Play Strategy for Scotland: Our action plan, Scottish Government
Links: Action plan | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2013-Oct
An article examined the link between area-based socio-economic deprivation and the incidence of child pedestrian casualties in major cities over the period 2001-2007. There was a consistent strong deprivation effect, with child pedestrian casualties in the most deprived zones typically greater than 10 times that in the least deprived zones.
Source: Daniel Graham, Emma McCoy, and David Stephens, 'Quantifying the effect of area deprivation on child pedestrian casualties by using longitudinal mixed models to adjust for confounding, interference and spatial dependence', Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A, Volume 76 Issue 4
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Oct
An inspectorate report examined the handling of asylum applications made by children. It noted the commitment of staff to the welfare of child applicants, but found inconsistencies of process and duration across location.
Source: John Vine, An Inspection into the Handling of Asylum Applications Made by Unaccompanied Children: February June 2013, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
Links: Report | ICI press release | Home Office response | Refugee Council comment | Children's Society press release
Date: 2013-Oct
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children announced a new collaboration with the Association of Independent Local Safeguarding Children Board Chairs to hold a central repository of all serious case reviews. The repository would be publicly available to facilitate greater learning from severe instances of child abuse in England for the benefit of professionals in the child care sector.
Source: Press release 25 September 2013, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: NSPCC press release
Date: 2013-Oct
The inspectorate for education and children's services began consultation on proposals to review the effectiveness of Local Safeguarding Children Boards. The consultation was targeted at those who had a specific interest in, or expertise relating to, the effectiveness of the Boards. The closing date for the consultation was 23 October 2013.
Source: Review of the Local Safeguarding Children Board: Consultation document, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2013-Oct
A new book provided a comprehensive guide to safeguarding and child protection in the early years. It considered contemporary developments in early years and safeguarding practice, set out the legal and policy foundations for effective practice, and explored areas of contemporary concern.
Source: James Reid and Steven Burton (eds), Safeguarding and Protecting Children in the Early Years, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Oct
An article presented a qualitative evaluation of the Family Support Project (FSP) delivered at HMP New Hall, a female establishment located in West Yorkshire. The FSP was delivered by one female Family Support Officer (FSO) and managed by Lincolnshire Action Trust (LAT). The findings revealed a high demand for the services of the FSP. Participants spoke positively about the FSO's approachable nature, dedication and ability to communicate effectively with other agencies. The benefits of Family Days in maintaining family ties, and Final Contact adoption visits for residents saying farewell to children, were also discussed.
Source: Martin Manby, Leanne Monchuk, and Kathryn Sharratt, 'The importance of maintaining family ties during imprisonment: perspectives of those involved in HMP New Hall's Family Support Project', Prison Service Journal, 209.
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Oct
The inspectorate for education and children's services published the outcome of a consultation on the inspection of services for children in need of help and protection, looked-after children, and care leavers.
Source: Responses to Ofsted's Consultation on the Inspection of Services for Children in Need of Help and Protection, Children Looked after and Care Leavers, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
The government announced that from April 2014 the new 'pupil premium plus' would increase funding for children in care by £1,000 to provide £1,900 additional funding per pupil. The new funding would cover children as soon as they entered care. Children adopted from care and those who left care under a special guardianship order or residence order would also attract the funding.
Source: Press release 1 October 2013, Department for Education
Links: DE press release | NCB report | Action for Children press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A think-tank report examined policy and provision for young people leaving care and proposed amendments to the Children and Families Bill 2013.
Source: I Never Left Care, Care Left Me : Ensuring good corporate parenting into adulthood, Centre for Social Justice
Date: 2013-Oct
A report examined how acute paediatric and local authority statutory child protection services in England worked together in cases of suspected child maltreatment.
Source: Jane Lewis, Partnership Working in Child Protection: Improving liaison between acute paediatric and child protection services, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Report | SCIE press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report examined the childhood experiences of abuse of young men and women, as well as how they disclosed this abuse and sought help. Although much past research had suggested that few children disclose sexual abuse, this study found that over 80 per cent had tried to tell someone about the abuse.
Source: Debbie Allnock and Pam Miller, No One Noticed, No One Heard: A study of disclosures of childhood abuse, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | NSPCC press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report provided a framework upon which to develop local plans and implement personal budgets for children and young people.
Source: Support and Aspiration: Introducing personal budgets, In Control
Links: Report | In Control press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report evaluated the work of independent social work experts (ISWs) in care proceedings. The second of two reports, it examined the views, experiences, and practices of a sample of senior judges in commissioning ISW assessments, as well as their views about the implications of the modernization programme for use of ISWs.
Source: Julia Brophy, Judith Sidaway, Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, and Charlie Owen, Neither Fear nor Favour, Affection or Ill Will: Modernisation of care proceedings and the use and value of independent social work expertise to senior judges, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
A new book presented an international overview of child protection strategy and policy.
Source: Penelope Welbourne and John Dixon (eds), Child Protection and Child Welfare: A global appraisal of cultures, policy and practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Links: Summary
Notes: Chapters included:
Clare Colton and Penelope Welbourne, 'The United Kingdom'
Date: 2013-Sep
A cross-party manifesto highlighted the importance of acting early to enhance outcomes for children. It called for a holistic approach to the '1001 critical days' from conception to a child's second birthday. All parents should have access to ante-natal education classes that addressed parenting and emotional needs, as well as the mother's and baby's physical health; training in child development and infant mental health should be provided as standard for health and early years workers; there should be more rigorous studies of the effectiveness of training intervention programmes; better use should be made of joint strategic needs assessments to highlight the specific risks, such as domestic violence or substance misuse, faced by families with babies; and there should be better support for the most vulnerable families in children's centres.
Source: The 1001 Critical Days: The importance of the conception to age two period, Andrea Leadsom MP/Frank Field MP/Paul Burstow MP/Caroline Lucas MP
Links: Manifesto | NCT press release | NSPCC press release | Guardian report | Nursery World report
Date: 2013-Sep
A report said that local councils in England were putting vulnerable children at risk by failing to carry out proper checks on runaway children once they returned, and warned that official guidance was open to misinterpretation.
Source: Here to Listen? Return interviews provision for young runaways, Children s Society
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2013-Sep
A report published by the children's watchdog for England examined what secondary schools could do to keep their students safe from harm, both in and out of school.
Source: Michelle Lefevre, Rachel Burr, Janet Boddy, and Robert Rosenthal, Feeling Safe, Keeping safe: Good practice in safeguarding and child protection in secondary schools, Office of the Children's Commissioner
Links: Report | OCC press release
Date: 2013-Sep
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on child sexual exploitation.
Source: Child Sexual Exploitation and the Response to Localised Grooming: The Government Response to the Second Report from the Home Affairs Committee, Cm 8705, Home Office, TSO
Links: Response | Home Office press release
Notes: MPs report (June 2013)
Date: 2013-Sep
A new book examined issues related to young people who are affected by child sexual exploitation and child trafficking for exploitation.
Source: Margaret Melrose and Jenny Pearce (eds), Critical Perspectives on Child Sexual Exploitation and Related Trafficking, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Sep
A study examined deaths in children aged 1-18 in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from 1980 to 2010. It highlighted the continuing importance of injuries as a cause of death in childhood, and the lack of decrease in deaths due to intentional injury for children aged 10-18 since 1980; the persisting effect of young maternal age as a risk factor for child death throughout early childhood, despite accounting for birth weight; the high proportion of deaths in children with chronic conditions (especially neurological conditions); and the small but consistent decrease in the proportion of children with a chronic condition who died during hospital admission.
Source: Pia Hardelid, Nirupa Dattani, Jonathan Davey, Ivana Pribramska, and Ruth Gilbert, Overview of Child Deaths in the Four UK Countries, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the hypothesis that adult well-being was related to childhood experiences. Adult mental well-being, life satisfaction, life worth, and trust were all found to be significantly related to childhood violence and happiness – even after controlling for socio-demographic factors. These results strengthened the case for investment in interventions to improve childhood experiences.
Source: Mark Bellis, Karen Hughes, Alyson Jones, Clare Perkins, and Philip McHale, 'Childhood happiness and violence: a retrospective study of their impacts on adult well-being', BMJ Open, Volume 3 Issue 9
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Sep
A report said that more than 18 million children in Europe aged under 18 suffered from maltreatment. Child maltreatment was a leading cause of health inequality, linked to socio-economic disadvantage, and it perpetuated social injustice. Although the issue was nominally a priority in most countries in the European region, few devoted adequate resources and attention to its prevention.
Source: Dinesh Sethi, Mark Bellis, Karen Hughes, Ruth Gilbert, Francesco Mitis, and Gauden Galea (eds), European Report on Preventing Child Maltreatment, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report | WHO press release
Date: 2013-Sep
An article said that the family nurse partnership could be targeted more effectively, based on an analysis of a cohort study of risk factors for child maltreatment in England. By targeting risk factors that were more prevalent among abusive families, fewer specialist health visitors would be needed to prevent a higher percentage of child maltreatment.
Source: Kevin Browne and Vicki Jackson, 'Community intervention to prevent child maltreatment in England: evaluating the contribution of the family nurse partnership', Journal of Public Health, Volume 35 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
A report examined internet use by children aged 8 or under. There had recently been a substantial increase in internet usage by this group: but it had not yet been established whether they had the capacity to engage with the internet in a safe and beneficial manner in all circumstances, especially in relation to socializing online – either within age-appropriate virtual worlds or as under-aged participants in sites intended for teenagers and adults.
Source: Donell Holloway, Lelia Green, and Sonia Livingstone, Zero to Eight: Young children and their internet use, EU Kids Online
Links: Report | LSE press release
Date: 2013-Aug
A new book said that commercial pressures were having a direct impact on children's psychological development and health – such as fatty foods resulting in childhood obesity, expensive franchised toys that encouraged tension within families and stigma among friends, and 'pornified' role models who perverted children's ideas of sexuality. It identified new and emerging forms of child exploitation, and questioned whether existing child protection procedures designed to protect children from abuse were still adequate.
Source: Jim Wild (ed.), Exploiting Childhood: How fast food, material obsession and porn culture are creating new forms of child abuse, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Aug
An article said that half of all children aged 7 were sedentary for 6-7 hours every day, and only half took the recommended daily minimum of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Girls, children of Indian ethnic origin, and those living in Northern Ireland were found to be the least physically active. The authors called for policies to promote more exercise among girls to redress the gender differences, including dancing, playground activities, and ball games.
Source: Lucy Griffiths, Mario Cortina-Borj, Francesco Ser, Theodora Pouliou, Marco Geraci, Carly Rich, Tim Cole, Catherine Law, Heather Joshi, Andrew Ness, Susan Jebb, and Carol Dezateux, 'How active are our children? Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study', BMJ Open, Volume 3 Issue 8
Links: Abstract | ICH press release | IOE press release | YST press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Aug
A briefing paper examined how the United Kingdom compared internationally on key indicators of health behaviour and well-being among children. Using a secondary analysis of existing datasets, it focused on associations and predictors of well-being among children aged 7 and young people aged 10-15. It also looked at associations among children under 11 between (on the one hand) the behaviours of healthy eating (including eating breakfast), physical activity, and reducing screen time, and (on the other) concentration, social relationships, truancy, and well-being. It said that children who spent most time in front of televisions and computer screens had lower self-esteem and greater emotional problems.
Source: How Healthy Behaviour Supports Children's Wellbeing, Public Health England
Links: Briefing | PHE press release
Date: 2013-Aug
A report examined the experiences of children from a range of backgrounds who had run away and been victims of sexual exploitation before the age of 16. It highlighted the variety of reasons why children chose to run away, and how easily they could find themselves at risk and in danger of being sexually exploited. Running away could be the result of having been exploited for sex.
Source: Emilie Smeaton, Running from Hate to What You Think Is Love: The relationship between running away and child sexual exploitation, Barnardo's
Links: Report | Barnardos press release | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2013-Jul
The Prime Minister announced that action would be taken to block access to online pornography unless customers told their internet provider that they wanted to retain it. Possessing online pornography depicting rape would become illegal in England and Wales (in line with Scotland). The Prime Minister also called for certain internet search terms related to child sexual abuse to be 'blacklisted' by search engine companies.
Source: Speech by David Cameron MP (Prime Minister), 22 July 2013
Links: Speech | Action for Children press release | Brook press release | CARE press release | Childrens Society press release | Christian Institute press release | Durham University press release | Evangelical Alliance press release | EVAW press release | Family Lives press release | IWF press release | NSPCC press release | OCC press release | Rape Crisis press release | BBC report (1) | BBC report (2) | Daily Mail report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Jul
An article said that child mortality due to injury had declined in all countries of the United Kingdom. England consistently experienced the lowest mortality rate throughout the study period (1980-2010). For children aged 10-18, differences between countries in mortality rates increased during the study period. The decline in mortality due to injury was accounted for by a decline in unintentional injuries. For older children, no declines were observed for deaths caused by self-harm, by assault, or from undetermined intent in any UK country.
Source: Pia Hardelid, Jonathan Davey, Nirupa Dattani, and Ruth Gilbert, 'Child deaths due to injury in the four UK countries: a time trends study from 1980 to 2010', PLoS ONE, 10 July 2013
Links: Article | Abstract | UCL press release
Date: 2013-Jul
A report said that the happiness of children was in decline, with teenagers experiencing particularly low well-being. After a period of rising well-being (children's happiness and satisfaction with their lives) between 1994 and 2008, recent years had seen static or declining levels of happiness.
Source: Gwyther Rees, Haridhan Goswami, Larissa Pople, Jonathan Bradshaw, Antonia Keung, and Gill Main, Good Childhood Report 2013, Children s Society
Links: Report | Summary | Childrens Society press release | NEF blog post | YoungMinds press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that recent criminal cases had highlighted 'catastrophic multi-agency failures' over child sexual exploitation. The police, social services, and Crown Prosecution Service all needed to bear responsibility for the way in which vulnerable children had been left unprotected by the system. All local authorities needed to ensure that there was sufficient funding for prevention within the budget of any multi-agency team tasked with tackling child sexual exploitation.
Source: Child Sexual Exploitation and the Response to Localised Grooming, Second Report (Session 2013-14), HC 68, House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Committee press release | Childrens Society press release | Railway Children press release | BBC report | Daily Mail report | Guardian report | Public Finance report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Jun
A report examined the long-term impact of caring responsibilities on children. 1 in 12 young carers were caring for more than 15 hours per week. Around 1 in 20 missed school because of their caring responsibilities, and young carers had significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level. The average annual income for families with a young carer was £5,000 less than other families. Young carers were more likely than average to be not in education, employment or training (NEET) between the ages of 16 and 19. Despite improved awareness of the needs of young carers, there was no strong evidence that young carers were any more likely than their peers to come into contact with support agencies.
Source: Hidden from View: The experiences of young carers in England, Children s Society
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release | PRTC press release | BBC report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2013-May
A report reviewed progress on improving children's health and well-being since 1999. Although progress had been made, some coalition government policies (for example cuts to social security benefits and social care) could reverse these improvements by hitting the most vulnerable groups hardest: this would exacerbate child poverty and widen social inequalities. Intervention to improve children's prospects needed to begin before birth, including: parenting classes for at-risk families (for example, those in poor housing or where there was a threat of domestic abuse); targeting children who would be born into households with unhealthy lifestyles (for example smoking, illegal drug use, alcohol misuse, or poor nutrition); and improving maternal nutrition, leading to healthier pregnancies and babies.
Source: Growing up in the UK: Ensuring a healthy future for our children, British Medical Association
Links: Report | BMA press release | Action for Children press release | RCM press release | RCOG press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursery World report
Date: 2013-May
A new book examined the contemporary regulation of online risk for children in European countries, including whether such regulation was legitimate and whether it resulted in the sacrifice of certain fundamental human rights. Children had more rights with regard to their personal decision-making as digital consumers, yet fewer democratic rights to participation and protection as 'digital citizens'.
Source: Elisabeth Staksrud, Children in the Online World: Risk, regulation, rights, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-May
A report examined children's advocacy in child protection cases. It highlighted research showing that in a significant number of cases involving death or serious abuse, the child's views had not been properly considered. It called for children to have a legal right to an independent advocate who could fully express their views in suspected cases of abuse and neglect.
Source: Mary Lagaay and Laura Courtney, Time to Listen: Independent advocacy within the child protection process, National Children s Bureau
Links: Report | NCB press release
Date: 2013-May
A research study for the children's watchdog for England found that: a significant number of children accessed pornography; it influenced their attitudes towards relationships and sex; it was linked to risky behaviour such as having sex at a younger age; and there was a correlation between holding violent attitudes and accessing more violent media. The watchdog called for urgent action to develop children's resilience to pornography.
Source: Miranda Horvath, Llian Alys, Kristina Massey, Afroditi Pina, Mia Scally, and Joanna Adler, 'Basically... Porn Is Everywhere': A rapid evidence assessment on the effects that access and exposure to pornography has on children and young people, Office of the Children's Commissioner
Links: Report | OCC press release | Middlesex University press release | Canterbury Christ Church University press release | BHA press release | EVAW press release | SEF press release | Womens Aid press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-May
A report said that the rental market was having a damaging impact on children's lives. Families with children were the most badly affected by the volatility and uncertainty of the rental market. Renting families were 9 times as likely to have moved in the previous year than families who owned their homes. 1 in 10 renting families had had to change their children's school due to moving, with moves causing stress and upset for some children. 44 per cent of parents surveyed felt that their children would have a better childhood if they had more stability in their home.
Source: Francesca Albanese, Growing up Renting: A childhood spent in private rented homes, Shelter
Links: Report | Summary | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2013-May
An article examined the relationship between family income and child health, using a very large sample of children. There was no correlation between income and child general health at ages 0 1, but the gradient emerged around age 2 and was constant from age 2 to age 17. The gradient in general health reflected a greater prevalence of chronic conditions among low-income children and a greater severity of these conditions. Taken together, the findings suggested that income did matter for child health, and might play a role in the inter-generational transmission of socio-economic status.
Source: Benedicte Apouey and Pierre-Yves Geoffard, 'Family income and child health in the UK', Journal of Health Economics, Volume 32 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
An article examined factors affecting outcomes for neglected children, based on a five-year follow-up study in England of looked-after children who had been returned to their family. Half of the returns had broken down after two years, rising to almost two-thirds after five years. Rates of repeat neglect and abuse were also high. Earlier intervention, more protective and proactive action, and better planning for children's futures – particularly for older children – were needed if outcomes were to be improved.
Source: Eleanor Lutman and Elaine Farmer, 'What contributes to outcomes for neglected children who are reunified with their parents? Findings from a five-year follow-up study', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 43 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Apr
A report examined children's reports of their well-being. In 2010-11, 89 per cent of children said that they were relatively happy with their lives overall. 4 per cent reported being relatively unhappy. A much higher percentage reported being completely happy with their friends and family than with their school, their school work or their appearance. Boys were more likely than girls to report being happy with their life overall, their friends, and their appearance. Girls were more likely than boys to report being happy with their school work.
Source: Jen Beaumont, Measuring National Well-being: Children's well-being, 2013, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report | Understanding Society press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Apr
A study examined informal kinship care (informal care of children by relatives and friends because the parents were no longer able to look after them). Just over two-thirds (67 per cent) of the children had been abandoned by parents affected by alcohol or drug misuse, including nearly one-quarter (24 per cent) misusing both. Exposure to domestic violence and parental mental illness was also common. The parents' chaotic lives had led to parental indifference (64 per cent) and to active rejection (26 per cent) of their children.
Source: Julie Selwyn, Elaine Farmer, Sarah Meakings, and Paula Vaisey, The Poor Relations: Children and informal kinship carers speak out, University of Bristol/Buttle UK
Links: Report | Summary | Buttle UK press release | Bristol University press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Apr
An article examined the impact of early parental death. It highlighted the long-term damage and suffering that could be experienced by individuals in adult life if appropriate levels of support were not provided at the time of bereavement.
Source: Jackie Ellis, Chris Dowrick, and Mari Lloyd-Williams, 'The long-term impact of early parental death: lessons from a narrative study', Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Volume 106 Issue 2
Links: Article | RSM press release
Date: 2013-Apr
A report presented 19 indicators of child protection to give a picture of how many children were being harmed. For every child subject to a protection plan, or on child protection registers, another 8 had suffered recent maltreatment. An estimated 520,000 children were maltreated by a parent or guardian in 2011: but only 58,000 became the subject of child protection plans in that year. It would cost up to half a billion pounds every year to provide protection plans to just one-quarter of these 'hidden' children. But preventative services that worked with struggling parents before, or as soon as, issues arose could stop the need for costly protection measures later and make huge savings in both financial and human terms.
Source: Lisa Harker, Sonja Jutte, Tom Murphy, Holly Bentley, Pam Miller, and Kate Fitch, How Safe Are Our Children?, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | NSPCC press release | CSW press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Apr
The coalition government published (following consultation) revised statutory guidance clarifying the core legal requirements on individuals and organizations to keep children safe. It set out the requirements that health services, social workers, police, schools, and other organizations that worked with children, needed to follow with effect from 15 April 2013.
Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, Department for Education
Links: Guidance | Impact assessment | Equality impact assessment | NHS guidance | Hansard | DE press release | Action for Children press release | ADCS press release | Barnardos press release | Childrens Society press release | CSW press release | LGA press release | RCN press release | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined how socio-economic inequalities in health, behaviour, and educational attainment changed as children aged. The results suggested that, within a cohort, maternal education inequalities in offspring health, behaviour, and educational attainment were established in childhood but did not increase up to adolescence. Maternal education inequalities in behaviour and educational attainment were considerably larger than in health measures.
Source: Laura Howe, Debbie Lawlor, and Carol Propper, 'Trajectories of socioeconomic inequalities in health, behaviours and academic achievement across childhood and adolescence', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 67 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
A joint inspectorate report said that a failure to identify children in England living with parents with mental ill-health had led to them not receiving the help that they needed, with some being left at risk of harm. It called for a mandatory requirement for mental health services to collect data on children whose parents or carers had mental health difficulties, and to report on such data nationally.
Source: What about the Children? Joint working between adult and children s services when parents or carers have mental ill health and/or drug and alcohol problems, HMI 130066, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills/Care Quality Commission
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Childrens Commissioner press release | 4Children press release | NTA press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Mar
Researchers provided a systematic analysis of neglect in serious case reviews (local multi-agency reviews of child deaths or serious injury where abuse or neglect was known or suspected) in England between 2003 and 2011. Neglect was much more prevalent in serious case reviews than had previously been understood (neglect was found in 60 per cent of the 139 reviews from 2009 to 2011). Neglect could be life-threatening and needed to be treated with as much urgency as other categories of maltreatment. Neglect with the most serious outcomes was not confined to the youngest children, and occurred across all ages.
Source: Marian Brandon, Sue Bailey, Pippa Belderson, and Birgit Larsson, Neglect and Serious Case Reviews, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | NSPCC press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Mar
A report said that local councils in England and Wales were failing to provide adequate specialist support for runaway children and young people. Local authorities needed to keep better records of missing children, and ensure that there was a dedicated runaway project in their area.
Source: Louise Starks, Sally Kendall, and James Whitley, REACH: A new model of intervention for children before, during and after they run away, Railway Children
Links: Report | Summary | Railway Forum press release | OCC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Feb
A report said that 9 out of 10 teachers, police officers, and social workers were regularly coming into contact with children they suspected were suffering from neglect: yet as many as 40 per cent said they felt powerless to intervene.
Source: Brigid Daniel et al., The State of Child Neglect in the UK: Recommendations for the UK government, Action for Children
Links: Report | Action for Children press release | Stirling University press release
Date: 2013-Feb
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that urgent action was needed to establish a single register to accurately track the number of children who went missing in England.
Source: Missing Children, HMI 120364, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Childrens Society press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Feb
A study found that children had far less independent mobility than they had in the past. English primary school children had less independent mobility than their German peers in 1990, and this remained the case in 2010.
Source: Ben Shaw, Ben Watson, Bjorn Frauendienst, Andreas Redecker, and Tim Jones (with Mayer Hillman), Children s Independent Mobility: A comparative study in England and Germany (1971–2010), Policy Studies Institute
Links: Report | Summary | PSI press release | Sustrans press release | Nursery World report
Date: 2013-Jan
Researchers sought to identify the family stress factors and parental behaviours that were associated with worse children's outcomes at age 7, and those family factors and parental behaviour that helped children to succeed. It also considered whether stressful life events experienced at different periods of childhood were associated with worse outcomes in adolescence.
Source: Elizabeth Jones, Leslie Gutman, and Lucinda Platt, Family Stressors and Children's Outcomes, Research Report 254, Department for Education
Links: Report | Brief | CLS press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Jan
A systematic literature review examined the role and impact of social capital on the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Children and adolescents who experienced a positive relationship with their parent(s) were more likely to report that they had better mental health outcomes and fewer problem behaviours: They also experienced better general health, higher levels of quality of life, and more positive well-being; and had indicators of developmental thriving.
Source: Kerri McPherson, Susan Kerr, Elizabeth McGee, Francine Cheater, and Antony Morgan, The Role and Impact of Social Capital on the Health and Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents: A systematic review, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Report | Appendices
Date: 2013-Jan
A policy report for the opposition Labour Party examined options for improving children's health, including the introduction of legal limits on the sugar, fat, and salt content of food.
Source: Children, Food and Obesity, Labour Party
Links: Report | Labour Party press release
Date: 2013-Jan
A report examined what action could be taken at a local level in England to improve the health outcomes for children and young people, and how this action could be supported at a national level. It said that the government needed to take action to address the lack of policy co-ordination between different government departments and national bodies.
Source: Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing in Changing Times: Shaping the future and improving outcomes, NHS Confederation
Links: Report | NHS Confederation press release
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper discussed the domains and measures for children's and young people's well-being, and presented an overview of available sources and measures.
Source: Theodore Joloza, Review of Available Sources and Measures for Children and Young People's Well-Being, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Jan
A new book provided an international survey of childhood studies. It looked at how childhood had changed in recent years, and how children's needs and experiences had achieved a new visibility.
Source: Mary Jane Kehily (ed.), Understanding Childhood: A cross disciplinary approach, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jan