| The Department of Health has produced a range of resources for healthcare staff, including a quick guide and flowchart, poster and training slides, to ensure they are confident in responding to cases of female genital mutilation (FGM). |
| Source: Department of Health 30 October 2015 |
| Ofsted figures show that the number of serious case reviews published between April 2014 and March 2015 has risen 16% on the previous year, from 143 to 166, |
| Source: Children & Young People Now 29 October 2015 |
| Further information: Serious incident notifications from local authority children’s services 2014 to 2015 |
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| The Scottish Government has published domestic abuse statistics. The figures show that in 2013-14 there were 58,439 reported incidents of domestic abuse compared to 9,882 in 2014-15. |
| Source: The Scottish Government 27 October 2015 |
| Further information: Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2013-14 and 2014-15 |
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| The Prime Minster and Education Secretary have announced an independent review of the children’s residential care system. Led by Sir Martin Narey, it will look at which children should be in residential care, how it can be improved, and how government can achieve the best for children in care. |
| Source: Department for Education 28 October 2015 |
| Further information: Children’s residential care review: independent call for evidence |
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Community Care has asked leaders from the adoption, kinship care and fostering sectors for their views on how the rise in special guardianship orders has impacted permanency
Is permanency planning working in the best interests of children, or has recent case law prompted services to focus excessively on processes to the detriment of children and families?
Community Care has asked leaders from the adoption, kinship care and fostering sectors for their views on this increasingly controversial topic.
Special guardianship orders (SGOs) have been to the fore in the debate around permanence this past year.
Full Story from Community Care
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| The Children’s Commissioner has published a study on the isolation of children in custody in England. It finds that about one third of children experience isolation and segregation with some spending up to 22 hours in isolation. It is prevalent in larger institutions and is used as a means to maintain order and safety in environments where violence is commonplace. The report makes recommendations for the radical reform of the youth custody system to create an environment which improves children’s outcomes and reduces reoffending. |
| Source: BBC News 22 October 2015 |
| Further information: Unlocking potential |
| Unlocking potential: supporting research |
Source CASPARR
| The Office for National Statistics has published a report on children’s well being. For the first time, it includes an analysis of the data for children’s mental health. This revealed that amongst those who were online for more than three hours, 27% reported high or very high scores for mental ill health. |
| Source: Office for National Statistics 20 October 2015 |
| Further information: Insights into children’s mental health and well-being |
| The female genital mutilation (FGM) mandatory reporting duty comes into force on 31 October 2015. The Home Office has published procedural information on the duty to help health and social care professionals, teachers and the police prepare. |
| Source: Home Office 20 October 2015 |
| Further information: Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation – procedural information (PDF) |
| The Department for Education has published information on children referred to and assessed by children’s social services between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015. |
| Source: Department for Education: Characteristics of children in need: 2014 to 2015 |
| The Minister of State for Community and Social Care has set out plans to improve children and young people’s mental health. These include: a national anti-stigma campaign for teenagers and parents which will launch next month; and the creation of a new section on the NHS Choices website providing information on mental health which is tailored for young people. |
| Source: Department of Health 22 October 2015 |
| Further information: NHS Choices: young people and mental health |
