| 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
Teacher shortages are growing in England and government recruitment targets have been missed for four years, a report by the National Audit Office has concluded.
The BBC reports that the official spending watchdog warns that shortages are particularly bad in poorer areas and at secondary school level despite the overall number of teachers keeping pace with rising pupil numbers.
Source: CYPNow Online
A total of 1,040 applications for children to be taken into care were made to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in January 2016, statistics show. The figure represents a 16 per cent increase on the same month last year, when a total of 893 care applications were made.
Source: CYPnow –
World Youth Organisation – www.worldyo.org
We are please to be supporting the Launch of the new World Youth Organisation Charity, we look forward to working with them in 2016.
please do visit their new website – www.worldyo.org
.
Teachers banned for sex talk and relationships with pupils
Nearly 40% of teachers banned from the profession in Wales in the last two years have been struck off for having “inappropriate” relationships or conversations with pupils.
Education Workforce Council figures showed 13 of 34 staff were barred for such conduct from August 2013 to 2015.
Two more were suspended, while three others were banned for other misconduct involving sexual content.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35052128
Children’s commissioner calls for review of children’s services cuts
There is an urgent need to review how funding cuts to children’s services are affecting children, the children’s commissioner for England has told MPs.
https://shar.es/16derp
