Mental health to be greatest challenge in children’s health in 2040
The greatest challenge facing children in 20 years’ time will be mental health problems, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has warned.
The College asked almost 300 members what they envisage will be the biggest health issue affecting children and young people in 2040. The top three responses were mental health (43.71%), obesity (31.14%) [...]
Progress in production of code for civil claimants of child sexual abuse
Work is underway for a code to be produced for the benefit of claimants who are bringing civil claims for child sexual abuse.
In its Accountability and Reparations Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommended that The International Underwriting Association of London should take the lead in the production of a [...]
Bill introduced to see all crimes committed by under-18s dealt with in youth courts
A bill has been introduced to Parliament which would ensure that all children are dealt with by the youth courts rather than the adult courts if the alleged crime is carried out before the child reaches 18.
Rob Butler, former magistrate in both adult and youth courts, a member of the Youth Justice Board, a non-executive [...]
Rise in parental drug and alcohol misuse since first lockdown
The NSPCC has seen a rapid increase in contacts from members of the public that children are being put at risk as a result of parental drug and alcohol misuse.
Since April 2020, the number of people contacting the children’s charity with concerns about drug and alcohol misuse among parents has risen by 66%. Between January [...]
First lockdown saw families pushed to brink and requiring social care intervention for first time
More children referred to children’s services in the initial six months of the Covid-19 pandemic were not previously known to social care services, analysis by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services has stated.
Families who were just about coping pre-pandemic and would not normally come to the attention of social care were then presenting to [...]
Education committee launches inquiry into children’s homes
An inquiry into children’s homes has been launched by The Education Committee as part of its ongoing work exploring the issues faced by groups that are often left behind.
The inquiry is the latest in the Committee’s strand of work on left behind groups. Inquiries are continuing on left behind white pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, home [...]
