"Social workers are hung out to dry"
Clare Jerrom looks at how social workers are made the scapegoat following horrific child abuse cases.
Child abusers are, by their nature, sly, devious, cunning and manipulative creatures who can somehow justify harming a child or baby. The crime smacks of the playground bully on a massive scaled up version where a fully grown adult willfully [...]
Safeguarding review launched into death of Star Hobson
An independent Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review has been commissioned by The Bradford Partnership to establish whether anything could have been done differently following the tragic death of Star Hobson.
Star was just 16 months old when she was taken to hospital on 22 September 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest and sadly died the [...]
Chief social workers support the profession following Arthur’s death
The chief social workers in England have emphasised support for the social work profession following the media coverage of the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
Arthur died in June last year following a campaign of cruelty inflicted by his step-mother and father. Arthur had bruising to his head and body, appeared under-weight and his gums were [...]
Children’s commissioner launches inquiry into school absence rates
A new inquiry into pupil absence from school has been launched by the children’s commissioner for England.
Dame Rachel de Souza said even taking disruption caused by COVID into account, there are too many children on school rolls who are persistently absent, and whose absence is insufficiently understood.
The children’s commissioner’s office will work with a [...]
Education secretary “will not rule out legislative changes” following Arthur’s death
The education secretary has said he “will not rule out” legislative changes to The Children Act following the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
Nadhim Zahawi told ministers: “No government anywhere in the world can legislate for evil, but we will take action wherever we can to stop this happening again, because we must do more.”
Responding to [...]
Action needed to prevent young people’s mental health services slipping backwards
Urgent action is required to prevent mental health services slipping backwards as a result of additional demand created by the pandemic, MPs have warned.
Despite progress in the numbers of young people receiving treatment, the health and social care committee said it was unacceptable that more than half of young people with a diagnosable condition [...]
