Government announces plans to expand mental health workforce
The mental health workforce is set to expand across the NHS following investment from government.
The health service will dramatically increase the number of trained nurses, therapists, psychiatrists, peer support workers and other mental health professionals to tackle the ‘burning injustice’ of mental illness and inadequate treatment.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed government plans to expand the [...]
Child Abuse Litigation Service
Legal immunities for child care work have been gradually removed over the past number of years because of various court rulings. As a result, local authorities are now more likely to face negligence claims, writes Philip King, executive Consultant of WillisPalmer.
The solicitors who conduct these cases often need expert social work opinion to determine whether [...]
Higher social work caseloads linked to re-referrals
Children are more likely to be re-referred to local authorities when social workers have higher caseloads, a study has found.
The Department for Education analysis of re-referrals to children’s services found an increased likelihood of re-referrals is found in local authorities with more than 10 children in need per social worker.
“Regarding effects at the level of [...]
MPs launch inquiry into care thresholds
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children has launched an Inquiry into care thresholds after huge variations in levels at which children are taken into care have emerged across the country.
The APPGC is calling on social workers to give their views on their experience of care thresholds in a bid to help the group of [...]
Recruitment and retention of foster carers still biggest challenge in system
The children’s system will be jeopardised unless the government secures the future recruitment and retention of enough, high-quality foster carers, a report has warned.
While recruitment and retention of foster carers is not a new issue, it remains the biggest challenge in the fostering system, the report commissioned by the Department for Education found.
“In England, there [...]
Nowhere safe for children in secure estate warns prisons inspector
Tragedy is inevitable in youth custody given conditions faced by young people
The chief inspector of prisons has warned that the most ‘concerning’ findings throughout the past year were in establishments holding young people.
The outcome of inspections of Young Offender Institutions and Secure Training Centres were ‘very troubling,’ chief inspector Peter Clarke has stated in his [...]
