Special Report: Relationships and Sex Education to be taught from September 2019
As WillisPalmer launched WP-Risk last month to support social workers tackling child sexual abuse, the government made a very key announcement in tackling the problem from the other end of the spectrum in a preventive manner by announcing that Relationships and Sex Education and PSHE would be mandatory.
It is hoped that by making it [...]
New record high of care applications
A new record high of care applications made in a month has been recorded by Cafcass.
In March 2017, Cafcass received a total of 1,288 care applications - a 4.3% increase compared with those received in March 2016.
The 1,288 applications were the highest ever recorded figure for a month following 1283 applications made in November 2016. [...]
New offence introduced to prevent grooming
Justice secretary introduces new offence of ‘sexual communication with a child’ whereby offenders face two years in prison
People who groom children using phones and social media face two years in prison, the government has announced.
The Ministry of Justice has introduced a new offence of ‘sexual communication with a child’. Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss has [...]
Family court statistics show 26.9 week average for care application cases
The average time for the disposal of a care or supervision application has fallen from over 55 weeks in 2011 to 26.9 weeks in 2016, government statistics have revealed.
The average time for a care or supervision application saw a long-term downward trend seen from over 55 weeks in 2011 to 30 weeks in 2014. The [...]
Government urged to create a wider definition of children missing education
The government has been urged to take urgent action to help identify and support the thousands of children who drop out of education, often for months or years at a time.
NCB has published a report which highlights a Freedom of Information (FOI) request carried out in 2014 which estimated that over 14,800 children were [...]
Social workers to leave profession if accreditation is obligatory
Just nine per cent of social workers think the government’s proposals for a National Assessment and Accreditation System for children and family social workers will build a more stable workforce.
BASW carried out a survey with 538 social workers and 59% said it would act as a disincentive to recruitment and retention. Many members, both [...]
