Children in care at record high
The number of children in care is at an all time high, official Department for Education figures have shown.
There were 80,850 looked after children at 31 March 2021, up 1% on 2020 and levels are now at an all-time high.
ADCS President Charlotte Ramsden said: “These latest figures show the support that local authorities have [...]
Lack of capacity in foster care sector placing children at risk
Vulnerable children are missing out on the care and support they need due to a continued lack of capacity in the foster care sector, Ofsted has warned.
The numbers of fostering households and foster carers in England are at their highest ever levels, the inspectorate highlights, yet the increases are not keeping up with demand [...]
Sharp rise of teenagers involved in care proceedings
The number of 10-17-year-olds subject to care proceedings rose by 95 per cent between 2011/12 and 2019/20, the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has revealed.
The age group is the fastest rising group of children involved in care proceedings, and the oldest children coming into the system were particularly sharp, the analysis has found.
Lisa Harker, director [...]
Scottish government announces fund to prevent children going into care
A £500 million fund has been announced by the Scottish government designed to keep families together and prevent children being taken into care.
The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund aims to significantly reduce the number of children and young people in care by 2030 by helping families to overcome challenges before they reach crisis point.
Deputy First [...]
Children’s commissioner: Children are determined to put pandemic behind them
Children and young people struggled during lockdowns, with vulnerable children being the worst affected, the children’s commissioner for England’s Big Ask survey has found.
Dame Rachel de SouzaThe Big Ask was launched by Dame Rachel de Souza after she became children’s commissioner for England and the survey gained 557,077 responses from children in England aged [...]
Significant shift needed in adoption system
There should be a significant shift in thinking about the adoption system in order to provide better support for some of England’s most vulnerable children, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Permanence has urged.
Following a three-month inquiry, the APPGAP has launched a report calling for a system-wide move from ‘family finding’, the [...]
