| The Department for Education has published a new policy paper outlining how it is tackling extremism through the education and children’s services sectors. Work covered includes the Prevent duty, guidance for schools and childcare providers and inspections. |
| Source: Department for Education 01 September 2015
Source: CASPAR |
| The Scottish Government has published a new leaflet explaining the rights of children living in secure care. The leaflet includes information about: contact, physical restraint and making a complaint. |
| Source: Scottish Government 31 August 2015 |
| Further information: Rights: information for young people who are looked after in secure care (Scotland) (PDF). |
Source: CASPAR
The government will make a decision by September 2016 on whether to go forward with proposals to jail social workers for up to five years for failing to protect children from sexual exploitation.
In its response to a report into the Rotherham sexual exploitation scandal, the government confirmed that a consultation on the controversial plan to extend the crime of wilful neglect to children’s social workers, teachers and councillors will be held this year and a final decision will be made by September 2016 at the latest. Wilful neglect is a crime that carries a maximum jail sentence of five years.
“The consultation will seek views on sanctions for failure to take action on child abuse or neglect where it is a professional responsibility to do so,” the government said.
“‘Wilful neglect’ would impose criminal sanctions for those who are found guilty of deliberate, wilful or reckless neglect or mistreatment of children. It would cover inaction, concealment and/or deliberate cover ups and would ensure that those responsible for the very worst failures in care can be held accountable,” the response said.
The proposals received fierce criticism from the social work sector when they were announced in March, with an online petition opposing the announcement generating more than 11,000 supporters.
Source: Community Care
2015-16: Between April and July Cafcass received 4,092 care application. This figure is 14.3% (512 applications) higher than the same period last year and 12.7% (460 applications) higher when compared to the same period in 2013. The figure for July 2015 (1,111 applications) is the highest number of applications received by Cafcass in any individual month.
Source: Cafcass
https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/news/2015/august/july-2015-care-demand-statistics.aspx
Care applications hit an all-time high for the second month in a row in July.
Figures released today by Cafcass show that it received 1,111 new care applications in July, the highest monthly figure ever recorded. This tops the previous record of 1,104 applications that were made in June this year.
The figure is also 9% higher than 1,021 care applications made in July 2014. The latest rise has contributed to a 14.3% increase in care applications made between April and July 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.
Source: CYPNow
a new report ‘Young People and e-safety’ prepared by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and commissioned by the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) a not-for-profit 2,500-strong community of London schools.
One third of young people have made friends online with people they did not know before and over half of these have met up in person. Online gaming seems to be the main route for bonding with strangers, as games consoles were frequently cited as the device used. These are just some of the alarming statistics revealed in a new report ‘Young People and e-safety’ prepared by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and commissioned by the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) a not-for-profit 2,500-strong community of London schools.
Key findings from the report, which surveyed 16,855 London school children aged 7-16, include:
How do young people access the Internet?
Online safety
Bullying
Access to inappropriate content
However there is cause to remain optimistic – many of the survey’s statistics indicate young people are behaving responsibly online. For example, the majority of young people recognise that some websites are more trustworthy than others and know that they should not believe everything they see online. Of those who have been bullied online, 60% told someone about it, stopping the bullying in 77% of cases.
Brian Durrant, Chief Executive at LGfL, said: “This is a substantial survey which tells us a great deal about developments in children’s online behaviour and the risks and issues that need to be addressed. However we are encouraged by many of the findings and we hope that the guidance we provide will help schools ensure all pupils are equipped with the knowledge to use the Internet safely, as it is ultimately a wonderful thing.”
To address the areas of concern, LGfL’s expert esafety team has provided recommendations detailing how schools can support young people – and their families – in increasing their online safety. Questions such as “How do you help young people understand what images are appropriate to share?” and “Do you know which of your pupils have limited access to technology at home?” invites schools to consider if any changes need to be made to their esafety policies. LGfL also offers esafety resources and software for LGfL connected schools alongside broadband, associated ICT services and BETT award-winning curriculum content.
The report can be read at www.pupilsurvey.lgfl.net.
Source: Posted by Rebecca Paddick E-safety
LGfL, online, stranger danger, esafety, National Foundation for Educational Research, London Grid for Learning, schools
Home Office unveils statutory FGM guidance
Statutory guidance for how children’s social workers, doctors, police and teachers should deal with suspected cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been published by government as part of attempts to protect potential victims.
A draft version of the guidance, which has been put out to public consultation, sets out how to identify both victims of FGM and those at risk of the procedure, as well as how to respond appropriately and support victims.
Running to 55 pages in length, it features a section on the mandatory reporting duty for FGM that will come into force in October.
It also features a section on new FGM protection orders, which became available earlier this month, and how they can be applied for.
The Guidance can be downloaded: Download Here
Isabelle Trowler (Chief Social Worker) unveils new standards for senior social workers
Chief Social Worker announces the knowledge and skills statements for supervisors and leaders of child and family social workers.
A brand new set of standards for senior social work supervisors and leaders has been unveiled today by the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families.
For the first time ever, the knowledge and skills statements set out in 1 place what practice supervisors and practice leaders need to know and be able to do in order to deliver top quality, front-line social work for vulnerable children and families.
Today’s announcement is the next step in the government’s drive to overhaul social work education and training, with the introduction of a new national accreditation system for the specialist and highly demanding area of child and family social work.
Accreditation will require successful completion of a rigorous assessment process involving theory exams, extensive observation of practice and feedback from children and families themselves.
Source: Gov.uk
The BBC reports that the UN Human Rights Committee has recommended that the UK should pass laws banning parents from smacking children at home.
Source: BBC News
Vulnerable young people should be allowed to stay in care until they are aged 25, the government’s children’s commissioner for England has said.
A survey of nearly 3,000 children and young adults found nearly a third had felt forced to fend for themselves too early, Anne Longfield said.
She said most parents would not “wave goodbye” to children at 18 and “we shouldn’t do so for children in care”.
A Department for Education spokesman said reforms had been made since 2010.
Ms Longfield – who took up her post as children’s commissioner in March – said there were about 69,000 children in care in the UK.
Source BBC NEWs
