Education secretary names preferred candidate for next children’s commissioner role
Education secretary Gavin Williamson has set out his preferred candidate to be the next children’s commissioner for England when Anne Longfield steps down in February 2021.
Mr Williamson has named Dame Rachel de Souza as his preferred candidate to be the next children’s commissioner for England, following approval by the prime minister. Dame Rachel de Souza [...]
Inspectors criticise Rainsbrook STC for locking children up for 23.5 hours a day on arrival
Children detained in Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre are locked up for more than 23 hours per day on arrival at the institution, a joint report by HMI Prisons, the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted has found.
The joint inspection said there was “no rationale” to support the practice of holding new inmates in isolation for 23.5 [...]
One in four children have faced food deprivation since first lockdown
One in four children have faced some form of food deprivation in the six months following lockdown, research by the Social Market Foundation has found.
Three million children in total have been affected by food deprivation in those six months and 14% of children – 1.7 million across the country - were classified as facing very [...]
Many foster children found positives in first lockdown, research finds
Many children in foster care were able to flourish during the first lockdown in March, according to research by Research in Practice and TACT.
Many young people and foster carers found the additional time on their hands enabled them to bond better while young people responded well to utilising technology to speak to professionals.
“Findings from the [...]
Children referred to children’s services display complex needs
Children and young people requiring support from children’s services are presenting with more complex and multiple needs, directors of children’s services have warned.
In its interim report into Safeguarding Pressures, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said that while complexity in cases has been increasing over the past two years, it has been more acute [...]
Data breaches in children’s services
By Phil King
We live in a world in which it’s acceptable to share personal data about ourselves with numerous agencies who have a responsibility to use it in ways we would reasonably expect, and to keep it securely. Data Protection law is there to make sure everyone’s data is used properly and legally.
For those [...]
