The Department for Education has today (19 February) published its plans for dealing with unregulated accommodation for children in care. It follows a public consultation launched a year ago after a scathing BBC Newsnight investigation which ran from 2019. A year ago, in response to action from a coroner to prevent future deaths of 16 … Read more
In December 2020, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) found a local authority at fault for failing to properly assess, plan and support a 15-year-old boy, S, in preparation for and following his release from custody. Inadequate and delayed assessment and planning prevented S’s early release, which unnecessarily extended his time in custody, … Read more
A joint letter, signed by 27 organisations and over 100 individuals with substantial experience of children and families social work, has been sent to the Secretary of State for Education today (5 February). The letter raises concerns over the independence of the chair of the recently announced once-in-a-generation review of children’s social care, the review’s … Read more
Annual statistics showing the number of children in England and Wales entering prisons and secure children’s homes, and some of their experiences there, have been published today (28 January). These show a significant rise in the overall use of pain-inducing restraint techniques since last year: Up to the year ending March 2020, the thumb flexion, … Read more
While the Southwark judgment and the resulting statutory guidance clarified the legal duties of local authorities in supporting 16 and 17-year-olds who are homeless, practice remains varied across the country. Last year, research by Just for Kids Law found that many 16 and 17 year-olds continue to be accommodated under Section 17 of the Children … Read more