“Some vulnerable children at risk of exploitation are thriving in lockdown”
WillisPalmer has previously reported on the pressures facing frontline social workers in lock down.
Frontline social worker Rita Long* told us how her team were under-staffed with two vacancies and two social workers self-isolating due to underlying health conditions and they were operating with no PPE although they could request it if they were visiting [...]
Government will publish paper on group-based CSE
The government will publish a paper into group-based child sexual exploitation later this year to better understand the characteristics of this type of offending and safeguard vulnerable children.
The Home Secretary announced that the paper will provide insights gained from the work and outline how agencies can learn lessons to help deliver justice for victims.
Home [...]
Children’s commissioner tells ministers and unions to ‘stop squabbling’ over re-opening schools
The education secretary has said that the government’s plans to re-open schools on 1 June 2020 in a phased manner is based on science.
Gavin Williamson stood firm on schools in England reopening on June 1 and tried to reassurance parents saying that the government’s plans are based on the “best scientific advice with children at [...]
Children’s commissioner calls for secondary legislation for children in care to be revoked
Measures set out in the secondary legislation on children in care should be revoked, the children’s commissioner for England has urged.
While acknowledging that some local authorities may be experiencing challenging working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anne Longfield said she does not believe that the changes made in these regulations are necessary.
“I would like to [...]
Over £75m government funding for vulnerable groups during lockdown
More than £75m of funding to support the most vulnerable people during COVID-19 including survivors of domestic abuse and vulnerable children and families has been announced by the government.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced £76 million of funding for charities supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, victims of modern slavery and vulnerable children [...]
Vulnerable children ‘at heightened risk” as a result of COVID-19
The outbreak of the coronavirus has put hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children in England at heightened risk, the children’s commissioner has warned.
Anne Longfield has raised concerns about the dangers of vulnerable children falling through gaps in services and policy, adding that lockdown measures have removed most of the usual ways of identifying children at [...]
