Social work practice is inconsistent in Coventry
Ofsted has warned that the quality of social work practice remains inconsistent at Coventry children's services.
While there is a concerted focus on achieving permanency for children in care in Coventry, too many children do not have an updated assessment to inform their care plan, and the Public Law Outline (PLO) is not used effectively at [...]
DfE urged to get to grips with understanding of pressure on children's services
The children's services sector is not "financially sustainable," the Public Accounts Committee has warned.
In a report, the PAC said that it has reported several times in recent years on the poor state of children’s social care, and in 2016 concluded that the Department for Education was worryingly complacent that nothing could be done to improve [...]
Special Report: Innovative, cost-effective assessments in times of cuts
Clare Jerrom takes a look at an innovative evidence-based assessment model that could save local authorities vital funds - as children's services face dwindling resources and a shortfall of £3.1 billion by 2025 to operate at current levels.
As it emerged last month that one in four local authorities plan to reduce their spending activity in [...]
Troubled Families Programme reduces numbers of children going into care
The Troubled Families Programme has reduced the number of children going into care, analysis has found.
The evaluation of the government programme, which aims to improve outcomes for families, transform local services and provide savings for the taxpayer, found it has had a positive impact on the proportion of looked after children, convictions and custodial sentences, [...]
Language guide launched for children in care system
Children leaving the care system would prefer to be known as a 'care experienced adult' rather than 'a care leaver,' a new guide aimed at changing the way professionals talk about children in care has said.
Fostering and adoption charity TACT has produced the guide in collaboration with young people saying that "language is a powerful [...]
Children are at risk of significant harm in Stoke-on-Trent
Children are not being protected by Stoke-on-Trent children's services, Ofsted has said rating the local authority's children's services as inadequate.
Children experience serious and widespread delays in having their needs met across children’s services, the inspection found. Leaders have not sufficiently understood the extent and impact of the failures and have been ineffective in prioritising, [...]
