Are social workers being dishonest about the realities of adopting a child?
Adopting a child is not about neat beginnings or endings, yet there is much pressure to pretend it is, writes adopter Sally Donovan.
The adjective most used to describe my work is ‘honest’. Sometimes it is prefaced with ‘searingly’ and expressed in a way that might indicate my honesty is not entirely welcome.
When the manuscript [...]
Entering care is an opportunity to evaluate a child’s emotional well-being and improve their mental health
Entering care is an opportunity to evaluate a child’s emotional well-being and improve their mental health.
Concepts of prevention and early intervention can seem like an awkward fit with the care system. It’s sometimes viewed as the end of the road, when other interventions have failed. But a child’s entry to care can represent a new phase [...]
One in five child deaths in England are preventable
A fifth of child deaths in England could be prevented, according to a study examining deaths between 2010 and 2011.
The study, published in the respected medial journal The Lancet, found the causes of these deaths included abuse, neglect, suicide and accidents.
The research series, which examined child deaths in high-income countries, also suggests [...]
DfE childminder guidance contradicts Ofsted inspection plans
DfE childminder guidance contradicts Ofsted inspection plans
Childminders who join an agency will not be able to register with Ofsted in order to retain their individual inspection rating, the Department for Education has confirmed.
The DfE’s step-by-step guide to childminder agencies states that individuals can “only be registered with one agency or Ofsted at any one time”.
The [...]
Majority of family courts miss 26-week target
Majority of family courts miss 26-week target. More than two-thirds of court areas in England have failed to meet a target for care proceedings to be completed within six months.
Statistics released by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) show that across England the average time care applications that were completed between [...]
DBS Update Service
For all new DBS applications you can now register for the DBS update service.The update service allows the disclosure to be checked by employers online. This means that your DBS Certificate can be used across multiple work roles with children and/or vulnerable adults avoiding the expense and time taken of applying for individual certificates for [...]
