An article reported on a longitudinal study of children in long-term foster care. It explored why some children appeared to be making good progress, while others continued to experience multiple developmental difficulties.
Source: Gillian Schofield and Mary Beek, 'Risk and resilience in long-term foster-care': Subtitle, British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Dec
The government announced (following consultation) changes to the inspection arrangements for services relating to children, young people and adult learners. The existing education inspectorate (Ofsted) would be enlarged to become the (provisionally named) Office for Standards in Education, Children s Services and Skills, bringing together the children/young people remits of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, Her Majesty s Inspectorate of Court Administration, and Adult Learning Inspectorate.
Source: A Single Inspectorate for Children and Learners, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Hansard | DfES press release | ALI press release
Date: 2005-Dec
A report said that social work was seldom mentioned in the wider literature about prevention and early intervention: but a key preventive role for social workers was to enable vulnerable children and families to access and benefit from universal and specialist preventive services.
Source: Moira Walker, The Statutory Social Worker s Role in Prevention and Early Intervention with Children, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
An article examined the importance of using a gendered perspective to engage adequately with the causes and consequences of child maltreatment. It made recommendations for strengthening the gender analysis in the Green Paper on children s services in England.
Source: Brigid Daniel, Brid Featherstone, Carol-Ann Hooper and Jonathan Scourfield, 'Why gender matters for Every Child Matters': Subtitle, British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Dec
A report called for the information rights of the 350,000 people who had spent time in local authority care to be brought into line with those of adopted people.
Source: Jim Goddard, Julia Feast and Derek Kirton, A Childhood on Paper: Accessing the child-care files of former looked after children in the UK, BAAF Adoption and Fostering (020 7593 2000)
Links: Summary | BAAF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
The Children s Rights Director published his annual report on work done in 2005, and on future work plans.
Source: Roger Morgan (Children s Rights Director), Children s Rights Report 2005, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
The government announced the establishment in England of a national index ('IS index'), containing basic information on all children to help people working with children to communicate with each other. This followed a recommendation of the Laming enquiry into the events surrounding the death of Victoria Climbi .
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 8 December 2005, columns 114-116WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DfES press release | NSPCC press release | NCB press release | NCH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
A think-tank report said that social workers, teachers, and other professionals working in children s services should be encouraged to take more risks and learn openly from mistakes.
Source: Hannah Lownsbrough and Duncan O Leary, The Leadership Imperative: Reforming children s services from the ground up, Demos and GatenbySanderson, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report | Demos press release
Date: 2005-Dec
A study found that over 4 out of 10 children said that just having an inspection had improved their lives in their home, school, or fostering service. Over 8 out of 10 children understood the recommendations inspectors made, and just under three-quarters agreed with them.
Source: Roger Morgan (Children s Rights Director), Does Inspection Make a Difference?: Second report of children s audit of inspection, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0870 240 7535)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A new book critically examined the assumptions that linked looked-after children with criminal activity.
Source: Claire Taylor, Young People in Care and Criminal Behaviour, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Nov
A study examined children who had been identified as suffering from, or likely to suffer from, significant harm. It recommended that such children have access to a range of services on a long-term basis.
Source: Marian Brandon, June Thoburn, Sacha Rose and Pippa Belderson, Living with Significant Harm: A follow up study, Centre for Research on the Child and Family/University of East Anglia (01603 592057)
Date: 2005-Nov
A study looked at the impact of mentoring from the viewpoints of young people and their mentors in 14 projects. Mentoring was found to offer young people informal support which complemented more formal kinds of support as they moved into adulthood.
Source: Jasmine Clayden and Mike Stein, Mentoring Young People Leaving Care: 'Someone for me', York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2005-Nov
An article said that the overall progress in implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 Act was slower than might be expected.
Source: Bob Broad, 'Young people leaving care: implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000?', Children & Society, Volume 19 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Nov
A literature review explored the factors affecting young people leaving care.
Source: Mike Stein, Resilience and Young People Leaving Care: Overcoming the odds, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2005-Nov
A report presented the findings of a survey of children and young people aged 10-17 receiving social services. The survey asked for the views of children and young people on the care and support they received from social services.
Source: Survey of Children and Young People Receiving Personal Social Services in England Aged 10-17: 2004-05, Statistical First Release 54/2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR
Date: 2005-Nov
A report examined the needs of three groups of children not accorded the full protection of the Children Act 1989 - unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; disabled children at residential special schools; and children who were privately fostered or who lived with relatives other than their birth parents.
Source: Jenny Morris, Children on the Edge of Care: Human rights and the Children Act, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2005-Nov
A report said that 4 out of every 5 children and young people questioned said that it should be compulsory for social care inspectors to consult them before judging the quality of services they received.
Source: Roger Morgan (Children s Rights Director), Sorting out Inspection: Views from children and young people on the government s proposals about the future of inspection for children and learners, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report examined the feasibility and likely impact of the recommendations put forward in the Laming Inquiry. It argued that the evidence did not support the analysis in the inquiry report (that much of the blame for the tragedy of Victoria Climbie rested on the organization of social services and the mistakes of individual professionals); and that the recommendations were likely to be ineffective or harmful.
Source: Ian Sinclair and John Corden, A Management Solution to Keeping Children Safe: Can agencies on their own achieve what Lord Laming wants?, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2005-Nov
An article examined the reform of children's services in England. It argued that the policy had the hallmarks and accompanying limitations of a 'top down' exercise in policy formulation and implementation.
Source: Bob Hudson, ' Not a cigarette paper between us : integrated inspection of children's services in England', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 39 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
A report examined a study of the effectiveness of specialist support teams set up by local authorities to offer intensive short-term preventative services to divert adolescents from the care system.
Source: Nina Biehal, Working With Adolescents: Supporting families, preventing breakdown, BAAF Adoption and Fostering (020 7593 2000)
Links: Summary | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that the financial situation of care leavers, as well as the funding of leaving care services, raised serious concerns.
Source: The Financial Needs of Young People Leaving Care, Barnardo s (01268 520224)
Links: Barnardo's press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2005-Oct
The social care inspectorate said that the quality of social services was improving for most children and families who received them. But the standard of care for disabled children and those with mental health problems remained patchy.
Source: Making Every Child Matter: Messages from inspections of children's social services, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSCI press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that fostering services in Scotland were in danger of being 'overwhelmed'. There was a shortage of 1,700 foster families.
Source: Caring for our Children: Fostercare in Scotland, Fostering Network Scotland (0141 204 1400)
Links: Report (pdf links)
Date: 2005-Oct
The Scottish Executive published a Bill to introduce new legal powers of joint inspection and access to information for those involved in inspecting children's services.
Source: Joint Inspection of Children's Services and Inspection of Social Work Services (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A series of briefings considered the most effective means of delivering improved outcomes for children and their families from local authority children's services.
Source: Show Me How I Matter, Improvement and Development Agency (020 7296 6693)
Links: Report (pdf links) | IDeA press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A report said that child protection systems needed to investigate 'near misses', as well as incidents of serious harm, if children were to be better protected.
Source: Lisa Bostock, Sue Bairstow, Sheila Fish and Fiona Macleod, Managing Risk and Minimising Mistakes in Services to Children and Families, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report (pdf) | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Sep
An article said that there was a strong relationship, at ward level, between measures of deprivation and referrals to local authority child care teams. It said that more use needed to be made of quantitative methods in social work research in order to identify and understand more fully the influence of structural factors on issues relating to family and child care.
Source: Karen Winter and Paul Connolly, 'A small-scale study of the relationship between measures of deprivation and child-care referrals', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Sep
An evaluation report described local developments involving children s trusts, and sought to identify enabling and obstructing factors. (Children s trusts bring together social services, health, education and other services.)
Source: National Evaluation of Children s Trusts, Realising Children's Trust Arrangements: Phase 1 report, Research Report 682, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Sep
A report said that only 1 per cent of care leavers went to university, compared to over 40 per cent of all those under 30. The gap in achievement between children in care and other children was growing rather than narrowing.
Source: Close the Gap for Children in Care, NCH (0845 762 6579)
Links: Report (pdf) | NCH press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A report examined the views of 700 children (under age 12) on government priorities for children's services.
Source: Roger Morgan (Children s Rights Director), Younger Children s Views on "Every Child Matters", Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSCI press release
Date: 2005-Aug
A report called on the government to invest an extra 748 million per annum in foster care services.
Source: Robert Tapsfield and Felicity Collier, The Cost of Foster Care: Investing in our children s future, BAAF Adoption and Fostering (020 7593 2000) and Fostering Network
Links: Report (pdf) | BAAF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Jul
An article evaluated criticisms of the principle in section 1 of the Children Act 1989 that the welfare of the child should be the courts' paramount consideration in resolving disputes over a child's upbringing. It said that these objections were not as strong as might at first appear.
Source: Jonathan Herring, 'Farewell welfare?', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 27 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jul
A study examined the experiences of young people after leaving care and what effect ethnic background might have on those experiences. White care leavers often fared worst through unstable placements while in care and problems when they left, including lack of qualifications, homelessness and involvement in crime.
Source: Ravinder Barn, Linda Andrew and Nadia Mantovani, Life After Care: The experiences of young people from different ethnic groups, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 0285 | JRF press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2005-Jul
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the development of integrated, user-centred, children's services.
Source: The Government?s Response to the Education and Skills Select Committee?s Ninth Report of Session 2004-05: Every Child Matters, Cm 6610, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | MPs report | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Jul
A survey of foster children, carers and birth parents found that children wanted more information about their future carers; carers wanted more training for looking after children with special needs; carers wanted better payment for fostering; birth parents said there should be more visits to homes; children said fostering made them feel safer, do better at school, and become more independent.
Source: Being Fostered, Children s Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A joint inspectorate report said that, since 2002, the priority given to safeguarding children across agencies had increased and children were being listened to and consulted better.
Source: Safeguarding Children: The second joint chief inspectors report on arrangements to safeguard children, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120) and other inspectorates
Links: Report (pdf) | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jul
The education inspectorate published arrangements for a new, integrated system for the inspection of local authority children?s services.
Source: Every Child Matters: Framework for the inspection of children's services, HMI 2433, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | OFSTED press release
Date: 2005-Jul
A new book analyzed the outcomes of a large-scale study of foster children. It included individual case studies and drew extensively on the views of foster children themselves.
Source: Ian Sinclair, Claire Baker, Kate Wilson and Ian Gibbs, Foster Children: Where They Go and How They Get On, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jun
The Scottish Executive began consultation on plans to modernize Scotland's children's services (including the children's hearings system), designed to give vulnerable children better, quicker and more co-ordinated support.
Source: Getting it Right for Every Child: Proposals for action, Scottish Executive (0131 244 7389)
Links: Consultation document | SE press release | CHILDREN 1ST press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Jun
A new book summarized the latest research on foster care. It provided an overview of a wide range of research projects, and highlighted the main implications for policymakers and professionals involved in the fostering process.
Source: Ian Sinclair, Fostering Now: Messages from research, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jun
A new book considered how to build strong and effective partnerships for children. It examined the policy context in relation to work with children and young people, looked at the history of partnership working, and reviewed the theories underpinning different models of, and approaches to, partnership working.
Source: Janie Percy-Smith, What Works in Strategic Partnerships for Children?, Barnardo?s (01268 520224)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A review report highlighted weaknesses in the system for vetting adults in Northern Ireland working with children.
Source: Ruth Lavery, A Right to Protection: A review of vetting in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (028 9031 1616)
Links: Report (pdf) | NICCY press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Jun
A report summarized the views of children who were privately fostered on proposed changes to the private fostering system. They agreed with the idea that, if a child or young person were going to be fostered privately, both their parents and the people who were going to be their carers should tell the local council first, so that the council could carry out safety checks. Some of the children said they themselves had no idea whether, or when, social services had been told about their own private fostering.
Source: Roger Morgan (Children's Rights Director), Private Fostering: Some views from privately fostered children on the government?s proposals about private fostering, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSCI press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jun
The Scottish Executive accepted the main recommendations of a review group report on modernizing the adoption system in Scotland, and began consultation.
Source: Better Choices for our Children: Adoption Policy Review Group - Report phase 2, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | Secure and Safe Homes for our Most Vulnerable Children: A consultation paper, Scottish Executive
Links: Phase 2 report (pdf) | Consultation document (pdf) | SE press release | Fostering Network press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A report examined barriers to vulnerable children (including looked after children, young offenders, and pupils with special educational needs) accessing examinations at the end of key stage 4 (age 16), and identified strategies employed to overcome them.
Source: Sally Kendall, Annie Johnson, Kerry Martin and Kay Kinder, Vulnerable Children s Access to Examinations at Key Stage 4, Research Report 639, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A study examined the relationship between Sure Start local programmes and social services in four local authorities in the north east of England. There was little evidence of an immediate impact of the establishment of a Sure Start programme on the number of referrals to social services. (Sure Start is a programme designed to improve the health and well-being of families and children before and from birth.)
Source: John Carpenter, Michaela Griffin and Sharon Brown, The Impact of Sure Start on Social Services, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
The government announced plans (in the Queen's speech) for a Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill. The Bill would (following the Bichard inquiry) prevent those who were deemed unsuitable to work with children and young people from doing so.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 17 May 2005, columns 29-31, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2005-May
A study of four integrated children s services across Scotland found that, from the perspective of families, continuity in services was very important.
Source: Kay Tisdall, Jennifer Wallace, Evelyn McGregor, Dianne Millen and Andrew Bell, Seamless Services, Smoother Lives, Children in Scotland (0131 228 8484) for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: JRF Findings
Date: 2005-May
A research report said that children in care should be sent to the best schools to boost their chances of overcoming child abuse and neglect; and that care leavers could benefit from higher education if they were given the right kind of encouragement and support.
Source: Sonia Jackson, Sarah Ajayi and Margaret Quigley, Going to University from Care, Institute of Education/University of London (020 7612 6050)
Links: IOE press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-May
A summary was published of responses to a consultation on new arrangements for the inspection, assessment, and review of services for children and young people. The overall response to the new arrangements was mainly positive - particularly in respect of the move toward greater integration of the work of various commissions and inspectorates.
Source: Every Child Matters: A summary of the responses to the consultation on new arrangements for the inspection, assessment and review of services for children and young people, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833) and other inspectorates
Links: Consultation responses (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
The government announced measures to enable more judges to hear public law cases relating to the care of children. Nominated recorders with family law 'tickets' would have jurisdiction to try public law cases in the County Court; and District Judges in County Courts would have the same jurisdiction to try care cases as the Family Proceedings Courts.
Source: Press release 1 April 2005, Department for Constitutional Affairs (020 7210 8500)
Links: DCA press release
Date: 2005-Apr
A report by a committee of MPs said that there was evidence of progress in the development of integrated, user-centred children's services. But it expressed doubts over the adequacy of funding for the government's reform programme; and it said that tensions remained between different policies affecting children and young people, emanating from different departments.
Source: Every Child Matters, Ninth Report (Session 2004-05), HC 40, House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Young People Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Apr
The information watchdog began consultation on the need to restrict access to certain contact details in the children databases proposed under the Children Bill. It said that proposals in respect of the use of 'cause for concern' indicators could lead to excessive information being held; and it had concerns about the difficulties in keeping the databases secure and up to date.
Source: Information Sharing Databases in Children s Services, Information Commissioner (01625 545 700)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Observer report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report reviewed progress in implementing the Bichard Inquiry recommendations. There had generally been good progress across government, in social services and in school recruitment procedures, since the first report in June 2004. But sustained action was needed to deliver a national IT intelligence system. (The original inquiry followed the conviction of Ian Huntley for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.)
Source: The Bichard Inquiry: Final Report, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Cabinet Office press release | NSPCC press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A report said that, according to children in care, inspection visits to children's homes and boarding schools did not lead to any improvements.
Source: Roger Morgan, The Children's View of Inspection, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
A survey found that 1 in 3 (33 per cent) of social care workers (such as social workers, health visitors and school nurses) had been unsure how to act on concerns about a child outside of their professional life. Almost half (44 per cent) wanted better information as members of the public about how to report possible child protection concerns in the future.
Source: Barriers to Action, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (0207 825 2775) and Careandhealth magazine
Links: Report (pdf) | NSPCC press release
Date: 2005-Feb
A report described the early implementation of children s trusts in all 35 pathfinders in England. Most pathfinders had aimed for an approach which emphasized the importance of views of children, young people, and their parents and carers from the outset. All pathfinders stated aims covered the five key areas: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and economic well-being. But they attached a lower priority to economic well-being relative to other outcomes.
Source: University of East Anglia with National Children s Bureau, Children's Trusts: Developing integrated services for children in England, Research Report 617, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
Researchers evaluated the cost to children in Northern Ireland of using courts to resolve care issues between social services departments and families. It said there were inadequate resources to facilitate early intervention.
Source: Dominic McSherry, Dorota Iwaniec and Emma Larkin, Counting the Costs: The Children (NI) Order (1995), social work and the courts, Institute of Child Care Research/Queen's University Belfast
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Feb
A new book said that more needed to be done to improve educational and other outcomes for young people leaving care.
Source: Bob Broad, Improving the Health and Well-Being of Young People Leaving Care, Russell House Publishing (01297 443948)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb
Researchers investigated five multi-agency teams operating in children's services in England, covering youth crime, mental health, special needs provision for under-fives, neuro-rehabilitation, and assessment of child development. The research found confusion between the concepts of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency work; and it identified lack of training in effective management of multi-agency teams and managing change as two key issues which needed to be addressed.
Source: Angela Anning, New Forms of Professional Knowledge and Practice in Multi-agency Services, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2005-Feb
A report was published of a project which examined health issues relating to looked-after children in Wales. The project included partnership work with local agencies and consultation with children and young people. The report made a number of recommendations about services for looked after children in Wales.
Source: The Looking After Health Project 2002-2004, Children in Wales (029 2034 2434)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
An audit report highlighted a number of challenges faced by local councils in Scotland. In the financial year 2003-04, 60 per cent of young people aged 16-17 who left care away from home did not gain standard grades in English and maths. 20 per cent of children placed under supervision were not seen by a supervising officer within the 15-day target time. 33 per cent of primary schools were seriously under-occupied.
Source: Education & Children's Services: Performance Indicators 2003/04, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Audit Scotland press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
A study identified problems that prevented paediatricians, pathologists, police and other professionals from working together to conduct improved investigations when a baby died suddenly and unexpectedly.
Source: Anne Livesey, 'A multi-agency protocol for responding to sudden unexpected death in infancy: descriptive study', British Medical Journal, 29 January 2005
Links: Article | FSID press release
Date: 2005-Jan
The government said it had scrapped plans to introduce a registration scheme for all those working with children, because it would be 'prohibitively costly and impractical to implement'. (The database was one of 31 recommendations made in the Bichard report into the failures surrounding the Soham murders case.)
Source: Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Progress report, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 11 January 2005, columns 11-12WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Progress report (pdf) | Bichard report (pdf) | Hansard | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
An article considered recent innovations and challenges with respect to the evaluation of children s services interventions. It set out a method for designing and evaluating services that was based on research evidence gathered on individual cases, and that permitted revision of those services in the light of emerging results.
Source: Nick Axford, 'Evaluating children s services: recent conceptual and methodological developments', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jan