Ten inspectorate bodies began consultation on the first integrated inspection framework for service provision for children and young people aged 0-19. The proposed inspection system integrated judgements about education, social care, healthcare, and youth justice services. Proposals were also published for joint area reviews and annual performance assessment of local council children s services.
Source: Every Child Matters: The Framework for Inspection of Children s Services, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833) and nine other inspectorates | Joint Area Reviews of Children's Services, Office for Standards in Education and nine other inspectorates | Annual Performance Assessment of Council Children's Services, Office for Standards in Education and nine other inspectorates
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Joint area reviews (pdf) | Annual assessment (pdf) | OFSTED press release | CSCI press release
Date: 2004-Dec
The government published a national framework for local change in children s services, based on partnership between central/local government and the voluntary sector. The reforms were backed by an 'improvement cycle' to monitor measurable progress towards better outcomes and key targets, and were underpinned by inspections of children s services. The government announced additional funding to accompany the framework. A series of inked documents gave details of how the framework would be implemented in individual public service areas; and a further document outlined the strategy for joint working with the voluntary sector.
Source: Every Child Matters: Change for Children, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Every Child Matters: Change for Children in Schools, Department for Education and Skills | Every Child Matters: Change for Children in Social Services, Department for Education and Skills | Every Child Matters: Change for Children in Health Services, Department for Education and Skills | Every Child Matters: Change for Children in the Criminal Justice System, Department for Education and Skills | Every Child Matters: Change for Children - Working with voluntary and community organisations to deliver change for children and young people, Department for Education and Skills
Links: Framework (pdf) | Summary (Word file) | Schools (pdf) | Social services (pdf) | Health (pdf) | Criminal justice (pdf) | VCS strategy (pdf) | DfES press release | ADSS press release
Date: 2004-Dec
A report summarized key emerging lessons from the first round of case study work with six Children s Fund partnerships undertaken by the national evaluation team. (The Children s Fund is a funding stream, launched in 2000, directed at developing multi-agency working for preventative services for children aged 5-13 in all 149 local authorities in England.)
Source: National Evaluation of the Children s Fund, Children, Young People, Parents and Carers Participation in Children's Fund Case Study Partnerships, Research Report 602, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
A new book examined the primary concerns in foster placement planning - in particular the high frequency of placement breakdowns, their impact on the child's behaviour and school performance, and the challenges this posed for foster families.
Source: Ian Sinclair, Kate Wilson and Ian Gibbs, Foster Placements: Why they succeed and why they fail, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Dec
A report said that all sectors needed to work very closely with charities and community groups when planning vital services for children. There were a number of potential pitfalls, which had to be avoided: for example, different organizations might have vastly different experiences, expectations, working cultures, and resources.
Source: Jeanne King, Commissioning Children s Services and the Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000), Improvement and Development Agency, Connaught Group of Voluntary Organisations, NCH, and National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations
Links: Report (pdf) | LGA press release
Date: 2004-Dec
A joint inspectorate report was published on the second wave of Children's Fund partnerships.
Source: The Children s Fund: The second wave partnerships, HMI 2295, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833) and Audit Commission
Links: Report (pdf) | OFSTED press release
Date: 2004-Dec
The government published an annual report summarizing information on child welfare and services, drawn from research, statistics and inspection findings.
Source: The Children Act: Report 2003, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
A report examined the early implementation of 35 children's trust pathfinders (bringing together local child health, education and social services). It found that pathfinders varied substantially: but many had emphasized the importance of young people's input from the outset.
Source: Children's Trusts: Developing integrated services for children in England - Phase 1 Interim Report, National Evaluation of Children s Trusts/University of East Anglia (01603 593626)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (Word file) | Children Now report
Date: 2004-Dec
A study examined the legislative and practice response to a 1997 report which made recommendations for improving safeguards for children living away from home. One report of the study covered all the original recommendations; and a second report examined issues of sexual abuse, children in prisons, and disabled children. Legislation, policy and procedures had been much improved: but effective implementation had been more problematic.
Source: Marian Stuart and Catherine Baines, Progress on Safeguards for Children Living Away from Home: A review of action since the People Like Us report, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033) | Marian Stuart and Catherine Baines, Safeguards for Vulnerable Children: Three studies on abusers, disabled children and children in prison, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd
Links: Progress report (pdf) | Safeguards report (pdf) | JRF Findings N54 | JRF press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Nov
A report attacked the 'active refusal' of the government to embrace human rights and equality for children and young people in England.
Source: State of Children's Rights in England 2004, Children's Rights Alliance for England (020 7278 8222)
Links: CRAE press release | Children Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Nov
A new book brought together research into what worked in service provision for minority ethnic families, based on extensive studies into child welfare services.
Source: June Thoburn, Ashok Chand and Joanne Procter, Child Welfare Services for Minority Ethnic Families: The research reviewed, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Nov
A survey found that only 1 in 3 local authorities in England had basic plans to protect young runaways - despite government guidelines which required all local authorities to respond to the needs of runaways.
Source: Press release 10 November 2004, Children s Society (020 7841 4415)
Links: Children's Society press release
Date: 2004-Nov
Researchers found that the vulnerable children grant was seen by the vast majority of interviewees to be a positive step, allowing greater flexibility to take into account local circumstances, needs and priorities. (The grant, introduced in April 2003, amalgamated and built on existing standards fund grants for individual groups of vulnerable children - for example, looked-after children, children unable to attend school because of their medical needs, Gypsy/Traveller children, asylum seekers, young carers, school refusers, teenage parents, and young offenders.)
Source: Sally Kendall, Annie Johnson, Caroline Gulliver, Kerry Martin and Kay Kinder, Evaluation of the Vulnerable Children Grant, Research Report 592, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Appendix (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
A survey found that, of children who were the subject of care orders or freeing orders on 31 March 2004, there were 26 cases which involved a serious disagreement between medical expert witnesses. Of these, 5 cases involved a serious disagreement between medical expert witnesses in which any doubt had been expressed about reliability of the evidence, following the judgment in R v. Cannings. Of those 5 cases, the care plan remained unchanged in 3 cases; in one case the plan had been changed in the light of new information reviewed in 2003; and in one case further consideration of medical evidence by the court was being awaited.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Answers 16 November 2004, columns 1289-1290W, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2004-Nov
Researchers reported early findings from an evaluation of the Children's Fund, focusing on the extent of collaborative work between agencies. (The Children s Fund is a funding stream, launched in 2000, directed at developing multi-agency working for preventative services for children aged 5-13 in all 149 local authorities in England.)
Source: National Evaluation of the Children s Fund, Collaborating for the Social Inclusion of Children and Young People: Emerging lessons from the first round of case studies, Research Report 596, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf) | Children Now report
Date: 2004-Nov
The Children Act 2004 was given Royal assent. It contained a broad range of measures aimed at promoting the interests of children and young people. It provided for the establishment of a Children's Commissioner for England, charged with 'promoting awareness of the views and interests of children'.
Source: Children Act 2004, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 2 November 2004 (Third reading), columns 173-281, TSO
Links: Text of Act | Explanatory notes | Hansard
Date: 2004-Nov
There were 61,100 looked-after children in England at 31 March 2004, 1 per cent more than a year earlier and 5 per cent more than in 2000. The largest category of placement was foster care, accounting for 68 per cent of the total - the number of foster placements had increased by 10 per cent since 2000.
Source: Children Looked after in England (Including Adoptions and Care Leavers): 2003-04, Statistical First Release 40/2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
The government began consultation on proposals (in a Green Paper published in 2003) to develop information-sharing databases to support early intervention to help children and young people in England. The consultation sought views on two aspects of the databases: recording practitioner details for potentially sensitive services, and recording concern about a child. The government said that the databases should have the scope to record any concerns of doctors and other professionals, even if the child or their family did not give consent.
Source: Information Sharing Databases in Children's Services, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Oct
A report examined the views of looked-after young people in Scotland regarding their education. It said that the commitment to closing the opportunity gap between looked-after young people and those living at home had rarely been so strong.
Source: Pauline Boyce, A Different Class?: Educational attainment - The views and experiences of looked after young people, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Oct
A survey found that many local councils had already complied with two of the key requirements of the Children Bill before it had become law - to appoint a director and a lead councillor for children's services, to lead improvement in children's well-being and better integrate services.
Source: Children s Services Survey, Improvement and Development Agency (020 7296 6693)
Links: Report (pdf) | IDeA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Oct
The government reportedly promised to establish a statutory national minimum allowance for foster carers in England and Wales. A fostering charity said that 46 per cent of English local authorities gave carers less than the existing recommended minimum allowances.
Source: The Guardian, 30 October 2004 | Press release 12 October 2004, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400)
Links: Guardian report | Fostering Network press release | BAAF press release
Date: 2004-Oct
The Welsh Assembly government began consultation on a national service framework for children, young people and maternity services. The framework set out a 10-year vision for developing high quality services and reducing inequalities in service delivery. It set standards for health and social services, as well as other areas that had an impact on the health and well-being of children and young people - including, education, housing, leisure and transport.
Source: National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 3657)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Consultation document (pdf links) | Wales NHS press release
Date: 2004-Oct
The Children Bill was given a second reading. The Bill was designed to create clear accountability for children's services, to enable better joint working and to secure a better focus on safeguarding children. A coalition of organizations representing children called for the Bill to be amended to require schools to co-operate with social services and other agencies in protecting children.
Source: Children Bill [HL], Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 13 September 2004, columns 1000-1086, TSO | Press release 13 September 2004, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (0207 825 2775) and others
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC Library research paper (pdf) | NSPCC press release | Barnardo's press release | Children's Society press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Sep
Researchers studied the decision-making processes that influenced the experiences of looked-after children. They highlighted the need for greater understanding on the part of social care professionals of the dangers of delay in achieving permanence. There was a relationship between delay and instability, so that the longer children waited for a permanent resolution, the more likely they were to experience further changes of carer and household, and the less likely they were to develop secure attachments to adults.
Source: Harriet Ward, Emily Munro, Chris Dearden and Don Nicholson, Outcomes for Looked After Children: Life pathways and decision making for very young children in care or accommodation, Centre for Child and Family Research/Loughborough University (01509 228355)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
A report summarized the outcome of discussions (held in May 2004) with key stakeholders about the further development of proposals for inspecting children s services.
Source: Every Child Matters: Inspecting services for children and young people - Discussion with stakeholders: Summary of responses, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833) and other inspectorates
Links: Report (pdf) | OFSTED press release
Date: 2004-Sep
A new book considered how social workers and managers could respond to changes in children's services. It examined approaches to the assessment of children in need and the analysis of risk, and considered the impact of poverty and social divisions on the lives of children.
Source: Vicky White and John Harris (eds.), Developing Good Practice in Children's Services, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Sep
A report by a joint committee of MPs and peers said that, with some relatively minor reservations, the Children Bill provided a statutory basis for a genuinely independent, rights-based, strategically-focused commissioner for children and young people in England. But it also said that the continuing availability of the defence of 'reasonable chastisement' was incompatible with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other international agreements.
Source: Children Bill, Nineteenth Report (Session 2003-04), HL 161 and HC 537, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Sep
An article summarized the government's Green Paper on children's services, focusing on three issues: the meaning of respect for children and childhood; whether children were seen as citizens of the present as well as the future; and the place of trust in the idea of the parent-state partnership. It highlighted particular tensions between entitlement and responsibility, protection and punishment, and in the scope of education.
Source: Fiona Williams, 'What matters is who works: why every child matters to New Labour: commentary on the DfES Green Paper Every Child Matters', Critical Social Policy, Volume 24 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Aug
A survey found that many refuge organisations were unable to meet the new national standards for day care of children under 8, and were being forced to reduce day care to under two hours per day. It also showed that children's services were underfunded, and that much of the existing funding was short-term.
Source: One Year On: The status of children s services in refuge organisations since the implementation of National Standards for Under 8s Day Care, Women's Aid Federation of England (0117 944 4411)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Aug
A report reviewed the contribution of nursing, midwifery and health visiting professionals to supporting vulnerable children and young people. It said that there should be at least one full-time school nurse covering every secondary school and its cluster of primary schools.
Source: The Chief Nursing Officer s Review of the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Contribution to Vulnerable Children and Young People, Chief Nursing Officer/Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Aug
A survey found that the shortage of foster carers in England in 2003 reached over 8,000 - a 35 per cent rise from 6,100 estimated in the previous survey in 2002. The survey also found a shortage of 750 foster carers in Wales, and 350 in Northern Ireland.
Source: Press release 24 August 2004, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400)
Links: Fostering Network press release
Date: 2004-Aug
A new book examined the wants and needs of foster carers, and the support available to them.
Source: Ian Sinclair, Ian Gibbs and Kate Wilson, Foster Carers: Why they stay and why they leave, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Aug
Two linked studies examined the way information was gathered about children at risk of abuse, and in particular the role of confidential telephone helplines. One study explored the front desk arrangements in local authorities for receiving and responding to calls from members of the public and professionals who wished to report concerns about a child s welfare: it concluded that a 24-hour helpline number could help to raise the profile of children s social services and make it easier for members of the public to know what to do if worried about a child - but the most important issue was how the messages received from the public were passed on and dealt with by social workers, and the quality of the initial information gathering and recording. A second study study examined the role of telephone helplines such as those operated by child protection charities: it found that helplines were not a cost-effective way of identifying abused children - but they could contribute to safeguarding children in a variety of other ways.
Source: June Statham and Claire Cameron with Elizabeth Jones and Kim Rivers, Getting Help: A survey of reception and initial contact arrangements in social services departments, Research Report RW13, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | June Statham and Jane Carlisle, Calling for Help: The role of telephone helplines in child protection, Research Report RW12, Department for Education and Skills
Links: RW13 (Word file) | RW12 (Word file)
Date: 2004-Aug
The government began consultation on a common approach to needs assessment that could be used by the whole children s workforce, whether in universal or specialist services, for any child in need of support. Its aim was to provide a mechanism whereby any practitioner working with a child or young person could conduct a good-quality, but relatively non-specialized, assessment of unmet needs and, where appropriate, share it with other agencies.
Source: Common Assessment Framework, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
A report said that good progress was being made in improving the sharing of information by local councils regarding children at risk of social exclusion (in the wake of the Victoria Climbi case).
Source: Hedy Cleaver, Daniel Cleaver, Deborah Cleaver and Vanessa Woodhead, Information Sharing and Assessment: The progress of non-trailblazer local authorities, Research Report 566, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
A new book set out findings from action-based research projects on what worked in the provision of services for children in the care of relatives and/or friends (also known as kinship care).
Source: Mike Doolan, Paul Nixon and Patrice Lawrence (eds.), Growing up in the Care of Relatives and Friends, Family Rights Group (020 7923 2628)
Links: FRG homepage
Date: 2004-Aug
A study recorded the impact of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 on care leavers. It said the life chances of care leavers had improved since legislation to help them was implemented: but there was a question as to how services for care leavers could improve further without continuing and additional ring-fenced funding.
Source: Bob Broad, After the Act: Implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Monograph 3, Children and Families Research Unit/De Montfort University (0116 257 7114)
Links: Community Care report
Date: 2004-Jul
The social services inspectorate in Wales published a report on local authority children's services in the wake of the Climbi case. It said that a great deal of work was being done to improve performance and to highlight areas of practice where further improvement was needed.
Source: Children in Need: The local authority response to the Victoria Climbi Inquiry, Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (029 2082 5655)
Links: Report (pdf) | WAG press release | WLGA press release | Children Now report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report brought together the findings from 25 consultation groups of children aged 10-18 from care and residential education settings on the main risks to their safety, and on how they believed children could be kept safe from harm. Some of the main risks and worries identified by children were bullying, road safety, drugs, and fear of abduction and mugging. Suggestions for improving their safety included: better communication between professionals such as teachers, carers and social workers; and more unannounced inspection visits from authorities.
Source: Roger Morgan, Safe from Harm: Children s views report, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
Detailed figures were published on the educational qualifications, employment at age 16, health, and cautions and convictions of looked-after children in England, for the year to 30 September 2003.
Source: Outcome Indicators for Looked-After Children: Twelve Months to 30 September 2003 - England, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A report presented the findings of a survey of the mental health of children and adolescents, aged 5-17, looked after by local authorities in England. The first part of the report focused on the prevalence rates of mental disorders among young people looked after by local authorities. The second part showed the way in which children and adolescents with particular disorders varied from those without mental disorders on a range of factors including their background, personal and familial characteristics, physical health, use of services and social functioning.
Source: Howard Meltzer et al., The Mental Health of Young People Looked after by Local Authorities in England, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jun
A report examined the education of children and young people looked after by local authorities. It aimed to develop an evidence base concerning specific interventions and outcomes for young people, and to identify ways of developing a culture within local authorities that could effectively promote the educational welfare of looked-after children. It summarised the key findings from the evaluation, and considered their implications for policy, practice and research.
Source: Rachel Harker, David Dobel-Ober, David Berridge and Ruth Sinclair, Taking Care of Education: An evaluation of the education of looked after children, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Summary | LGA press release
Date: 2004-Jun
A think-tank pamphlet argued that local schools had a key role to play in delivering the government's national agenda for children and young people arising from its Green Paper on child protection.
Source: Chris Waterman, Every School Matters, The Education Network (020 7554 2810)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
The Scottish Executive began consultation on a review of the children s hearings system. It said it was committed to maintaining the core principles of the system. (The system was created in 1971, dealing with children who need care and protection, are involved in offending, or both.)
Source: Review of the Children's Hearings System: Consultation pack, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Consultation document (pdf links) | SE press release
Date: 2004-Apr
An article looked at the concepts of risk and safety culture within a social work context, specifically in relation to child protection. It discussed how the lessons learnt from disasters such as the Victoria Climbie case, and the ways in which high-risk commercial organisations gave organisational issues such high priority could, and should, be successfully transferred into social work.
Source: Sheena Johnson and Stephanie Petrie, 'Child protection and risk-management: the death of Victoria Climbie', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 33 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Apr
A report reviewed the responsibilities of the psychiatric profession in the prevention, recognition, assessment and treatment of child maltreatment.
Source: Child Abuse and Neglect: The role of mental health services, Royal College of Psychiatrists (020 7235 2351)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Apr
A pamphlet described the 'significant and complex challenges' facing local authorities over the introduction of proposed new arrangements for children's services. Structural changes might be appropriate, but only when services were operating in a robust way; changing structures in itself would not achieve the massive cultural changes required nor deliver the transformation of services for children envisaged.
Source: Children's Services: Some key organisational issues, The Education Network (020 7554 2800), Local Government Information Unit, and Democratic Health Network
Links: TEN press release
Date: 2004-Apr
Detailed figures were published on the educational qualifications, employment at age 16, health, and cautions and convictions of looked-after children in England, for the year to 30 September 2003.
Source: Outcome Indicators for Looked-After Children: Twelve Months to 30 September 2003 - England, Statistical First Release 13/2004, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr
A survey found that 54.8 per cent of social services directors did not believe that merging education and social services within one department would significantly improve the authorities' ability to protect children from harm.
Source: Members Survey March 2004, Association of Directors of Social Services (020 8741 8147)
Links: Report | ADSS press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Apr
A report by the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales revealed a high level of concern about the way in which some councils were carrying out their work to safeguard vulnerable children.
Source: Inspection of Child Protection Services: Overview report, Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (029 2082 5655)
Links: Report (pdf) | WAG press release | WLGA press release
Date: 2004-Apr
The healthcare inspectorate said that National Health Service organisations in Wales were making progress towards ensuring all children who were at risk of abuse or neglect were identified, and appropriate action taken. However, there was still work to be done to ensure no children 'slipped through the gaps'.
Source: Protecting Children and Young People: Results of a self assessment audit of NHS organisations in Wales, Commission for Health Improvement (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report (pdf) | CHI press release | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Mar
A report said that new regulations and inspections for care homes were raising standards of care for older people. More than 50 per cent of standards were met by almost 68 per cent of registered care homes for older people; the number of places in registered care homes for older people increased between April 2002 and October 2003; and the number of older people's homes meeting all the standards improved from 25 per cent in 2002-03 to 48 per cent in 2003-04.
Source: Gillian Dalley et al., How Do We Care? Availability of registered care homes and children s homes in England and their performance against national minimum standards 2002-03, National Care Standards Commission, available from Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Mar
A report summarised the key findings from recent reports by social care inspectors, as well as the evaluation of the Victoria Climbi Inquiry self audits. It mapped the improvements being made - but also the challenges and difficulties that local councils still faced.
Source: Building a Better Future for Children: Key messages from inspection and performance assessment - 2004, Social Services Inspectorate/Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A guide book provided factual material on the welfare of children, together with expert commentaries. It contained an in-depth examination of areas such as health, education, children at risk, poverty, children in care, young offenders, homelessness and runaways. It also provided an extensive directory of charities, professional bodies and other organisations working with children. (It replaced the previous annual publication, 'NCH Factfile'.)
Source: Working with Children 2004-05, SocietyGuardian (0870 066 7850) and NCH
Links: NCH press release (1) | NCH press release (2)
Date: 2004-Mar
A children's charity set out a manifesto for children and families. It called for a 'consistent and trusted' universal infrastructure of services and support for all children and families, planned and co-ordinated at local level by children s trusts; an integrated children s programme, together with an 'outcome-focused and mainstreamed' children s fund, for all non-statutory, community-based services and support; and the creation of a new children s profession, with the child s whole needs at its core. The proposals would involve government spending on childcare and services for families doubling to 7 billion per year, and the creation of 10,000 children's centres in or around schools by 2015, providing every community with a wide range of services for children up to 16.
Source: Creating Opportunities, Building Futures, 4Children (formerly Kids Clubs Network) (020 7512 2100)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
The government published a Children Bill (following consultation), designed to reform children s services in order to maximise opportunity and minimise risk for children and young people. There would be a new duty on agencies to co-operate among themselves and with other local partners. Local authorities, primary care trusts and other agencies would be encouraged to pool budgets into children's trusts, share information better, and promote joint working between health, education, and social care professionals. There would be an integrated inspection framework to assess how well services worked together to improve outcomes for children; and new powers for the government to intervene in children s social services where an area was falling below minimum standards. The Bill would also create a Children s Commissioner for England, to be a voice for all children and young people, especially those who were most vulnerable: but children's rights campaigners - and the existing Commissioners for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - criticised the Commissioner's limited role.
Source: Children Bill [HL], Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Every Child Matters: Next Steps, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Press release 4 March 2004, Children's Rights Alliance for England (020 7278 8222) | Press releases 5 and 25 March 2004, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (028 9031 1616)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Next Steps (pdf) | DfES press release | CRAE press release (pdf) | NICCY press release (1) | NICCY press release (2) | Childline press release | NCH press release | GSCC press release | ADSS press release | Green Paper (pdf) | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
The level of complaints against paediatricians who undertook child protection duties was deterring many of them from this area of work, according to a survey. Of the 3,879 practising or recently retired paediatricians that had been involved in child protection, nearly 1 in 7 per cent reported that they had been subject to complaints related to child protection.
Source: RCPCH Child Protection (CP) Survey, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (020 7307 5600)
Links: Report (pdf) | RCPCH press release (pdf) | NSPCC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
It was reported that MPs who took up care or custody disputes involving children and local authorities might be in breach of confidentiality rules under the Children Act 1989.
Source: The Guardian, 29 March 2004
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
A critical review of the report of the Victoria Climbi Inquiry argued that the quasi-judicial procedure adopted was well adapted to analysing the sequence of events and to attributing responsibility for failures and errors: but it was inadequate as a means of exploring the systemic problems which give rise to poor service provision, and of identifying solutions to these.
Source: Michael Rustin, 'Learning from the Victoria Climbie Inquiry', Journal of Social Work Practice, Volume 18 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Mar
A literature review identified the benefits and risks of refocusing children's services on preventative strategies.
Source: Dartington Social Research Unit, Refocusing Children s Services Towards Prevention: Lessons from the Literature, Research Report 510, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
Researchers found that nearly half of children's guardians reported significant differences of opinion between themselves and local authorities. (The study looked at the work of the guardians ad litem service before it merged with other bodies to become the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service - 'Cafcass'.)
Source: Joan Hunt, Ann Head and Nancy Drucker, Capturing Guardian Practice Prior to Cafcass, Department of Social Policy and Social Work/University of Oxford (01865 270325)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Feb
One study found that local authorities were providing more services to meet the diverse needs of care leavers, following the introduction of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000: however, it also found widespread concern about the removal of ring-fenced funding for leaving care services, which was due to end in March 2004. A second report said that, overall, the legislation had led to an improvement in support for care leavers, because of greater resources and more specialist professionals with smaller case loads: but it said that low priority was being given to the health needs of young people leaving the care system - particularly mental health and teenage pregnancy - and that too much of the housing on offer was unsuitable or even unsafe.
Source: Nadeem Hai and Alison Williams, Implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000: The experience of 8 London Boroughs, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029) | Setting the Agenda: What's left to do in leaving care?, Action on Aftercare Consortium, c/o NCH (0845 762 6579)
Links: NCB report summary (pdf) | NCB press release | AAC report (pdf) | NCH press release | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Feb
A survey of found that while 80 per cent believed those in care had as much potential as their peers, there was still misunderstanding about the care system and the barriers young people in care faced.
Source: Looking Beyond the Label : Public attitudes towards young people in care, The Prince's Trust (020 7543 1234)
Links: Report (Word file) | Prince's Trust press release
Date: 2004-Feb
A new book provided an account of the everyday processes of parenting and foster family life.
Source: Mary Beek and Gillian Schofield, Providing a Secure Base in Long-Term foster Care, BAAF Adoption and Fostering (020 7593 2000)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Feb
A report summarised the results of a project which aimed to take an independent view of the care system in England, and offer a vision of what the system could look like. Young people and the adults who worked with them described what they wanted from the care system.
Source: Start with the Child, Stay with the Child, Voice for the Child in Care (020 7713 8172)
Links: Community Care report
Date: 2004-Feb
Children in care and residential education told the government what issues and priorities should be reflected in new children s legislation. Key issues and proposals raised by the children included: heavy punishment for abusers; educating very young children about the risks of abuse so that they could better protect themselves; and training for parents on how to assess and reduce risks to their children.
Source: Children s Views from Care and Residential Education on Proposals in the Green Paper 'Every Child Matters': Report of the Children s Rights Director, National Care Standards Commission (0191 233 3600)
Links: Report (pdf) | NCSC press release
Date: 2004-Jan