Fathers’ support for teenage boys’ mental health

Time to change reports on the findings of a survey about young men’s mental health. A poll carried out by Censuswide of 1,504 boys aged between 16-18 years old year found: 49% of participants would not feel comfortable talking to their dad about their mental health and over a third said this was because their dad doesn’t talk about his feelings; 57% wanted their fathers to talk to them; 70% of sons felt comfortable talking about their mental health when this had been encouraged by their father.

Source: Time to change  Date: 28 October 2016

Tackling child neglect in the UK

Research, Policy and Planning has published a special issue on child neglect. This features an overview of research, policy and practice across the UK as well as articles about developments on tackling child neglect in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Source: Research, Policy and Planning  Date: 26 October 2016

Further information: Research, Policy and Planning: the journal of the social services research group. Special issue on child neglect (PDF)

Safeguarding unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a written statement from the Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families, saying that the government will publish a strategy giving details on how unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children should be safeguarded by 01 May 2017. Measures to be taken are outlined, including increasing the number of foster carers; ensuring the system for identifying children and safely uniting them with family or potential carers is strengthened; ensuring there is a joined-up approach across the United Kingdom.

Source: DfE  Date: 01 November 2016

Mandatory reporting for female genital mutilation

Viv Bennett, Chief Nurse of Public Health England, blogs about the first year of mandatory reporting for female genital mutilation (FGM) and the role of school nurses and health visitors in identifying and safeguarding girls who are at risk. She outlines the criteria for mandatory reporting, explains the requirements for professionals and highlights the importance of professionals having the confidence to ask the necessary questions.

Source: Public Health England  Date: 01 November 2016

Further information: FGM: video resources for healthcare professionals

Children living in emergency accommodation

Shelter has published a report on children and families in England, Scotland and Wales living in emergency accommodation. Key findings include: 12,903 children are living in one room and sharing facilities in accommodation such as homeless bed and breakfasts, cheap hotels and hostels; parents living in emergency accommodation were concerned about their children’s mental and physical health and safety.

Source: Shelter  Date: 03 November 2016 / CASPAR

Further information: Desperate to escape: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation (PDF)

Changes to the Children and Social Work Bill

The Department for Education (DfE) has proposed changes to the Children and Social Work Bill. A new separate legal entity, Social Work England, will be established as regulator of social workers.

Source: DfE  Date: 03 November 2016 / CASPAR

Further information: Children and Social Work Bill

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Professor Alexis Jay, Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), has set out her strategy for ensuring the Inquiry delivers against its terms of reference. Key points include: the Inquiry will continue to look at past and present failings by institutions in England and Wales; the Inquiry will focus on four major themes: cultural, structural, financial, professional and political.

Source: IICSA  Date: 17 October 2016

Further information: Statement by the Chair (PDF)

Resettlement of unaccompanied child refugees

The Guardian reports on the start of the resettlement programme for unaccompanied refugee children living in the Calais refugee camp. Key points include: Citizens UK has drawn up a list of 387 child refugees with a legal right to come to the UK which the French authorities agreed to verify; a group of 14 children arrived in the UK from Calais on 17 October, who the Home Office said were among about 100 to be resettled in the UK.

Source: Guardian  Date: 17 October 2016

Further information: Guardian

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Police contribution to safeguarding children

Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Ofsted, has written to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Tom Winsor, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the police in protecting children. Areas for improvement found during Ofsted’s inspections of local authority children’s services in 2015/16 include: sharing information about domestic abuse cases in a timely way; notifying social workers quickly when children go missing; carrying out joint child protection visits with social workers.

Source: Ofsted  Date: 18 October 2016

Further information: Letter on the effectiveness of the police in protecting children, based on evidence from Ofsted’s inspections of local authority children’s services 2015/16 (PDF)

Tackling child trafficking in the UK

The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published a report on steps being taken by the UK authorities to combat human trafficking. Recommendations include: take steps to address the problem of children going missing from local authority care; improve the exchange of information on missing unaccompanied children between police forces and local authorities; train all professionals working with child victims of trafficking to recognise and respond appropriately to their individual needs and the best interests of the child.

Source: Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings  Date: 20 October 2016

Further information: Action against trafficking in human beings: United Kingdom

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings by the United Kingdom: second evaluation round (PDF)

Source: CASPAR