Childrens services
Bridging the SEND gap
Cllr Ian Edwards at London Councils welcomes the new SEND Green Paper, but he says challenges remain to be addressed, including a need to invest in creating a sustainable infrastructure.
Financial sustainability is vital for councils
Chairman of the LGA Cllr James Jamieson says he met with the new secretary of state Greg Clark, welcomed him back to his former role and outlined 'the challenges and opportunities we face at this pivotal time'.
Bradford faces £34m overspend after children's services 'assumptions'
An ‘incorrect assumption from an internal document’ contributed to Bradford City Council’s children’s services budget facing a potential £34m overspend this year.
Are MPs right to call for a resignation?
After the education committee asked two chief executives if they considered resigning over child deaths, lawyer Mark Greenburgh looks at the implications of MPs holding officers to account
A twelve-point plan for ICSs
Tackling health inequalities will need central Government as well as NHS and local government action. Phil Hope and Steve Barwick offer a twelve-point plan for Integrated Care Systems – including supporting mental health
Future Forum: Need to reduce rising child care numbers
The local government sector needs to bring down the increasing numbers of children in care, the immediate past president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services has said.
New £70m contract will deliver family sized children's homes in Somerset
Somerset CC and Homes2Inspire have set up a new ten-year partnership to deliver family-sized children’s homes aimed at improving the life chances of vulnerable young people.
Fostering a foundation for the future
As Foster Care Fortnight begins, Miranda Gittos explains how Hertfordshire CC’s pioneering and successful Mockingbird Programme is providing a life-changing support system.
Playing the long game
Rachael Wardell speaks to Ann McGauran about the capacity issues facing social workers, the need for staff to stay long enough to build long-term relationships, the pressures of intervention, and spiralling agency costs.
Children’s services: leaving crisis management behind
With the National Audit Office’s investigation into the state of children’s services due later this year, it recently held a round table with The MJ, bringing together sector senior leadership figures. Martin Ford reports.
Council chief turnover quadruples post-pandemic
The number of council chief executives leaving their jobs has shot up in the last year, new figures have confirmed.
The seemingly insecure view from the top of the ladder
Blair Mcpherson examines the precarious view from the top of the career ladder, and the factors that can lead to moments of insecurity.
Real value of ‘in-house’ council children’s care
Good quality local authority run children’s homes can not only improve outcomes for young people, but also save councils money over the longer-term, says Nick Clarke. He believes it is the time to increase the scale of provision.
Government vows to end 'postcode lottery' on SEND
Schools, councils and health providers will need to work together to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with more targetted funding, a Government Green Paper said today.
Learning lessons from the Lambeth experience
As Lambeth LBC chief executive Andrew Travers steps down from his role, he tells Heather Jameson what he has achieved – and what he has learned about being in the top job.
The art of the possible
A major new report from the ACCE, the CCN and Newton on the future of children's social care shows the art of the possible if councils are enabled to lead the charge in implementing the ‘optimised delivery model’, says Nicola Beach.
Ploughing cash into children's services 'unsustainable,' consultancy claims
There is no link between needs, results and how much money is spent on children’s services, consultancy iMPOWER has claimed.
Family matters
With the findings of the independent review of children’s social care expected soon, Ann McGauran looks at what sector experts want to emerge from this once in a generation chance for transformation.
Digital help at hand for adopters in Bucks
Buckinghamshire Council has developed a simple, innovative and interactive digital tool to help would-be adopters. Cllr Anita Cranmer explains the aims of the Adoption Readiness Checker.
Tens of thousands fewer children could avoid going into council care
Tens of thousands of young people could avoid going into council care if services are reshaped under a new ‘optimised delivery model’ based on a family-focused way of delivering support, says a report.