Monthly Archives: January 2012

TACT published a research report looking at the risk and resilience factors that affect the likelihood of offending by children in care

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TACT and the University of East Anglia have published a research report looking at the risk and resilience factors that affect the likelihood of offending by children in care. Findings include: the care system provides good care to abused and neglected children; early entry to care followed by sensitive parenting, a stable placement, and good support from agencies, minimises the risk of offending. Recommendations include: children entering care should have a full developmental screening; and care leavers should have the option to remain in supportive placements until the age of 21.
Source: The Adolescent and Children’s Trust (TACT) press release 16 January 2012
Further information:
Community Care 16 January 2012
   Looked after Children and Offending: Reducing Risk and Promoting Resilience

The Centre for Social Justice has published a report on the youth justice system

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The Centre for Social Justice has published a report on the youth justice system. Its arguments include: the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales should be raised to 12; the youth justice system is being used to deal with problem cases that other services have been unable to tackle; and that the current system often promotes rather than reduces offending. Recommendations include a statutory duty on local authorities to provide early intervention services to children and families at risk of engaging in criminal behaviour.
Source: Centre for Social Justice 16 January 2012
Further information:
Centre for Social Justice – press release 16 January 2012
   Children & Young People Now 16 January 2012
   Rules of engagement: changing the heart of youth justice

Barnardo’s report on sexual exploitation in the UK

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Barnardo’s has published a report on sexual exploitation in the UK, surveying 21 specialist services. Findings include: sexual exploitation is not being prioritised in some areas due to funding pressures; the number of sexually exploited children Barnardo’s works with has risen by 8.4% to 1,190; and awareness raising has reduced by 30% over the last year.
Source: Barnardos 17 January 2012
Further information:
Community Care 17 January 2012
   NSPCC Inform: child sexual exploitation
   Cutting them free: how is the UK progressing in protecting its children from sexual exploitation?

The Department for Education has developed an Excel-based tool which provides access to a wide range of data from various government departments

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The Department for Education has developed an Excel-based tool which provides access to a wide range of data from various government departments related to children and young people. It brings together local authority performance and data items including: number and type of schools, social deprivation factors, health, and looked after children.
Source: Department for Education Local Area Interactive Tool (LAIT) 17 January 2012

SANDS published a report looking at what needs to be done to reduce the number of infant deaths

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SANDS has published a report looking at what needs to be done to reduce the number of infant deaths each year. It calls for urgent action to reduce the number of deaths and argues that 1,200 deaths could be avoided through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death.
Source: Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) press release 18 January 2012
Further information:
Children & Young People Now 18 January 2012
   Preventing babies’ deaths: what needs to be done
   Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS)

The Home Office published the latest homicide statistics victims under 16

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The Home Office has published the latest homicide statistics, in Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11 (Supplementary Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11). Includes statistics on homicide victims under 16 and the relationship with the principal suspect.
Source: Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11 19 January 2012
Further information:
Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to September 2011 19 January 2012
   Home Office research publications

Child Protection Statistics in Northern Ireland

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The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has published statistics relating to child protection in Northern Ireland for the year ending March 2011, and statistical trends for Northern Ireland between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Findings include: as at 31 March 2011, 2,401 children were on the child protection register in Northern Ireland, a rise of 2% from 2010; and between 2006 and 2011, the numbers of children on the Child Protection Register
increased by 46%.
Source: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Children Order Statistics for Northern Ireland 20 January 2012
Further information:
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: press release 20 January 2012
   Children Order Statistical Trends for Northern Ireland 2005/06 to 2010/11
   Children Order Statistical Tables for Northern Ireland 2010/11

The UNCRC and social workers’ relationships with young children.

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The UNCRC and social workers’ relationships with young children.
Summary: Uses practical examples to illustrate how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), together with the detailed advice and guidance contained in the UNCRC general comments numbers 5, 7 and 12, provides the best framework for developing effective social work relationships with young children. Applies the UNCRC to inquiry and serious case review findings and from that develops practice principles. Also discusses findings of the Munro Review (2011) regarding the relationship between social workers and children. Concludes that despite many legislative, policy and practice changes, further practice improvements at ground level are required.
Publication details: Child Abuse Review Volume 20 Issue 6, 2011 pp 395-406
Authors: Winter, Karen

Contextual predictive factors of child sexual abuse: the role of parent-child interaction.

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Contextual predictive factors of child sexual abuse: the role of parent-child interaction.
Summary: Reports on research into the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Colombia and the role of family and community factors in its occurrence. Findings include that families who communicated with their children were less likely to report sexual abuse. Affection and negative treatment towards children were not associated with sexual abuse. Families who experienced partner violence and violence in the community were more likely to experience child sexual abuse.
Publication details: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume 35 Issue 12, 2011 pp 1022-1031
Authors: Ramirez, Clemencia, and Pinzon-Rondon, Angela Maria, and Botero, Juan Carlos