Children and Young People Now report that according to Home Office statistics, there has been a massive increase in unaccompanied asylum seeking children. In 2015, a total of 3,043 unaccompanied children applied for asylum in the UK, compared with 1,945 in 2014 – an increase of 56.5%.
Source CYPnow Website
To mark self-harm awareness day on 1 March, a group of youth charities including Young Minds and ChildLine commissioned a survey of 815 parents and 3800 young people aged up to 24 who on beliefs and attitudes around self-harm. Findings include: 67% of parents think young people should go to their parents for information and support on self-harm, but only 16% of young people would talk to their parents about it. 76% would turn to online support groups.
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/news/blog/3241_parents_and_young_people_divided_when_it_comes_to_self-harm
Social work student ‘expelled’ from course after anti-gay Facebook posts
A Christian social work student is appealing against a decision to remove him from his course for voicing opposition to gay marriage on Facebook.
Felix Ngole, 38, was in his second year of an MA in social work course at Sheffield University when a committee found his Facebook posts had “transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the social work profession”.
He was reportedly removed from his course and told to hand in his student card, a move his supporters said had “effectively barred” him from training as a social worker.
Ngole shared posts showing support for Kim Davis, the American county clerk jailed after she refused marriage licenses to same-sex couples. On his private Facebook account, he also argued that homosexual activity was against the teaching of the Bible and quoted a verse from Leviticus that described it as an “abomination” in September 2015.
The posts reportedly triggered a complaint from a fellow student. This led to a meeting at the university and later the fitness to practise panel hearing.
The panel was run by the university but considered conduct in relation to the Health and Care Professions Council standards for social workers. It concluded Ngole was entitled to his opinions but there was a danger that “publicly posting those views” would have an effect on his ability to practice as a social worker.
What do you think ? should he of been “expelled”
| The Department for Education has announced plans to help young people set up online advice networks and workshops so they can offer peer support on mental health issues. The government is consulting on how to help young people give each other appropriate advice and support in a safe manner. |
| Source: Department for Education 17 February 2016 |
| Further information: Children and young people’s mental health: peer support |
| Cafcass has published its monthly care application statistics for England. In January 2016, Cafcass received a total of 1,040 care applications, a 16% increase compared to those received in January 2015. |
| Source: Cafcass 11 February 2016 |
| The Welsh Government has published its respones to an independent review of the role of Children’s Commissioner for Wales (CCfW). The report responds to the review’s recommendations and sets out changes that will be made to support the Commissioner’s role. |
| Source: Welsh Government 08 February 2016 |
| Further information: Response to the independent review of the role and functions of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales (PDF). |
| The Minister for Schools, Edward Timpson, has released statistics on care leavers in unsuitable accommodation in England. The data, which was provided in response to a written question, shows that in 2015 1,840 care leavers were living in accommodation that was considered unsuitable. |
| Source: Children & Young People Now 11 February 2016 |
| Further information: theyworkforyou.com 05 February 2016 |
| The Minister for Security and Immigration has provided updated figures on deported unaccompanied asylum seeking children. The figures, which were provided in response to a written question, show that 3,750 children were returned to Afghanistan, Albania, Iran, Iraq, Libya or Syria between 2007 and 2015. |
| Source: Theyworkforyou.com |
| The NSPCC has launched a government funded Whistleblowing Advice Line. This will take calls from professionals from any sector who are worried about the way their, or another, organisation is dealing with child protection issues. Employees who don’t feel able to escalate these issues internally can contact the service, as well as those who have been unsuccessful in doing so. It can be reached for free on 0800 028 0285 and can be contacted anonymously. |
| Source: NSPCC Website 13 February 2016 |
The number of under-18s diagnosed with mental illness has more than doubled in five years, figures have revealed.
The Independent reports that the number of children and young people that went to A&E and were diagnosed has grown to almost 15,000 in 2014/15 – up from just under 7,000 in 2010/11.
Source: CYPNow Online
