An official advisory body began consultation on plans to improve services for children and young people in family courts. It said that looked-after children might be missing out on support because the practitioners who monitored their care plans were overloaded.
Source: Organising for Quality, Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) (020 7510 7036)
Links: Consultation document | CAFCASS press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Dec
An audit report said that most Sure Start children s centres failed to identify the most disadvantaged families in their areas and offer them support. Only a minority actively targeted 'hard-to-reach' groups.
Source: Sure Start Children s Centres, HC 104 (Session 2006-07), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | NAO press release | DfES press release | NCH press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Dec
A report by the children's watchdog for England analyzed the creation and implementation of children and young people s plans (introduced in April 2006 to help establish multi-disciplinary and joint working practices, and greater co-operation between local government and its partners). It focused on the way in which children and young people had been involved in the development of the plans. It said that directors of children s services and lead members were pivotal roles, bringing children s priorities to the fore by creating genuine links with children and young people. Consultation for the inspection process should not replace a genuine participation strategy.
Source: Children and Young People s Plans: A review of the first year, Office of the Children s Commissioner (0844 8009113)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Dec
A report presented the findings from phase 1 of a study designed to develop an improved measure of children s social services output. Robust outcome measures suitable for national income accounting purposes were not available for children s social services: but considerable improvement could be made by measuring outputs for different activities, categorized by the service status of the children for whom they were provided, and also by the support needs of these children.
Source: Jean Soper, Lisa Holmes, Xiaozhen Hu and Enliz D Souza, Valuing Changes in Welfare to Individuals and Society Resulting from the Government s Provision of Children s Social Services in England, Research Report RW86, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Dec
An article suggested a framework for collaboration between local authorities and independent fostering agencies/providers.
Source: Clive Sellick, 'Opportunities and risks: models of good practice in commissioning foster-care', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Dec
Revised practice guidance for Sure Start children's centres said that managers should do more to get marginalized families to use their services. There should be a greater emphasis on outreach and home visiting.
Source: Sure Start Children's Centres Practice Guidance, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Guidance | DfES press release | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Dec
A new book summarized the findings of research into how children's social care services were delivered, the costs of providing those services, and the extent to which they improved outcomes for children. It suggested the commitment of new resources to interventions that were supported by evidence and targeted at strategic points notably intensive health visiting, and interventions around the time a child started school.
Source: Jennifer Beecham and Ian Sinclair, Costs and Outcomes in Children s Social Care: Messages from research, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Text of book | Summary
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the ways in which Sure Start local programmes had helped parents to feel that they had an increased sense of control over their lives. There was substantial evidence that SSLPs had empowered individual parents, so that they felt less isolated, more valued (especially as mothers), and more confident in their parenting activities.
Source: Fiona Williams and Harriet Churchill, Empowerment in Sure Start Local Programmes, Research Report NESS2006FR018, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-Nov
A discussion paper examined the key issues of governance and management which had emerged during the first phase of the roll-out of children's centres and extended schools.
Source: The Governance and Management of Extended Schools and Sure Start Children's Centres, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Discussion paper | Letter
Date: 2006-Nov
The watchdog for official information published an issues paper which examined the growth of government databases on children. It also published an independent research report which said that the databases could increase dangers to children, divert scarce resources, and create a 'surveillance culture' in which parents were sidelined and family privacy undermined.
Source: Protecting Children s Personal Information: ICO issues paper, Information Commissioner (01625 545 700) | Ross Anderson, Children s Databases: Safety and Privacy, Information Commissioner
Links: Issues paper | Research report | Information Commissioner press release | LSE press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report (1) | Community Care report (2)
Date: 2006-Nov
An organization representing business interests said that the aims of the government's 2005 Green Paper on children's services would be put at risk unless commissioning skills in local authorities were improved.
Source: Making Every Child Matter: Better commissioning, better care, Confederation of British Industry (020 7395 8247)
Links: Report | CBI press release
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined outreach and home visiting services in Sure Start local programmes. The prime aim of outreach services in most SSLPs had been to gain the confidence of families, to assess with them what they would find most helpful, and to get them to participate regularly in the relevant Sure Start services.
Source: Mog Ball and Lisa Niven, Outreach and Home Visiting Services in Sure Start Local Programmes, Research Report NESS2006FR017, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-Nov
The government published a progress report on its five-year strategy for children and learners, published in 2004, which set out its ambitions for education and children s services, and how it planned to use the resources allocated under the 2004 Spending Review. It said that 'rapid and decisive progress' had been made in delivering the commitments in the strategy.
Source: The Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners: Maintaining the Excellent Progress, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
An article examined the issue of engagement in antenatal parent education for women living in deprived areas, focusing on the findings of a local evaluation of a Sure Start parent education programme. The Sure Start service had been beneficial for those involved, and resulted in improved levels of engagement: but it only reached a small proportion of the eligible population. The article also discussed the issue of professional resistance from mainstream services.
Source: Charlotte Pearson and Miranda Thurston, 'Understanding mothers' engagement with antenatal parent education services: a critical analysis of a local Sure Start service', Children & Society, Volume 20 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Nov
A report outlined a plan designed to ensure that 70 per cent of the early years workforce could become qualified to Level 3 by 2010.
Source: Strategies and Targets for Raising the Proportion of the Early Years Workforce with Level 3 Qualifications, Children's Workforce Development Council (0113 244 6311)
Links: Report | CWDC press release | NDNA press release
Date: 2006-Nov
The social care inspectorate said that children and young people in care had a clear view of what their rights were as individuals - and of the fact that they did not always receive their statutory rights, from adults and professionals.
Source: Children on Rights and Responsibilities, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Nov
The education and social care inspectorates published the second round of annual performance assessments for 102 local authorities in England in respect of children's services and social care. 86 authorities were found to provide good or better services for children and young people; 75 were judged as good or better for the social care they offered; and 91 were judged good or better on their capacity to improve.
Source: Press release 2 November 2006, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: OFSTED press release | CSCI press release | Community Care report | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the experiences of care leavers in finding suitable accommodation. It made recommendations about how to improve the preparation for leaving care, and the provision of housing and support. There was a major problem with the patchiness of preparation for leaving care; and the choice of accommodation and support young people received was limited.
Source: A Place to Call Home: Care leavers' experience of finding suitable accommodation, Centrepoint (020 7426 5300)
Links: Report | Centrepoint press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Nov
The government announced a new requirement for Sure Start children's centres to evaluate the services that they provided, to ensure they were responsive to the needs of the most disadvantaged groups; and a new requirement for every centre to run a home visiting and outreach programme for parents of all new babies.
Source: Press release 5 October 2006, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | NCH press release | Daycare Trust press release | 4Children press release | Children Now report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report summarized the findings of a study of the characteristics, progress, and outcomes of children placed with family and friends, designed to compare these with a similar group of children placed with unrelated foster carers and to identify the factors that contributed to success in family and friends placements.
Source: Elaine Farmer and Sue Moyers, Children Placed with Family and Friends: Placement Patterns and Outcomes, Research Report 83, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
The government published a Green Paper setting out wide-ranging reforms to improve the quality, range, and choice of care for vulnerable children. Under the reforms, children in care would have the right to choose when they left care once they reached 16. Measures would be introduced to stop them being repeatedly moved between foster homes; ensure they were placed in the best schools; and provide financial security as they entered adulthood.
Source: Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care, Cm 6932, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Green Paper | Summary | Hansard | DfES press release | OCC press release | LGA press release | Fostering Network press release | NCH press release | Barnardos press release | ADSS press release | BAAF press release | BASW press release | YJB press release | 4Children press release | NCB press release | ATL press release | NASUWT press release | CWDC press release | Children Now report | Young People Now report | Community Care report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2006-Oct
An annual survey of trends in education was published, based on questionnaire surveys of headteachers. Linked papers examined how the 'Every Child Matters' agenda was affecting schools; how schools were supporting looked-after children; what was happening on extended schools; and schools perceptions of local authority support for school improvement.
Source: Tamsin Chamberlain, Karen Lewis, David Teeman and Lesley Kendall, Schools' Concerns and their Implications for Local Authorities: Annual survey of trends 2006, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Oct
A study examined 75 children and young people s plans prepared by local authorities, and how they contributed to the 'Every Child Matters' objectives. Overall, there was a recognition of the importance of developing local partnerships and responding to local needs. There was a marked diversity across the plans, and there was scope for further guidance on identification and allocation of resources, performance management arrangements, and commissioning strategies.
Source: Pippa Lord et al., Analysis of Children and Young People s Plans 2006, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Report | NFER press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A report summarized the key findings of a government-funded study of children s advocacy in England. The study identified a range of perceived practical and psychological benefits for children as a result of advocacy.
Source: Christine Oliver, Abigail Knight and Mano Candappa, Advocacy for Looked After Children and Children in Need: Achievements and challenges, Research Report RW82, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A survey measured public perceptions in England of education and children s services over a school year. Overall opinion was fairly evenly split in each wave of the survey (September 2005 to June 2006), in terms of proportions thinking the quality of education had got better, stayed the same, or got worse. In the final wave, respondents were more likely than in previous waves to think that it had got worse. Around a third of respondents knew about plans for Sure Start Centres in every community.
Source: EdComs, DfES Parents and Public Survey: 2005/06 Findings (4 survey waves), Research Report 84, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report said that pay was a key issue for many children s services staff, but was often not the determining factor over whether they stayed in their jobs. For many, job satisfaction outweighed lower levels of remuneration.
Source: Recruitment, Retention and Rewards in the Children s Workforce, Children's Workforce Development Council (0113 244 6311)
Links: Report part 1 | Report part 2 | Report part 3 | CWDC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Oct
The government published a consolidated and classified abstract of information for 2004 and 2005 relating to the government s objectives for children s social services, under the Children Act 1989.
Source: The Children Act 1989 Report 2004 and 2005, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A review report for the Scottish Executive sought to identify what constituted good care for children and young people who were looked after by local authorities, and to recommend in what ways care could be further improved. It said that too many adults had low expectations of what looked-after children could achieve. Supporting documents examined the legal framework; what helped looked-after children become and feel successful; how local authorities supported kinship-care placements; health needs; and the everyday activities of looked-after children.
Source: Extraordinary Lives: Creating a positive future for looked after children and young people in Scotland, Social Work Inspection Agency, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | Jackie McRae, Children Looked After by Local Authorities: The Legal Framework, Social Work Inspection Agency | Helen Happer, Joanna McCreadie and Jane Aldgate, Celebrating Success: What helps looked after children succeed, Social Work Inspection Agency | Jane Aldgate and Miranda McIntosh, Looking After the Family: A study of children looked after in kinship care in Scotland, Social Work Inspection Agency | Jane Scott and Malcolm Hill, The Health of Looked After and Accommodated Children and Young People in Scotland, Social Work Inspection Agency | Jane Aldgate and Miranda McIntosh, Time Well Spent: A study of well-being and children's daily activities, Social Work Inspection Agency
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release | Legal Framework | Celebrating Success | Kinship Care | Health Needs | Time Well Spent
Date: 2006-Sep
The government announced measures to improve support for children in care and their education. An extra 100 per year would be put into their child trust fund accounts for every full year they spent in care; and a 2,000 bursary would help children in care go to university.
Source: Press release 27 September 2006, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | Fostering Network press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Sep
An article showed how time worked against parents with learning difficulties in the child protection system and Children Act proceedings. Pressure to avoid delay (resulting from the prevailing wisdom that delay harmed the interests of children) made it harder for parents with learning difficulties to meet the standards and expectations enforced by children s services and the courts.
Source: Tim Booth, David McConnell and Wendy Booth, 'Temporal discrimination and parents with learning difficulties in the child protection system', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
A think-tank report said that most young people in local authority care were destined to end up in prison, homeless, or working as prostitutes. The system was failing young people and society, and perpetuating an 'underclass'.
Source: Harriet Sergeant, Handle with Care: An investigation into the care system, Centre for Young Policy Studies (020 7222 4488)
Links: CPS press release | Introduction | NCH press release | Centrepoint press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Sep
The children's services inspectorate said that children and young people in care were not sufficiently consulted over major decisions that affected their lives, leading to some placements breaking down.
Source: Placements, Decisions and Reviews, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Sep
Researchers confirmed the potential of an integrated approach to multiple assessments for children with significant and complex health needs and/or disabilities; and the value of flexibility (rather than one particular model) in responding to local circumstances and needs.
Source: Janet Boddy, Patricia Potts and June Stratham, Models of Good Practice in Joined-up Assessment: Working for children with significant and complex needs , Research Report RW79, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-Sep
An article presented the findings of a research study that explored the complex relationship between the duration of care proceedings and costs to children in terms of the likelihood of achieving permanency.
Source: Dominic McSherry, Emma Larkin and Dorota Iwaniec, 'Care proceedings: exploring the relationship between case duration and achieving permanency for the child', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
A report summarized the views of a sample of children and young people on what made for a good care service. Children and young people said they wanted to: be treated as individuals; have a say and be listened to; have choices in decisions affecting them; and have services that did what they thought was important.
Source: Children's Views on Standards, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Sep
Researchers examined the extent to which the 'Early Support' programme had improved inter-agency working between children s services. It found that, overall, Early Support was a 'very successful programme'. (Early Support is designed to enhance child and family outcomes for disabled children from birth to three years.)
Source: Alys Young et al., Early Support: An Evaluation of Phase 3 of Early Support, Research Report 798, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Brief | Appendices
Date: 2006-Sep
A report said that there was a need for a national strategy in Scotland for children and young people who were looked after away from home.
Source: Susan Elsley, No Time to Lose: A manifesto for children and young people looked after away from home, Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care/University of Strathclyde (0141 950 3683)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Sep
A think-tank report said that despite improvements in recent years, educational and other outcomes for looked-after children were still far behind their peers. This was partly because of structural problems with the education system, and the links between education and social services, which disadvantaged looked-after children; and partly because of the lack of a strong parental role to advocate on behalf of the child. The report set out a system of financial incentives (paid to the school of each looked-after child) designed to give 'corporate parents' the same power and interest in their children's education as any other parent.
Source: David Chater and Julian Le Grand, Looked After Or Overlooked? Good parenting and school choice for looked after children, Social Market Foundation (020 7222 7060)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Sep
Four linked reports examined children s services markets - children s homes and fostering provision; positive activities for young people; childcare; and parental and family support services. The overall findings painted a picture of failure, both in terms of councils meeting the needs of children/young people/parents, and in terms of achieving value for money. Encouraging the development of regional commissioning, and rationalizing central government funding streams, could help improve the development of these markets.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Overarching Report on Children s Services Markets, Research Report RW76, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | PricewaterhouseCoopers, Children s Homes and Fostering, Research Report RW74, Department for Education and Skills | PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Market for Parental & Family Support Services, Research Report RW72, Department for Education and Skills | PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Childcare Market, Research Report RW73, Department for Education and Skills | PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Market for Provision of Positive Activities for Young People, Research Report RW75, Department for Education and Skills
Links: RW76 | RW74 | RW72 | RW73 | RW75 | NDNA press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Aug
An article analyzed the assumptions which underpinned the Green Paper Every Child Matters . It argued that the relationships between parents, children, professionals, and the state were being reconfigured as a result; and that the priority given to the accumulation, monitoring, and exchange of information took on an increasing significance.
Source: Nigel Parton, ' Every Child Matters : the shift to prevention whilst strengthening protection in children's services in England', Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 28 Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
An article examined the development of social care practice in relation to child witnesses of domestic violence. It said that there were a number of important reasons why child witnesses of domestic violence should not always be assumed to need the response of a child protection system; and that a future practice, legal, and policy response should be based on a wider understanding of their needs.
Source: Mark Rivett and Shaun Kelly, 'From awareness to practice: children, domestic violence and child welfare', Child Abuse Review, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
An article presented findings from a study of outcomes for young people leaving care. Employment outcomes were generally poor: but housing outcomes were rather better.
Source: Jim Wade and Jo Dixon, 'Making a home, finding a job: investigating early housing and employment outcomes for young people leaving care', Child & Family Social Work, Volume 11 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
A report said that children in care were written off by the education system, with nearly 8 out of 10 gaining no qualifications.
Source: Failed by the System: The views of young care leavers on their educational experiences, Barnardo s (01268 520224)
Links: Report | Barnardo's press release | Turning Point press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Aug
The children's services inspectorate examined the views of children and young people who lived in boarding schools because they needed to live away from home for a variety of reasons. Placements at boarding schools could help with problems experienced at home, and the advantages included: being with friends, learning to live with people even if they did not like them, and receiving constant educational and personal support. But the disadvantages included: missing their family, in some cases staying at school at the weekends, loss of privacy, and missing the new friends they met when they had to leave.
Source: Boarding School Placement: A children s views report, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Aug
A think-tank report said that looked-after children should be given cash accounts so they did not miss out on after-school clubs.
Source: Dominic Maxwell, Sonia Sodha and Kate Stanley, An Asset Account for Looked After Children: A proposal to improve educational outcomes for children in care, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Report | IPPR press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Aug
The government began consultation on proposals to review the frequency and methodology of children's social services inspections, as part of a wider review of national minimum standards. The consultation document considered what changes were needed to enable inspections to become more targeted, and to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on providers with a good service record.
Source: Modernising the Regulatory Framework for Children's Social Services, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document | DfES press release
Date: 2006-Aug
Researchers examined the use of child protection orders in Scotland, and the related issues of risk assessment, thresholds of intervention, and inter-agency co-operation. There was no clear consensus about whether thresholds for intervention had been raised as a consequence of the introduction of child protection orders.
Source: Joe Francis, Janice McGhee and Enid Mordaunt, Protecting Children in Scotland: An investigation of risk assessment and inter-agency collaboration in the use of child protection orders, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Aug
A new book examined recent developments in the areas of youth justice and child protection. The central focus of the book was on whether society and young people in state care, both in young offenders institutes and foster/care homes, were better served by the dispensation of justice or appropriate family support.
Source: Malcolm Hill, Andrew Lockyer and Fred Stone (eds.), Youth Justice and Child Protection, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jul
A survey examined how education services within local authorities were responding to rapid change in children s services. About half of responding authorities had created Children s Service Departments, with the majority of the rest planning to do so sometime in 2006: but about 1 in every 13 authorities did not have plans in place.
Source: Mary Baginsky, Responding to Change: A survey of local education authorities responses to the changing policy context of child protection, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (0207 825 2775)
Date: 2006-Jul
The children's services inspectorate examined what children and young people in receipt of social care services thought about social workers. Social workers needed to be more accessible, follow through on their promises, and see children alone during visits.
Source: About Social Workers: A Children s Views Report, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Jul
The government announced that a national minimum allowance for foster carers would be introduced for the first time in England. From April 2007, the national minimum allowance for care of a baby would be 100-116 per week, rising to 151-176 per week for an older teenager. The allowance rates paid by fostering providers would be monitored through the inspection process.
Source: Press release 27 July 2006, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | Fostering Network press release | BAAF press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jul
An article said that, despite its success in changing policy, the Climbi inquiry report showed again the inadequacy of such inquiries as a basis for reform. (The inquiry followed the torture and brutal murder in 2000 of Victoria Climbi , aged 8, by her great aunt and great aunt's boyfriend.)
Source: Judith Masson, 'The Climbi inquiry - context and critique', Journal of Law and Society, Volume 33 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
An article reported a study of adolescent foster care, including the contact that adolescents had with parents, siblings, and other family members during a long-term foster placement. Contact for the majority of adolescents was problematic, and had a significant impact on placement outcomes.
Source: Sue Moyers, Elaine Farmer and Jo Lipscombe, 'Contact with family members and its impact on adolescents and their foster placements', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
A study examined how local authority residential care units in Scotland were being used, and provided data relating to issues in the use of residential child care. Residential child care was used for diverse purposes, and there was a very wide range of length of stay.
Source: Ian Milligan, Lynne Hunter and Andrew Kendrick, Current Trends in the Use of Residential Child Care in Scotland, Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care/University of Strathclyde (0141 9503683)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined the participation of looked-after and accommodated children in Scotland in decision-making concerning their care. Official meetings, hearings (and background forms) were "imperfect vehicles" for eliciting the candid feelings and views of children and for ensuring the participation of children in decision-making about their care.
Source: My Turn to Talk? The participation of looked after and accommodated children in decision-making concerning their care, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jun
An article examined the obligation for local authorities to produce a strategic plan for children and young people's services, and assessed the extent to which it was likely to be effective. It looked at previous planning experiences in the field, and considered the extent to which a top-down implementation model could be effective.
Source: Bob Hudson, 'Children and young people's strategic plans', Policy Studies, Volume 27 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined what children and young people, and the professionals who worked with them, thought about advocacy arrangements in the children's hearings system in Scotland. The results were published of consultation on proposals for improving the system. The Scottish Executive published its plan for making improvements, and announced a legislative timetable.
Source: Chris Creegan, Gillian Henderson and Caroline King, Big Words and Big Tables: Children and young people s experiences of advocacy support and participation in the children s hearings system, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | Robert Stevenson, Anne-Marie Barry and Pamela Johnstone, Getting it Right for Every Child - Proposals for Action: Analysis of consultation responses, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop | Getting It Right For Every Child: Implementation Plan, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop | Press release 22 June 2006, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | Consultation responses | Implementation plan | SE press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report said that children in care settings in Northern Ireland needed to have a greater say in the decisions affecting their lives.
Source: A Northern Ireland Based Review of Children and Young People s Participation in the Care Planning Process, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (028 9031 1616)
Links: Summary | Literature review | NICCY press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined issues around child protection in Scotland, including the lack of trust throughout the child protection system, and the need to define acceptable levels of risk.
Source: Getting the Balance Right?, CHILDREN 1ST (0131 446 2300) and ChildLine Scotland
Links: Report | CHILDREN 1st press release
Date: 2006-Jun
The children's services inspectorate examined the views of young parents who were living with their own children in residential family centres. The best thing for young parents about the centres was that they had helped them to be with their children. The most prominent fear for young parents was not knowing what was going to happen at the end of the assessment, or whether their child/children would be taken away from them.
Source: Mike Lindsay and Roger Morgan, Young People s Views on Residential Family Centres, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Jun
The education inspectorate published a report on its work in 2005-06, and also its strategic plan for 2006-07. By April 2007 it would be renamed the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, and would take over the relevant work of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, HM Inspectorate of Court Administration, and the Adult Learning Inspectorate.
Source: Ofsted Departmental Report 2005 06, Cm 6813, Office for Standards in Education, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Ofsted Strategic Plan 2006 to 2007, HMI 2658, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report | Strategy | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
A study found that nearly a quarter of English fostering services had no strategy for the recruitment of foster carers, while just under half had no post dedicated to the recruitment task.
Source: Helen Clarke, Improving Effectiveness in Foster Care Recruitment, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400)
Links: Report | Fostering Network press release
Date: 2006-May
The Prime Minister reportedly said that both the Sure Start scheme for children under 5, and policies for children in care, had failed socially excluded groups. He said that the government had "not yet found a way of bringing the shut-out into mainstream society".
Source: The Guardian, 16 May 2006
Links: Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2006-May
Two linked reports examined the child care proceedings system in England and Wales, and made recommendations for improving the system for children and families subject to proceedings.
Source: Review of the Child Care Proceedings System in England and Wales, Department for Constitutional Affairs (020 7210 8500) | Julia Brophy, Research Review: Child Care Proceedings under the Children Act 1989, Department for Constitutional Affairs
Links: Review report | Research report | Research summary | DCA press release
Date: 2006-May
A social care inspectorate report highlighted innovative ways in which some foster care providers and local councils were improving placement stability for young people in foster care.
Source: The Right People For Me: Helping children do well in long-term foster care, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-May
A report reviewed research evidence on what works in residential child care. Residential care provision needed to be evaluated in the context of children?s whole lives: this meant acknowledging the complexity of the task residential care staff faced in helping improve the educational outcomes for looked-after children and young people or ensuring their inclusion in wider society.
Source: Roger Clough, Roger Bullock and Adrian Ward, What Works in Residential Child Care: A review of research evidence and the practical implications, National Children?s Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Report | NCB press release
Date: 2006-May
A new book examined child abuse and child welfare policy. It asked what was meant by 'safeguarding' children in modern society.
Source: Nigel Parton, Safeguarding Childhood: Early intervention and surveillance in a late modern society, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-May
An inspectorate report explored the views of children and young people who had experience of running away from their homes, schools, or foster placements.
Source: Running Away: A children?s views report, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-May
A report set out what the Scottish Executive was doing with its local partners ? in education, health, social work, police and criminal justice ? to improve care and support for the children of parents who abused drugs. It also identified further action to be taken.
Source: Hidden Harm: Next Steps - Supporting Children, Working with Parents, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-May
An independent review of children's policies in Wales identified gaps and inconsistencies in services offered to vulnerable children. It praised many initiatives, but said better national and local co-ordination was needed. Many children's services were "sound", but were delivered in an "uneven and unsustainable" way.
Source: Keeping Us Safe, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | WLGA press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-May
A study found a "lack of confidence" among local authorities in the ability of secure children's homes to provide high-quality, outcome-focused services with the right individual and therapeutic input. Half of young people placed in secure homes for welfare rather than criminal reasons achieved poor outcomes.
Source: Jane Held Consulting Ltd, Qualitative Study: The Use by Local Authorities of Secure Children?s Homes, Research Report 749, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Children Now report
Date: 2006-May
A think-tank report said that immediate action was needed to improve the range and capacity of the services in Scotland designed to meet the needs of children living with, and affected by, substance use.
Source: Patricia Russell, Have We Got Our Priorities Right? Children living with parental substance use, Abelour Child Care Trust (0131 669 5190)
Links: Report | ACCT press release
Date: 2006-May
A report said that local authorities and professional staff in England should strengthen and improve contact between birth families and children and young people in foster care. Social workers should put the views of children at the centre of planning contact arrangements; keep children informed of any changes; and address relatives behaviour during contact visits.
Source: Sarah Dawson and Jonny Hoyle, Every Voice Matters, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400)
Links: Report | Fostering Network press release
Date: 2006-Apr
Almost 11 per cent of looked-after children in England obtained five good GCSEs in the year to September 2005, against 9.4 per cent the year before. (GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education)
Source: Outcome Indicators for Looked-after Children, Twelve months to 30 September 2005 - England, Statistical First Release 16/2006, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR | BBC report
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined the difficulties of engaging fathers in the child protection process, and made suggestions for constructive responses from services.
Source: Jonathan Scourfield, 'The challenge of engaging fathers in the child protection process', Critical Social Policy, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A study found that two-thirds of children's services practitioners said the 'common assessment framework' and the 'lead professional' role were adding to their workload. But more than half felt the two initiatives were promoting better multi-agency working, and three-quarters thought they would lead to better outcomes for children.
Source: Marian Brandon et al., Evaluating the Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professional Guidance and Implementation in 2005-6, Research Report 740, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Brief | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Apr
An article reported a study of looked-after children who were on a legal supervision order at home, primarily as a consequence of having been abused or neglected, having offended, or having failed to attend school without reasonable excuse.
Source: Cathy Murray, 'State intervention and vulnerable children: implementation revisited', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 35 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A report examined the extent to which local authorities were meeting the requirements to provide comprehensive, up-to-date, local information on children's services in the form of a directory which was accessible to parents, professionals, children, and young people. It said that more guidance should be provided from central government, and more attention might be given to the problems experienced in linking information on child and family services contained in national and local databases.
Source: Helen Barrett et al., Linking Up Directories of Children s Services, Research Report 731, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2006-Apr
An article said that policies with regard to child protection in general, and child neglect in particular, did not address gender issues in an explicit fashion. Social policy needed to be explicitly informed by an analysis of the gender issues underlying understandings of neglect and response to neglect.
Source: Brigid Daniel and Julie Taylor, 'Gender and child neglect: theory, research and policy', Critical Social Policy, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined agency policy in relation to children's participation in the child protection process, based on a study in Wales. It found a "total lack" of children's input into service planning for child protection services.
Source: Robert Sanders and Sam Mace, 'Agency policy and the participation of children and young people in the child protection process', Child Abuse Review, Volume 15 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article said that the lack of a gender analysis in New Labour policy in relation to child welfare and protection had led to problematic gaps at the level of policy and service provision. Although some attention was paid to the needs of fathers, including the need to involve them in service provision, this was "tokenistic" and inadequately grounded in practical realities.
Source: Brid Featherstone, 'Why gender matters in child welfare and protection', Critical Social Policy, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined the challenges facing child and adolescent mental health service provision for looked after children, who were almost five times more likely to have a mental disorder than children in the general population.
Source: Colette McAuley and Ciara Young, 'The mental health of looked after children: challenges for CAMHS provision', Journal of Social Work Practice, Volume 20 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
The Scottish Executive announced that it had begun work on developing a national fostering strategy.
Source: Press release 22 March 2006, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release | Fostering Network press release
Date: 2006-Mar
An article examined social workers and parents experiences of attempts to refocus child protection practice in England since the late 1990s. A form of practice was emerging that offered benefits in terms of balancing child protection and child welfare approaches, and in terms of relationships with parents.
Source: Dendy Platt, 'Investigation or initial assessment of child concerns? The impact of the refocusing initiative on social work practice', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
A report said that improving the educational achievements of looked-after children called for foster carers to be better empowered and equipped by fostering services. It highlighted the need for guidance that clarified the authority of foster carers to make decisions with regard to the educational needs of the children they fostered, and for registration of foster carers with a body such as the General Social Care Council.
Source: Improving the Educational Achievements of Looked-after Children, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400)
Links: Report | Fostering Network press release
Date: 2006-Mar
The government published its response to the second joint chief inspectors' report on arrangements to safeguard children. It set out the actions the government would take to address the chief inspectors' recommendations, and the timescales for this work.
Source: Making Safeguarding Everyone s Business: The government s response to the second chief inspectors report on arrangements to safeguard children, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Mar
A joint inspectorate report said that approximately half of all local authorities in England needed to improve their services for cared-for children.
Source: Annual Performance Assessment (APA) of Local Authority Children s Services 2005: Report on outcomes, HMI 2520, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833) and other inspectorates
Links: Report | NCH press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Mar
The children's services inspectorate examined the support young people received from social services when leaving care. Young people often did not know what their entitlement to aftercare services was. Some enjoyed excellent preparation and support, while others received little or no help at all.
Source: Young People s Views on Leaving Care: What young people in, and formerly in, residential and foster care think about leaving care, Children's Rights Director/Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A report for the Scottish Executive examined the existing evidence base on integrated children s services, and highlighted issues emerging for developing the evidence base further. Common themes from the literature included: concern about funding integrated services; cultural differences between professionals; and clarity about roles and responsibilities, and the purpose of partnership working.
Source: Katy Brown and Katherine White, Exploring the Evidence Base for Integrated Children's Services, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
Researchers sought to establish the baseline perceptions of key groups of staff involved in the delivery of the government's agenda for improving children's services ('Every Child Matters').
Source: Gemma Deakin and Graham Kelly, Children's Workforce Research, Research Report 716, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Feb
A survey found that foster carers working for all of Northern Ireland s health and social services trusts received an amount below recommended minimum rates, suggesting that they were having to contribute to the cost of looking after a fostered child from their own pockets. The Northern Ireland Executive announced measures to increase resources for fostering.
Source: Press release 22 February 2006, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400) | Press release 22 February 2006, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Fostering Network press release | NIE press release
Date: 2006-Feb
A report called for an overarching review of the children s workforce in Scotland.
Source: Bronwen Cohen and Jim McCormick, Working for the Future: Re-imagining the children's workforce, Scottish Council Foundation (0131 225 4709), Children in Scotland, and International Futures Forum
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
A new book provided a comprehensive review of research evidence from the United Kingdom and the United States of America on the effectiveness of selected child welfare interventions.
Source: Colette McAuley, Peter Pecora and Wendy Rose, Enhancing the Well-being of Children and Families through Effective Interventions: International evidence for practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
A literature review examined available research (most from the United States of America) on the consequences of reuniting children who had been taken into local authority care with their families.
Source: Nina Biehal, Reuniting Looked-after Children with their Families: A research review, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029) for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Findings
Date: 2006-Feb
A report examined the manageability of simultaneous joint area reviews and corporate assessments of local authority children s services. Councils on the whole found the inspections to be of comparable (or, in some cases, better) quality than previous inspections they had experienced, and self-assessment was a positive part of the process. However, none of the councils involved in the early inspections felt it contributed to a reduced inspection burden, or that there was added value in a joined-up process.
Source: KPMG LLP, Evaluation of the Manageability of the Joint Area Review and Corporate Assessment Process: Final Report, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report | OFSTED press release
Date: 2006-Feb
An article examined local authority social workers' decision-making when considering referrals of children, where the concerns were on the margin of child protection procedures.
Source: Dendy Platt, 'Threshold decisions: how social workers prioritize referrals of child concern', Child Abuse Review, Volume 15 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Feb
The social care inspectorate said that 'at risk' children (those on the child protection register) would have a better life if their parents were given more support and help by local councils.
Source: Supporting Parents, Safeguarding Children: Meeting the needs of parents with children on the child protection register, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report | CSCI press release | NCH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
A new book examined why babies entered care or accommodation, and why securing their long-term future could be a lengthy process.
Source: Harriet Ward, Emily Munro and Chris Dearden, Babies and Young Children in Care: Life pathways, decision-making and practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Feb
The government announced (following consultation) measures to improve the childcare and early years workforce. It said that it would build an integrated qualifications framework, and use a 'transformation fund' of 250 million to stimulate the supply of early years professionals and provide other developmental incentives.
Source: Children s Workforce Strategy: Building a world-class workforce for children, young people and families - The government s response to the consultation, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation response | DfES press release | GTCE press release | SFC press release | Daycare Trust press release | NDNA press release | PSLA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Feb
The Court of Appeal ruled that a mother could not sue a local authority for psychological damage after they took her child into care, even though it was later found that the child was not at risk. Local authorities did not owe a duty of care to parents.
Source: AD and OH (a child: by AD his litigation friend) v Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, Court of Appeal 17 January 2006
Links: Text of judgement
Date: 2006-Jan
A survey of professionals working in primary schools, pre-school settings, nurseries, and healthcare found that 11 per cent reported an increase in suspected cases of child neglect over the previous year. 19 per cent said that they had not been given the training or information needed to deal with neglect.
Source: Press release 13 October 2009, Action for Children (020 7704 7000)
Links: Action for Children press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jan
An article examined the views of vulnerable children of 11 years and under on the relevance of services they received. Children s experiences could contribute to the creation of more democratic communities: but it remained to be seen whether the government's Green Paper on children's services would merely extend the degree to which they were controlled.
Source: Carol Aubrey and Sarah Dahl, 'Service providers and the relevance of services they receive', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jan
The government announced that new regulations would be introduced, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that any individual working with children who had been convicted or cautioned for sex offences against children would be automatically barred from working in schools. The announcement followed an internal review, prompted by revelations that a small number of such people had been permitted to work with children.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 19 January 2006, columns 966-981, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Review of the List 99 Decision Making Process and Policy Implications, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Hansard | Review | DfES press release | Barnardo's press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jan
The government began consultation on proposals to establish, for the first time, a national minimum allowance for foster carers. Based on the methodology proposed in the consultation, the national minimum weekly allowance for 2006 would be 99.56 for babies; 107.61 for pre-school children; 103.34 for primary age children; and 112.89 for secondary age children.
Source: National Minimum Fostering Allowances, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document | DfES press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A report said that people who were no risk to children or vulnerable adults were being refused employment, suspended and dismissed on the basis of "wholly irrelevant" cautions or convictions. It called for the government to urgently reform the way people with criminal records were treated in the labour market, by introducing an independent licensing authority which would hold ultimate responsibility for clearing people for employment.
Source: Getting Disclosures Right: A review of the use and misuse of criminal record disclosures, National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (020 7582 6500)
Links: NACRO press release
Date: 2006-Jan
An article said that children were being left at risk of abuse because doctors were afraid to speak out following the "pillorying" of paediatricians in the media and by the General Medical Council.
Source: David Hall, 'The future of child protection', Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Volume 99 Issue 1
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jan
A new book examined why babies entered care or accommodation, and why securing their long-term future could be a lengthy process.
Source: Harriet Ward, Emily Munro and Chris Dearden, Babies and Young Children in Care: Life pathways, decision-making and practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jan
An inspectorate report examined what children and young people thought about the rules in proposed government guidance on how and when people working with children could pass on confidential information to each other. Children generally expected professionals only to pass on confidential information with the child's permission, unless the child was too young to understand the issues, or the information had to be passed on to prevent the child or someone else being seriously harmed.
Source: Roger Morgan (Children s Rights Director), Passing It On: Views of children and young people on the government s guidelines for sharing confidential information about them, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan
Researchers examined the different governance and management structures of children's centres, and sought to identify those approaches and features that appeared to be successful. (Children s centres bring together locally available services, to provide core services targeted at the needs of children under 5 in deprived areas.)
Source: SQW Limited, Research to Inform the Management and Governance of Children's Centres, Research Report SSU2006FR019, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan