A lack of resources is preventing local authorities from prioritising investment in preventative children’s services, care and police inspectorates have warned.
The news agenda moves fast. Stay on top of some key stories from around the sector. Here we cover: Kent asking for a judicial review, rising children’s services costs, council staff hiding second...
The Scottish government has succeeded in expanding subsidised early learning and childcare places, but the sector faces risks from budget, workforce and market pressures, Audit Scotland has warned.
The failure to adopt radical and fully funded long term children’s care reforms represents a “missed opportunity”, a House of Lords Committee has said.
Conflicting regulations and insufficient funding mean local authorities are struggling to meet the needs of children in care, a senior officer has warned.
The lack of skills within local authorities to manage soaring children’s care costs is a “worry” and the government should intervene, a senior official has said.
Children in care remain at risk of gang exploitation unless the government develops a clear plan to effectively regulate private care providers – a plan missing from its new strategy – an expert has...
The upcoming national care review has been tipped as a “once-in-a-generation” chance to reform how councils support vulnerable children at risk of harm, after rising demand caused costs to increase...
Cuts to early years and youth support services have led to a “crisis in child vulnerability” with worse outcomes for children and higher long-run costs for the government, a House of Lords committee...
Somerset County Council has approved plans to develop a £70m strategic partnership to provide 10 children care and foster homes, in a bid to reduce reliance on private operators.
A report showing healthy profits for independent providers of children’s residential care while councils struggle underlines the need for reform, says Judith Blake chair of the Local Government...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has provided more clarity on funding but Covid-19 has left local authorities with inadequate funds to actively promote the welfare of children, says Jenny Coles.
