The Children and Family Child Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has published its latest statistics on care applications. In April 2017, Cafcass received a total of 1,029 care applications, which is a 16% decrease on those received in April 2016. For more information visit the Cafcass website here. […]
New Family Social – the UK network for LGBT
New Family Social – the UK network for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) adoptive and foster families – are carrying out a survey to help gain a better understanding of LGBT experiences of adoption and fostering and the factors that influenced their decisions. Your answers will provide New Family Social with valuable information and […]
Facilitating Contact with Siblings: Evaluation of the Buddy Project
The Rees Centre at the University of Oxford has published the final report of its evaluation of the Buddy project, which was set up by the charity Siblings Together in 2013. The Buddy project aimed to reunite siblings separated through care and adoption by recruiting and training Buddies who could encourage siblings to meet on […]
Leaving care update
The BBC reports on the financial reality facing young people leaving care and the initiatives by some councils in England which offer council tax relief to ease the transition for care leavers, and at the difference this might make to young care leavers. For more information, please click here. Current foster carers in England can […]
Siblings in the Care System Staying Together
A short film titled ‘Giants’ has been released which highlights the importance of keeping siblings in care together and the need for more foster carers willing to take sibling groups. The 13 local authorities involved in making the film were Worcestershire, Coventry, Birmingham, Solihull, Telford and Wrekin, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Leicester City, Leicestershire, Sandwell, Stoke, Derby and Traffordshire. […]
Indecent images of children: guidance for young people
The Home Office has published guidance to help young people understand the law on making or sharing indecent images of children. The guidance includes: definitions of some of the terms used in legislation; examples of situations covered by the law; three short films highlighting the harm that viewing indecent images of children can cause. For […]
DfE hands care leaver project £3.7m innovation funding
A pioneering housing project where care leavers are involved with refurbishing empty properties that they then move into has been handed £3.7m in innovation funding from the Department for Education to expand it into five new areas. Children’s minister Edward Timpson has announced £3.7m in government funding to expand an initiative to support children leaving […]
What social workers need to know about ADHD, trauma and neglect
Children in the child protection system are three times more likely to have a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than the general population. Why is this the case? It’s possible that children with ADHD are more vulnerable to parental abuse and neglect because of their challenging behaviour and the socioeconomic backgrounds most commonly […]
Series of inspections to focus on children living with neglect
The six joint targeted area inspections will involve Ofsted, Care Quality Commission, HMI Constabulary and HMI Probation. A new set of inspections will examine how local partner agencies – including local authorities, health and probation services and the police – are working together to protect children living with, or at risk of, neglect. For more […]
Care applications surge by 14 per cent to new record high
The number of applications for children to be taken into care have hit a new record level, official figures have confirmed. During 2016/17 there were a total of 14,544 care applications. Statistics published by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) show that in March 2017, a total of 1,288 care applications […]