The inspectorate for education and children's services in England published the outcomes of performance assessments for local authority children's services. 20 councils were providing excellent services, double the number for the previous year. In addition, 77 councils were performing well, with 37 councils rated as providing adequate services. 12 councils were performing poorly overall.
Source: Press release 9 December 2010, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: OFSTED press release | DE press release | ADCS press release | Telegraph report | Children & Young People Now report | Guardian report | Public Finance report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Dec
A report examined arrangements for research governance and ethics review in children's services in England. It made recommendations for the future development of governance arrangements, aimed at ensuring a more coherent and transparent system.
Source: Janet Boddy and Christine Oliver, Research Governance in Children's Services: The Scope for New Advice, Research Report RR072, Department for Education
Date: 2010-Dec
Three articles examined child protection issues within the care system in Scotland.
Source: Sharon Vincent, Brigid Daniel and Sharon Jackson, 'Where now for "child protection" in Scotland?', Child Abuse Review, Volume 19 Issue 6 | Robin Sen, 'Managing contact in Scotland for children in non-permanent out-of-home placement', Child Abuse Review, Volume 19 Issue 6 | Jennifer Davidson, 'Residential care for children and young people: priority areas for change', Child Abuse Review, Volume 19 Issue 6 Links: Abstract (1) | Abstract (2) | Abstract (3)
Date: 2010-Dec
A study examined changes and improvements in safeguarding practice for children since the Laming review in 2008. The literature suggested that there had been developments across a wide spectrum of practice – in training and professional development, capacity and recruitment, interagency working, quality assurance and monitoring, serious case reviews, and referrals and assessments.
Source: Kerry Martin, Jennifer Jeffes and Shona Macleod, Safeguarding Children – Literature Review, National Foundation for Educational Research
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Dec
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill designed to replace local children's panels with a single national body.
Source: Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government/TSO | Scottish Parliament Debate 25 November 2010, columns 30932-30983, Official Report/TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | Official Report | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Nov
Researchers found that children growing up in Sure Start local programme (SSLP) areas were less likely to be overweight than comparable children in non-SSLP areas, and had better physical health. Mothers in SSLP areas reported: providing a more stimulating home learning environment for their children; providing a less chaotic home environment for their children; experiencing greater life satisfaction; engaging in less harsh discipline; experiencing more depressive symptoms; being less likely to visit their child's school for parent/teacher meetings or other arranged visits.
Source: National Evaluation of Sure Start, The Impact of Sure Start Local Programmes on Five Year Olds and Their Families, Research Report RR067, Department for Education
Links: Report | Brief | NIACE press release | Guardian report | Community Care report | Nursery World report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that there was too much confusion and a lack of information surrounding the role of bodies set up to help protect children in Wales. The role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards was not clearly understood, differed between different areas, and was sometimes unknown even to those working for agencies represented on the boards.
Source: Inquiry into Local Safeguarding Children Boards in Wales, Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee/National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report | WAG press release
Date: 2010-Nov
A report by a committee of MPs said that, following the publicity around the 'Baby Peter' tragedy in 2008, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service had experienced a significant and sustained increase in demand for its services – receiving around 34 per cent more care cases in 2009-10 than in the previous year. This had led to 'chaos' across the family justice system, and exposed Cafcass as an organization that was 'not fit for purpose' in dealing with the increased number of cases.
Source: Cafcass's Response to Increased Demand for Its Services, Sixth Report (Session 2010-11), HC 439, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | BBC report | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report examined children's views on first entering social care – including what help they and their families had been given, and whether they had agreed that they should have come into care.
Source: Before Care, HMI 090118, Children's Rights Director for England/Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | Ofsted press release | Guardian report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Nov
An article examined the findings of a research project that explored the care factors influencing the educational achievement of looked-after children in Scotland. Looked-after children performed less well academically than their counterparts in the general school population. The empirical data indicated that factors such as placement type, reason for becoming looked after, and age on becoming looked after were significant in determining educational achievement. Empirical results further indicated that looked-after children suffered from discrimination and social exclusion in many areas of their lives, including school and where they lived.
Source: Michele McClung and Vernon Gayle, 'Exploring the care effects of multiple factors on the educational achievement of children looked after at home and away from home: an investigation of two Scottish local authorities', Child & Family Social Work, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Nov
An article examined offending behaviour and children in residential care. It considered whether children's residential care was a 'criminogenic' environment. The available data provided evidence of an environment in which conflict and offending behaviour were common. The residential care environment, particularly for older teenagers, often presented a set of risks that tended to reinforce offending behaviour – in part due to its 'last resort' status.
Source: Carol Hayden, 'Offending behaviour in care: is children's residential care a "criminogenic" environment?', Child & Family Social Work, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Nov
The government announced that the Children's Workforce Development Council – the quango responsible for training people who worked with children – was to be abolished.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 16 November 2010, column 38WS, House of Commons Hansard/TSO
Links: Hansard | Letter | ADCS press release | Public Finance report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Nov
Researchers examined the characteristics and quality of group childcare settings used by children in areas served by Sure Start local programmes, and the relationships between pre-school childcare quality and child outcomes.
Source: Edward Melhuish, Jay Belsky, Kristen MacPherson and Andrew Cullis, The Quality of Group Childcare Settings Used by 3-4 Year Old Children in Sure Start Local Programme Areas and the Relationship with Child Outcomes, Research Report RR068, Department of Education
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Nov
The High Court ruled that automatically banning those convicted for, or admitting, certain crimes from working with children and vulnerable adults without allowing them to make representations breached their rights to a fair trial.
Source: Royal College of Nursing & Others, R v Secretary of State for the Home Department & Another, High Court 10 November 2010
Links: Text of judgement | Civitas press release | RCN press release | Personnel Today report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-Nov
The inspectorate for education and children's services identified best practice and provided detailed case studies of effective partnership work within six children's trusts. Strong partnership working across agencies, led by highly effective leaders with commitment and drive, could bring about real change and improvement for children and young people in their area.
Source: Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People Through Partnership in Children's Trusts, HMI 090234, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Nov
An article examined the measurement of 'service' in children's services. It outlined the dimensions of 'service'; how they had been measured in research, policy, and practice contexts; and the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches. It then explored implications for the field and identified potential applications of a more 'nuanced' and consistent approach to measuring services.
Source: Nick Axford, 'What's in a service?', Child & Family Social Work, Volume 15 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Nov
The initial findings were published of an official review of the child protection system in England. Previous reforms had led to social workers spending less time with vulnerable children and families. Although the reforms had been well-intentioned, they had not delivered positive, long-lasting improvements at the front line. Changes made in reaction to high-profile cases over the previous four decades had focused on parts of the system, rather than considering it as a whole.
Source: Eileen Munro, The Munro Review of Child Protection Part One: A Systems Analysis, Department for Education
Links: Report | DE press release | ADCS press release | SCIE press release | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report | Nursery World report
Date: 2010-Oct
A report examined the challenges and opportunities involved in supporting children, families, and communities through early intervention. Early intervention 'clearly worked' – when it was an appropriate intervention, applied well, and followed timely identification of a problem. The earliest interventions secured the maximum impact and greatest long-term sustainability (as early in the child's life as possible or as soon as possible after a need became apparent).
Source: Grasping the Nettle: Early intervention for children, families and communities, Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services
Links: Report | C4EO press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined what happened to children during care proceedings. Many of the children in the study were subjected to a great deal of bewildering change, complex routines, and large numbers of adults going in and out of their lives. There was a risk of the process tending to 'objectify' children by focusing too much on decision making for the future, at the expense of thinking about their immediate needs.
Source: Chris Beckett and Bridget McKeigue, 'Objects of concern: caring for children during care proceedings', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
A new textbook provided an introduction to working with children, young people, and families. It covered key themes and developments, including: poverty and disadvantage; ethical practice; child development; education; child protection; children and young people's rights; and doing research.
Source: Graham Brotherton, Helen Davies and Gillian McGillivray, Working with Children, Young People and Families, SAGE Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Oct
An official advisory body published new guidance designed to improve the quality of life (the physical health, and the social, educational and, emotional well-being) of looked-after children and young people.
Source: Promoting the Quality of Life of Looked-After Children and Young People, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence/Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Guidance | NIHCE press release | YoungMinds press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Oct
A report presented the findings of a study of children's services provision for young offenders and young people at risk of offending. Most (though not all) youth offending teams and children's services appeared to have strong strategic relationships, and there was clear evidence of the two agencies working together in integrated teams.
Source: Matt Hopkins, Sarah Webb and Alan Mackie, A Review of YOTs and Children's Services' Interaction with Young Offenders and Young People at Risk of Offending, Youth Justice Board for England and Wales/Home Office
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Oct
Researchers examined the decision-making process that influenced the life pathways and developmental progress of a sample of very young children who were identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm before their first birthdays and whose progress was then followed until they were aged 3.
Source: Harriet Ward, Rebecca Brown, David Westlake and Emily Munro, Infants Suffering, or Likely to Suffer, Significant Harm: A prospective longitudinal study, Research Brief RB053, Department for Education
Links: Brief
Date: 2010-Oct
The coalition government announced reviews of the vetting and barring scheme (the system of checks on people working with children and vulnerable adults) and the criminal records regime.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 22 October 2010, columns 77-78WS, House of Commons Hansard/TSO
Links: Hansard | Home Office press release | Manifesto Club press release | REC press release | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report | Nursery World report
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined children's experiences of the child protection system in a Scottish local authority.
Source: Richard Woolfson, Emma Heffernan, Marianne Paul and Morven Brown, 'Young people's views of the child protection system in Scotland', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
A new book – written by leading figures from across the children's services and education sector – warned the coalition government against 'rushing headlong' into radical changes to the structure of the sector.
Source: Al Aynsley Green et al., Take Heed Mr Gove, IRIS Press
Links: Nasen press release
Date: 2010-Oct
A scoping exercise sought to inform the development of a revised framework for conducting multi-agency serious case reviews into the death of children from abuse or neglect. A linked report collated and described data from child protection database reports.
Source: Peter Sidebotham et al., Learning from Serious Case Reviews: Report of a research study on the methods of learning lessons nationally from serious case reviews, Research Report RR037, Department for Education | Marian Brandon, Sue Bailey and Pippa Belderson, Building on the Learning from Serious Case Reviews: A two-year analysis of child protection database notifications 2007-2009, Research Report RR040, Department for Education
Links: Report 37 | Brief | Report 40 | Brief
Date: 2010-Oct
A new book examined the development of children's centres. It looked at the challenges faced by children's centres; how to tackle social issues through the medium of children's centres; achieving effective multi-agency working and true collaboration; the essentials of leading and managing children's centres; the benefits of early intervention; and how to effectively deliver healthcare, education, and children's services.
Source: Carole Beaty, Integrated Children's Centres: Overcoming barriers to truly integrated services, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the interface between policy, implementation, and use of services in the context of a multi-ethnic Sure Start programme. The depiction of parents as active and aspirational agents tapped into a 'social investment' agenda: but it conflicted with the 'constrained agency' in practice of many local mothers.
Source: Tricia Hamm, 'Examining "social investment" policy in a multi-ethnic Sure Start area: staff perspectives', Social Policy and Society, Volume 9 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
A think-tank report said that there needed to be a better understanding about how systems for improving the well-being of children could be made more efficient. Systems were needed that made better and more widespread use of evidence-based practice.
Source: Michael Little, Proof Positive, Demos
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Oct
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that the quality of serious case reviews in England continued a 'strong trend of improvement' in 2009-10 – with 42 per cent judged good, 42 per cent adequate, and 16 per cent judged inadequate. However, many of the cases reviewed revealed the persistence of some key issues that had contributed to shortcomings in the protection of the children involved.
Source: Learning Lessons from Serious Case Reviews 2009-2010, HMI 100087, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Kidscape press release | LGA press release | BBC report | Children & Young People Now report | Guardian report | Telegraph report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Oct
An audit report in Scotland said that residential care services for children should be managed better in order to help children and young people achieve their full potential. Local councils also needed a better understanding of the costs involved, so that they could consider how their services provided value for money and possible efficiencies.
Source: Getting It Right for Children in Residential Care, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General
Links: Report | Summary | Audit Scotland press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined deaths related to child abuse in England and Wales over the period 1974-2006. Death rates were at a record low, and significantly greater progress had been made in reducing them than in most other major developed countries.
Source: Colin Pritchard and Richard Williams, 'Comparing possible "child-abuse-related-deaths" in England and Wales with the major developed countries 1974-2006: signs of progress?', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
A paper examined the available evidence on allegations of abuse and neglect by foster carers, and confirmed maltreatment in foster care.
Source: Nina Biehal and Elizabeth Parry, Maltreatment and Allegations of Maltreatment in Foster Care: A review of the evidence, Working Paper 2437, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York
Date: 2010-Sep
A report highlighted the danger of a 'perfect storm' of dramatic increases in the numbers of children in need of protection and support, alongside severe funding cuts to early intervention services that reduced demand.
Source: Safeguarding Pressures Project Phase 2: Exploring Reasons and Effect, Association of Directors of Children's Services
Links: Report | Summary | ADCS press release | Guardian report | Community Care report | BBC report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Sep
A report examined the key factors that contributed to the successful leadership of parental engagement in schools and children's centres.
Source: Leadership for Parental Engagement, National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined the case for private or independent social work practices in children's care. Although the development of such practices was consistent with trends towards the commodification and marketization of children's services, it had significant implications for vulnerable children with complex needs.
Source: Simon Cardy, '"Care Matters" and the privatization of looked after children's services in England and Wales: developing a critique of independent "social work practices"', Critical Social Policy, Volume 30 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Aug
The inspectorate for education and children's services highlighted the challenges faced by local authorities in England in identifying and tracking children who were missing from education. None of the 15 local authorities surveyed felt confident that they knew about all the children living in their area in order to fulfil their duties to keep children safe.
Source: Children Missing from Education: The actions taken to prevent children from missing education or becoming 'lost to the system', HMI 100041, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | NASUWT press release | Guardian report | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Aug
An article examined the impact and origin of the 'Integrated Children's System'. The system had disrupted the work of professional staff, engendered a range of unsafe practices, and provoked a storm of user resistance. This was due to inherent flaws in the design of the system, which derived from the history of its development and its embodiment of an audit-driven, 'inspectorial' ideology.
Source: Sue White, David Wastell, Karen Broadhurst and Chris Hall, 'When policy o'erleaps itself: The "tragic tale" of the Integrated Children's System', Critical Social Policy, Volume 30 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Aug
A study found that communication channels between local safeguarding children boards and partner agencies – particularly doctors and independent healthcare organizations – were 'relatively weak'.
Source: Alan France, Emily Munro and Amanda Waring, The Evaluation of Arrangements for Effective Operation of the New Local Safeguarding Children Boards in England, Research Report RR027, Department for Education
Links: Report | Brief | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Aug
The inspectorate for education and children's services highlighted aspects of best practice in the 10 children's services judged in 2009 to be performing 'excellently' – the highest of four ratings.
Source: Outstanding Local Authority Children's Services 2009, HMI 100040, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | Summary | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Aug
A report said that the care system was struggling to meet the needs of society's most vulnerable children and was unsustainable unless more foster carers were recruited and retained.
Source: Bursting at the Seams: Impact on fostering services of the rise of children going into care 2009-10, Fostering Network
Links: Report | Fostering Network press release | LGA press release | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Aug
A study found that maltreated children were less likely than children looked after for other reasons to leave the care system. Placing children at home while the subject of a care order was an important avenue for attempting their reunification, although breakdowns were higher for this group.
Source: Jim Wade, Nina Biehal, Nicola Farrelly and Ian Sinclair, Maltreated Children in the Looked After System: A comparison of outcomes for those who go home and those who do not, Research Brief RBX-10-06, Department for Education
Links: Brief | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Aug
The High Court ruled that social workers must review the care plans of all children leaving care – rather than just personal advisers (employed to act as an intermediary between the young person and social services).
Source: A, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Lambeth, High Court 7 July 2010
Links: Text of judgement | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Jul
The new coalition government announced that ContactPoint would be shut down on 6 August 2010. (ContactPoint was a national database that was intended to hold basic information for each child in England up until their 18th birthday.)
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 22 July 2010, column 30WS, House of Commons Hansard/TSO
Date: 2010-Jul
A study found that the needs of young people aged 11-17 were not always met by child protection processes, which were more geared to protecting younger children. Policymakers should consider a review of alternative approaches to determine what worked best for young people, and attempt to bring more consistency to service provision.
Source: Safeguarding Young People: Responding to young people aged 11 to 17 who are maltreated, Children s Society
Links: Report | Children's Society press release | York University press release | Guardian report | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jul
A report examined the experiences of people involved in the co-location of one or more services for children.
Source: Denis Mongon, Tracey Allen, Lesley Farmer and Claire Atherton, Emerging Patterns of Leadership: Co-Location, Continuity and Community, National College for Leadership of Schools and Children s Services
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jul
The inspectorate for children's services in England published its first annual survey of social workers' views, along with a report on the views of third sector organizations providing services. Most social workers felt well supported by line managers, and were positive about the continuing training available to them in their local authority: but only 1 in 5 felt that they had enough time to work effectively with the children and young people in their caseload.
Source: Safeguarding and Looked After Children: National Results for Children's Social Work Practitioners Survey 2010, HMI 100125, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills | Safeguarding and Looked After Children: National Results for Third Sector Organisations Survey 2010, HMI 100126, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | ADCS press release | OFSTED press release | Telegraph report | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jul
A new book examined the implementation of a restorative justice approach in the environment of children's residential care homes.
Source: Carol Hayden and Dennis Gough, Implementing Restorative Justice in Children's Residential Care, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Jul
An article said that government support for families and children in England had become increasingly child-centric – less concerned with families and more focused on individual children and their needs. The introduction of information and communication technologies had led to work with children becoming increasingly fragmented and less mindful of children's life within families.
Source: Christopher Hall, Nigel Parton, Sue Peckover and Sue White, 'Child-centric information and communication technology (ICT) and the fragmentation of child welfare practice in England', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 39 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jul
The schools inspectorate for Northern Ireland said that 'satisfactory to good' progress had been made in the early development of Sure Start programme for children aged 2.
Source: An Evaluation of the SureStart Programme for Two Year Olds, Education and Training Inspectorate
Links: Report | NIE press release
Date: 2010-Jul
An audit report said that the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) could have responded more quickly and cost-effectively to the large and sustained increase in care cases from local authorities following the 'Baby Peter' tragedy.
Source: Cafcass's Response to Increased Demand for Its Services, HC 289 (Session 2010-11), National Audit Office/TSO
Links: Report | NAO press release | Cafcass press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Jul
A paper suggested an alternative method for measuring the volume of social care for looked-after children, in order to reduce the bias in the existing measure when cheaper care paths were substituted for equivalent, but more expensive, care paths.
Source: Mike Phelps, Measuring the Output of Children s Social Care: An alternative method for looked after children, UK Centre for the Measurement of Government Activity/Office for National Statistics
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-Jul
Researchers examined the impact of an 'outcomes based accountability' approach on local authority practice in children's services.
Source: Tamsin Chamberlain, Sarah Golden and Fiona Walker, Implementing Outcomes Based Accountability in Children's Services: An overview of the process and impact, National Foundation for Educational Research
Date: 2010-Jul
A new book examined a wide range of issues in social work practice involving children and young people.
Source: Martin Robb and Rachel Thomson (eds.), Critical Practice with Children and Young People, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Jul
An article examined professional non-reporting of child maltreatment concerns. In order to tackle non-reporting in a meaningful way, childcare professionals needed access to on-going multidisciplinary training that specifically addressed the range of factors affecting reporting attitudes and behaviours.
Source: Lisa Bunting, Anne Lazenbatt and Isla Wallace, 'Information sharing and reporting systems in the UK and Ireland: professional barriers to reporting child maltreatment concerns', Child Abuse Review, Volume 19 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jun
A report said that a further £580 million was needed to develop a properly resourced fostering service that met the needs of children in care.
Source: Lisa Holmes and Jean Soper, Update to 'The Cost of Foster Care', Fostering Network
Links: Report | Summary | Fostering Network press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Jun
A report by a committee of MSPs examined the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill. Under the Bill, a single national body would replace local children's panels.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill, 6th Report 2010, SP Paper 460, Scottish Parliament Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jun
A new book said that recent attempts to reform children's social services had substantially diminished the capability of the services to respond effectively to the complex challenges that they faced.
Source: Patrick Ayre and Michael Preston-Shoot (eds.), Children's Services at the Crossroads: A critical evaluation of contemporary policy for practice, Russell House Publishing
Links: Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Jun
A new book examined recent developments in safeguarding and child protection policy, both in the United Kingdom as a whole and in its constituent countries.
Source: Anne Stafford, Nigel Parton and Sharon Vincent (eds.),Child Protection Reform Across the UK, Dunedin Academic Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Jun
The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government announced an independent review of child protection and social work in England. The review (led by Eileen Munro) would examine ways of cutting bureaucracy to give social workers more time with children, and of improving links between social workers and other agencies such as the police.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 10 June 2010, columns 17-19WS, House of Commons Hansard/TSO
Links: Hansard | Letter of appointment | LSE press release | CWDC press release | LGA press release | NCB press release | Family Commission press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Jun
The inspectorate for education and children's services published a report in which children and young people in boarding schools, children's homes, and other care and residential settings gave their views and experiences about fairness and unfairness.
Source: Fairness and Unfairness: A report of children's views by the Children's Rights Director for England, HMI 090116, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jun
A review of research into child welfare services said that radical changes were needed to improve assessments and support for families where there were concerns about parental abuse.
Source: Jane Barlow with Jane Scott, Safeguarding in the 21st Century: Where to Now?, Research in Practice Network
Links: Summary | Warwick University press release
Date: 2010-Jun
A think-tank report presented a quantitative analysis of the costs associated with good and poor care journeys for looked-after children. It said that significant gains could be made by minimizing delay and drift, promoting stability in placements, and supporting young people's transitions to adulthood. It set out recommendations designed to destigmatize care as a source of family support and 'taper' the edges of the system so that care was not used as an all-or-nothing intervention.
Source: Celia Hannon, Claudia Wood and Louise Bazalgette, In Loco Parentis, Demos
Links: Report | Summary | Family Commission press release | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Jun
A new book (based on a series of lectures) said that although the government had made strenuous efforts to improve educational outcomes for looked-after children, the gap in attainment compared with children living in their own homes remained 'obstinately large'. Advances at policy level had been slow to translate into improvements on the ground, and there were stark differences between local authorities with apparently similar populations.
Source: Sonia Jackson, Education for Social Inclusion: Can we change the future for children in care?, Institute of Education/University of London
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-May
A briefing note provided an overview of the Northern Ireland Executive's policy proposals relating to the introduction of safeguarding legislation, and the establishment of new safeguarding structures, for children in Northern Ireland.
Source: Developing New Child Protection Safeguarding Structures in Northern Ireland, Briefing Note 43/10, Northern Ireland Assembly
Links: Briefing
Date: 2010-May
A report set out why and how youth work was important and cost-effective and made a real difference to young people's lives.
Source: Viv Mckee, Carolyn Oldfield and Jo Poultney, The Benefits of Youth Work, Lifelong Learning UK/Unite
Links: Report
Date: 2010-May
An article examined the concepts of adversity, risk, vulnerability, and resilience in the context of child protection systems. It considered the ways in which 'harm' and 'abuse' were conceptualized at different stages of the lifespan, and in relation to different groups of people.
Source: Brigid Daniel, 'Concepts of adversity, risk, vulnerability and resilience: a discussion in the context of the "child protection system"', Social Policy and Society, Volume 9 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
A report examined the availability and accessibility of therapeutic services for children and young people who had experienced sexual abuse in Northern Ireland.
Source: Lisa Bunting, Paulene Anderson and Debra Allnock, Sexual Abuse and Therapeutic Services for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland: The gap between provision and need, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Date: 2010-Apr
An article reported a study of the views of children and young people about the care they received from an independent fostering provider. Although most were very positive about their placements, and about the support and activities provided, the research raised questions about the stability of placements within the independent sector and the promotion of children's friendships.
Source: Julie Selwyn, Hilary Saunders and Elaine Farmer, 'The views of children and young people on being cared for by an independent foster-care provider', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
An article examined how a focus on social exclusion affected the way in which services sought to define vulnerable children and help them. The concept of social exclusion offered useful insights into child well-being and the shape of children's services: but these could be exploited more fully, and many of its perceived benefits in terms of service orientation actually sat well if not better within existing conceptual frameworks.
Source: Nick Axford, 'Is social exclusion a useful concept in children's services?', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
A survey found that the number of children made subject to a child protection plan because they were considered to be at risk of neglect or abuse had increased by one-third in the space of two years.
Source: Carole Brooks, Safeguarding Pressures Project: Results of Data Collection, Association of Directors of Children's Services
Links: Report | Action for Children press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | BBC report | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Apr
An article presented findings from a research study in which the views of young people in care were elicited on the role of the social worker. Their response – that a good social worker was like a 'friend' and an 'equal' – appeared to challenge notions of the professional social work role.
Source: Alison McLeod, '"A friend and an equal": do young people in care seek the impossible from their social workers?', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 40 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
A report said that an increase in rules and targets supposed to improve child protection was instead overloading stretched social work teams, and risked weakening the safety net that kept children safe from harm.
Source: Lisa Holmes, Emily Munro and Jean Soper, Calculating the Cost and Capacity Implications for Local Authorities Implementing the Laming (2009) Recommendations, Local Government Association
Links: Report | LGA press release | Children & Young People Now report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Mar
A study examined whether the new structures and processes established by Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) had overcome the weaknesses identified in the former Area Child Protection Committees and promoted interagency co-operation. LSCBs had addressed a number of weaknesses of ACPCs, and were performing at 65 per cent effectiveness: but they had struggled to fulfil all their functions.
Source: Alan France, Emily Munro and Amanda Waring, The Evaluation of Arrangements for Effective Operation of the New Local Safeguarding Children Boards in England, Research Brief RBX-10-03, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Brief
Date: 2010-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs called on the government to resist short-term financial pressure to reduce the number of Sure Start centres or the range of services that they offered. Only a universal service could ensure that all vulnerable children got the access they needed; and the wide range of support and activities provided to families was a vital feature of the programme. Stable funding was essential. Most centres had been in place for less than four years, and evaluations of their impact would therefore only be meaningful over the long term.
Source: Sure Start Children's Centres, Fifth Report (Session 2009-10), HC 130, House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | 4Children press release | Guardian report | BBC report | New Start report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Mar
The Children's Rights Director for England published a survey of children's views on their rights and responsibilities. The participants were children and young people living away from home, including those in children's homes, boarding schools, foster care, residential special schools, and further education colleges. The children identified two key rights that were absent from the Human Rights Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: the right not be bullied, and the right to keep in touch with parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Source: Children on Rights and Responsibilities, HMI 090114, Children's Rights Director for England/Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Mar
Researchers examined evidence on private fostering arrangements (fostering involving someone other than a close relative, guardian, or someone with parental responsibility). Very little up-to-date empirical research into private fostering was found among the United Kingdom literature.
Source: Catherine Shaw et al., Research into Private Fostering, Research Report RR229, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Mar
Researchers examined the care pathways of minority-ethnic children in three authorities in England. It considered possible differences in decision-making and outcomes for them, in comparison with white children, especially in relation to permanence. It raised key questions about how ethnicity and culture were reflected in social work practice, especially with regard to making permanent placements for minority-ethnic children.
Source: Julie Selwyn et al., Pathways to Permanence for Black, Asian and Mixed Ethnicity Children, BAAF Adoption and Fostering
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Mar
The report of an independent review said that the costs of bringing child care proceedings, including the court fees, could deter local authorities from bringing proceedings. It therefore recommended abolition of the fees. The government accepted the recommendation, and said that it would implement it from April 2011.
Source: Francis Plowden, Review of Court Fees in Child Care Proceedings, Ministry of Justice
Links: Report | Hansard | BBC report | Guardian report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report examined case management, interventions, and outcomes in respect of looked-after children who were returned to their parents during 2001. In three-fifths of cases plans made during care proceedings did not work out when the child was returned. Two years after their return 59 per cent of the children had been abused or neglected.
Source: Elaine Farmer and Eleanor Lutman, Case Management and Outcomes for Neglected Children Returned to their Parents: A five year follow-up study, Research Brief RB214, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Brief | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Mar
The government published an overview of progress against the recommendations in the report of Lord Laming on child protection services (published in March 2009), and set out future priorities. A separate report (the first by the Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children) said that the government had made 'good progress' in implementing many of the recommendations made by Lord Laming.
Source: The Government's Response to Lord Laming: One Year On, Department for Children, Schools and Families | The Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children: First Annual Report to Parliament – 2010, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: DCSF report | CASC report | Laming report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Mar
The report of an official taskforce made recommendations aimed at improving the existing multi-agency handling of missing persons cases.
Source: Missing Persons Taskforce, A Report with Recommendations for Improving the Multi-Agency Response to Missing Incidents, Home Office
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2010-Mar
A report said that one-third of foster carers had seriously thought about giving up fostering because they could no longer afford to continue.
Source: Madeleine Tearse, Love Fostering – Need Pay: A UK-wide survey of foster carers about fees, Fostering Network
Links: Report | Fostering Network press release | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report evaluated pilots involving budget-holding lead professionals (BHLPs) working with looked-after children/young people in England. It examined the extent to which BHLPs were enabled to hold and control individual budgets and work in a more child-centred, needs-led way; and whether budget-holding promoted a more responsive and creative use of resources.
Source: Janet Walker, Graeme Wilson, Karen Laing and Mark Pennington, Care Matters: Budget Holding Lead Professionals (BHLPs) with Looked After Children in England, Research Report RR225, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Date: 2010-Mar
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that young people in care were not receiving consistent access to child and adolescent mental health services, with provision varying from good to none at all.
Source: An Evaluation of the Provision of Mental Health Services for Looked After Young People Over the Age of 16 Accommodated in Residential Settings, HMI 080260, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Local Government Chronicle report | Children & Young People Now report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Feb
A survey examined the state of commissioning of children's residential services. It found that improved partnership arrangements between providers and commissioners, at a strategic level as well as at the level of individual purchasing arrangements, were seen as essential if the sector were going to deliver on the aspiration of better outcomes for children in care.
Source: Every Budget Matters: A survey of current commissioning practices and the health of the residential child care sector, National Care Association
Links: Report | NCA press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Jan
A study examined the experiences and perceptions of the commissioning process among providers of services in England for children, young people, and families. The principal commissioning bodies – local authorities and schools – had 'some way to go' to achieve both a level playing field and the involvement of providers in service design.
Source: Rachel Phillips, Tara Mackey and Eleni Romanou with Nick Coleman and Ann Shreeve, Commissioning: A Survey of the Views and Experiences of Providers of Services to Children, Young People and Families 2009, Research Report 199, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jan
A report by the Children's Rights Director for England examined the experiences of children and young people in care, together with care leavers, of getting the information and advice they needed. 87 per cent of those surveyed said that they were getting all, or nearly all, the advice they needed: but only 68 per cent said that they had been told everything they needed to know about why they came into care.
Source: Getting Advice: A report of children's experience by the Children's Rights Director for England, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | Children & Young People Now report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jan
A report said that an estimated workforce of about 6 million paid staff and volunteers worked with young people to support their personal and social development.
Source: David Mellor and Fran McDonnell, A Picture Worth Millions: The state of the young people's workforce, Children's Workforce Development Council
Links: Report | Summary | CWDC press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Jan