Care applications fall by five per cent
The number of care applications received by Cafcass has reduced by 5 per cent over two years, the latest statistics have shown.
Cafcass received a total of 1,179 new care applications in August 2018 - 5.1% lower than August 2017.
The number of care applications also fell from the previous month when 1,228 care applications were received.
Annual [...]
Improvements made at Tower Hamlets but practice still too variable
There are still considerable weaknesses in permanence planning and in assessments for children who cannot live with their parents in Tower Hamlets, Ofsted has warned.
While there has been improvement in key areas since the last inspection of Tower Hamlets and overall, the quality of practice with these vulnerable children is improving, but it is still [...]
Progress at Birmingham but improvement still required
Birmingham children's services is continuing to make some progress in improving services but a number of areas continue to require improvements, Ofsted has said.
The Trust needs to improve its evaluation of social work practice, the consistent engagement of partners in contributing to multi-agency meetings and ensuring that in cases of neglect, over-optimism does not lead [...]
East Sussex rated as outstanding
East Sussex leaders set exceptionally high standards for children's services, Ofsted said, rating the authority as 'outstanding'.
East Sussex, where the Association of Directors of Children's Services president is the director, is a strong, dynamic learning organisation that encourages self-reflection at all levels.
"Leaders and managers have successfully established a culture in which talented social workers stay, [...]
Self-harm figures reinforces need to tackle mental health crisis, says LGA
The Local Government Association has warned that figures published by The Children's Society on self-harm among young people reinforces the need to tackle the crisis in children's mental health.
The charity's annual Good Childhood report revealed that almost one quarter of 14-year-old girls reported self-harming in just a year. One in six of the 11,000 children [...]
New unit announced to tackle exploitation
A new unit to protect young people and tackle exploitation is set to launch in 2019, the government has announced.
The unit will provide bespoke support to local authorities to help them with work towards tackling child sexual exploitation, trafficking, modern slavery and criminal exploitation.
Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, Victoria Atkins, said: "This government is [...]
