Torbay takes too long to address weaknesses
Torbay children's services is taking too long to address critical weaknesses, Ofsted has warned.
Previous monitoring visits have revealed that the quality of help and protection for vulnerable children continues to be very concerning at Torbay. The local authority has made some progress to implement the necessary improvements, but the pace of change for children [...]
£19m package of measures for care leavers
The government has announced new cross-government support available to young care leavers backed with £19 million of investment into programmes that directly benefit those leaving care.
The investment is to support care leavers accessing better housing, healthcare and employment opportunities. The new funding includes £10 million to create stable homes for care leavers as they [...]
Pace of change at Dorset improves
Changes in the senior leadership team at Dorset and local government re-organisation have significantly impacted on the pace of improvement in children’s services, Ofsted has said.
Many areas of improvement identified in the single inspection in 2016 had not improved at the point of the JTAI in 2018. But children are now benefiting from much [...]
Duty on councils to provide safe accommodation for victims of domestic abuse
Local authorities will have a new legal duty on them from next year to provide safe accommodation to survivors of domestic abuse, the government has confirmed.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed that survivors of domestic abuse will be provided with essential, life-saving support in safe accommodation thanks to new legal requirement upon every council [...]
Durham strengthens services
Durham Council has taken swift and decisive action to strengthen services, Ofsted has said.
Pace has increased since the focused visit, and solid improvements can be seen in many service areas, including at the front door and for children in care. Firm foundations are in place to sustain and build on the improvements made.
"There [...]
Modern slavery increases due to county line crimes
There has been a substantial growth in the number of children being identified as potential victims of modern slavery attributed to county lines gangs, it has emerged.
Figures published by the National Crime Agency on victims of trafficking and exploitation found a 48% increase in minor exploitation cases from 2,118 in 2017 to 3,137 in [...]
