the DFE published an evaluation of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescents (MTFC-A)

The Department for Education has published an evaluation of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescents (MTFC-A), a form of fostering for looked after children (11-16) with complex needs. Findings include: for the sample as a whole, MTFC-A placements showed no significant benefit; MTFC-A placement showed improvements for a subgroup of children with serious antisocial behaviour problems; but young people who were not anti-social did better in usual care placements.
Source: Department for Education 23 February 2012
Further information:
The Care Placements Evaluation (CaPE) Evaluation of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescents (MTFC-A) – Brief

The DFE research into the High Need Families Project, which was targeted at families with multiple problems

The Department for Education has published findings from research into the High Need Families Project, which was targeted at families with multiple problems. Findings include: families became more engaged with services; and 70-100% of parents and teachers found improvements in children’s behaviour, emotional wellbeing, parents’ goals and overall sense of wellbeing.
Source: Department for Education 23 February 2012
Further information:
High Need Families Project: development and piloting a new parenting intervention (The Helping Families Programme) for children with severe and persistent conduct problems: final report

The DFE esearch into the relationship between parenting styles and a range of family factors and child anti-social behaviour

The Department for Education has published research into the relationship between parenting styles and a range of family factors and child anti-social behaviour. Findings include: harsh, inconsistent discipline was associated with more severe child antisocial behaviour; and maternal wellbeing and partner violence were independently associated with child antisocial behaviour.
Source: Department for Education 23 February 2012
Further information:
How is parenting style related to child anti-social behaviour? Preliminary findings from the Helping Children Achieve Study

The DFE published a research brief into whether training in a systematic approach (the FRAMEA framework)

The Department for Education has published a research brief into whether training in a systematic approach (the FRAMEA framework) to emotional abuse improves the quality of children’s services. Professionals responded positively to FRAMEA, and the report concludes that further testing of the framework would be worthwhile.
Source: Department for Education 23 February 2012
Further information:
Does training in a systematic approach to emotional abuse improve the quality of children’s services? Brief

follow-up inspection of Ashfield Young Offenders Institution

An unannounced follow-up inspection of Ashfield Young Offenders Institution found that the use of force to restrain teenage boys had increased nine-fold from 17 times a month to 150 times a month in the past year. 42% of inmates had been restrained.
Source: Children & Young People Now 17 February 2012
Further information:
Report on an unannounced short follow-up inspection of HMYOI Ashfield

Northern Ireland has released quarterly figures detailing the number of children on the Child Protection Register

The Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety in Northern Ireland has released quarterly figures detailing the number of children on the Child Protection Register and the number of Child Protection Referrals for the quarter ending 31 December 2011.
Source: Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety in Northern Ireland press release
Further information:
Children Order Child Protection and Referral Statistics for Quarter ending 31 December 2011

the DFE has published an evaluation of the Staying Put family placement programme

The Department for Education has published an evaluation of the Staying Put family placement programme which was piloted in 11 local authorities and offered looked after young people the opportunity to remain with their carers until the age of 21. Findings include: most foster carers were happy for young people to stay put; and young people who stayed put were more than twice as likely to be in full time education at 19.
Source: Department for Education 23 February 2012
Further information:
Evaluation of the Staying Put: 18 Plus Family Placement Programme – Final report

HM Inspectorate of Probation report on offender management in London

HM Inspectorate of Probation has published a report on offender management in London, finding that home visits are not being conducted by child protection teams in London in many cases involving offenders who pose a high risk of serious harm to the public. Findings include: home visits had not been carried out in 76% of 124 child protection cases, and in 73% of 177 other cases where it would have been appropriate. Where an initial home visit was done, it was not timely in 57% of cases.
Source: Evening Standard 21 February 2012
Further information:
HM Inspectorate of Probation publications

Roger Morgan, has published the Children

The Children’s Rights Director for England, Roger Morgan, has published the Children