| The Guardian reports on the work of domestic abuse charity Tender in teaching young people about abusive and healthy relationships. The charity runs drama workshops in schools, pupil referral units and youth centres, exploring what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour in a relationship. |
| Source: Guardian 26 February 2013 |
Source: NSPCC CASPAR
| The Department for Education has published a young person’s guide to the Children and Families Bill, explaining how proposed changes will affect them and their families. |
| Source: Department for Education 25 February 2013 |
| Further information: The Young Person’s Guide to the Children and Families Bill. (PDF) |
Source: NSPCC CASPAR
| The Government and Ofsted have published their responses to the Education Committee’s report on the child protection system in England, addressing each of the Committee’s recommendations in turn. |
| Source: Parliament.uk 25 February 2013 |
| Further information: Children first: the child protection system in England: responses from the Government and Ofsted to the Committee’s fourth report of session 2012-13. (PDF) |
Source: NSPCC CASPAR
| To coincide with Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Youthhealthtalk.org has launched a new Eating Disorders website which has resources for young people, parents and professionals. |
| Source: Youthhealthtalk – Eating Disorders |
| The Family Justice Board, in collaboration with the Judiciary, has published consultation documents setting out key contributions and good practice which the family courts can expect from Cafcass, local authorities, the Legal Aid Agency, and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). Expectations include: local authorities developing a clear chronology for each case; Cafcass children’s guardians evaluating local authority cases prior to the case management conference to identify applications where further work is needed. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 28 February 2013 at 12pm. |
| Source: Ministry of Justice press release |
| The Ministry of Justice has published a consultation paper setting out proposals to reform youth custody. Plans include: establishing ‘Secure Colleges’ which will equip young offenders with the skills, qualifications and attitudes to avoid re-offending when they leave custody; developing partnerships with health providers who can improve the thinking and emotional well-being of young offenders. The deadline for responses is 30 April 2013. |
| Source: Ministry of Justice press release |
| London Councils have published a study examining the factors influencing the reduction of looked after children in London. Department for Education figures indicate that numbers of looked after children in London have been decreasing since 2007, in contrast to a steadily rising trend across the rest of England. Findings include a consideration of local authority management’s successful strategies for handling numbers of looked after children. For example, having clear alternatives to care at the point of entry and exit; and involving senior management in care entry and exit decision making. |
| Source: London Councils 12 February 2013 |
| Further information: Looked after children in London: an analysis of changes in the numbers of looked after children in London (PDF version) |
| In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has published a statistical bulletin on children adopted from care during the year ending March 31, 2012. Findings include: 60 children were adopted from care during 2011-12, 10 more than the previous year; from the last entry in to care, the average length of time for a child to be adopted in 2011/12 was 3 years 5 months, the same as in 2009/10. |
| Source: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety |
| Further information: Children adopted from care in Northern Ireland 2011/12 |
| Cafcass is consulting on a draft Equality and Diversity (E&D) Strategy, 2013-15. Elements of the strategy include: embedding a culture of learning and development around E&D to achieve better quality and depth of E&D analysis in frontline casework. Deadline for comments is 15 March, 2013. |
| Source: Cafcass 13 March 2013 |
| Further information: Draft equality and diversity strategy 2013-15 (PDF version) |
| The National Children’s Bureau has published a report on tackling child poverty and promoting children’s well-being which draws on examples of good practice from abroad. Recommendations include: offering cash incentives for families to engage in activities promoting their child’s well-being; establishing a central child poverty board with full ministerial representation to develop a cross-government child poverty strategy. |
| Source: NCB website 15 February 2013 |
| Further information: Tackling child poverty and promoting children’s well-being: lessons from abroad (PDF versions) |
