Childrens services
LGA research 'debunks' inefficient services myth
Wildly different spending levels in children’s services owe more to local demographic factors than to inefficiency or political decision, an independent report for the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed today.
Councils urged to shift bond motivation
English local authorities have been urged to shift their motivation for implementing social impact bonds (SIBs) to unleash the creative potential of the tool.
Tracking the true cost of kids’ care
Huge discrepancies between the cost of children’s services in different authorities have hampered lobbying efforts. Heather Jameson looks at the latest report which debunks the myth that it’s all down to inefficiency.
Councils and unions demand SEND funds from minister
Dozens of councils have united to demand more Government funds for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Rogers appointed interim Jersey director
A new face has been brought in to head States of Jersey’s new department for children, young people, education and skills.
Rising social care costs spell doom for services
Council spending on adult social care is squeezing cash out of other services, fresh analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has shown.
Put looked-after children in boarding schools, minister urges
Placing looked-after children in boarding schools can reduce costs as well as improve results, a new report has suggested.
Children's service overspend hits council budget
Torbay Council exceeded its revenue budget by £1.7m in the past financial year, a report has revealed.
Council's children's services 'gradually improving'
Children’s services in Reading are 'gradually improving' two years after the council was rated inadequate by Ofsted.
Telford takes decisive action
Clive Jones hits back at recent news coverage surrounding child sexual exploitation in Telford and Wrekin
Torbay improvement of poor children's services 'too slow'
A council’s ‘entrenched culture’ has been blamed for a failure to improve its inadequate-rated children’s services.
System has ‘given up’ on children in care, commissioner claims
The children’s commissioner for England has said the system has 'given up’ on children in care and called on Ofsted and the Department for Education to step in.
More hard work required at Barnet
Senior leaders at Barnet LBC are ‘fully aware there are still areas of considerable challenge before practice is of a good standard,’ Ofsted has reported.
Overspending forces Manchester to dip into reserves
Manchester City Council has been forced to dip into its reserves after overspending on its 2017/18 budget.
Council told to 'grip financial situation'
Somerset CC must ‘grip its financial situation’ and become more focussed on its ‘immediate financial challenges,’ a group of Local Government Association peers have urged.
Children's services blow for new chiefs
Surrey CC’s children’s services are still inadequate, according to Ofsted – three years after they received the same grade.
Hull children's services in £4.4m overspend
Growing numbers of vulnerable children requiring care and a national shortage of suitable residential placements have led to Hull City Council’s children’s services overspending.
Affluent parents can 'undermine' abuse investigations
City of London Council will train social workers to deal with affluent parents after research showed they can use their status to undermine abuse investigations.
Progress amid continuing failure at Croydon
Croydon LBC is making progress in turning around its struggling children’s services, but is still failing the most vulnerable youngsters in its care, watchdog Ofsted has said.
£12bn needed to fill children's services black hole
Smith Square has estimated that £12bn is needed to tackle a shortfall in children’s services cash, as MPs debate the impact shrinking budgets have had on youngsters in care.