The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a report about working with troubled families

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a report about working withtroubled families. The report uses available evidence to identify five key features of effective family intervention: a dedicated worker; hands-on support; a persistent, assertive and challenging approach; considering the family as a whole; and an agreed common purpose.
Source: Gov.uk 15 December 2012
Further information:
Working with Troubled Families: A guide to the evidence and good practice. (PDF)

Six youth charities across Europe including 3 in the UK have published research on young people whoself-harm.

Six youth charities across Europe including 3 in the UK have published research on young people whoself-harm. Findings include: 71% thought it easier to share their feelings online; 81% looked online for information on self-harm. Recommendations include making online services central to supporting young people who self-harm. Findings from the research have been published in a good practice guide.
Source: Children & Young People Now 13 December 2012
Further information:
Youth Net press release 13 December 2012
   The role of online and online peer support for young people who self-harm: Good practice guide (PDF)

Policy Exchange has published a report recommending that foster carers be given the right to request boarding school placements for children in their care

Policy Exchange has published a report recommending that foster carers be given the right to request boarding school placements for children in their care. The report argues this would reduce the number of care placements for vulnerable children providing them with greater stability and better outcomes.
Source: Policy Exchange 14 December 2012
Further information:
A Better Start in Life: Long-term approaches for the most vulnerable children (PDF)

Barnardo’s has published a report, commissioned by the Family Strategic Partnership, about support for young fathers

Barnardo’s has published a report, commissioned by the Family Strategic Partnership, about support for young fathers. Identified needs include: legal advice on contact with their child; relationship support; and parenting advice tailored to a male audience. Recommendations include: every local authority should appoint a lead professional for young fathers and relationship support should help young fathers maintain contact with the mother and their child.
Source: Barnardos 18 December 2012
Further information:
Are we nearly there yet, Dad? Supporting young dads’ journeys through fatherhood. (PDF)

HMI Probation, Ofsted and Estyn have published a report on the work of Youth Offending Teams (YOT) with looked after children

HMI Probation, Ofsted and Estyn have published a report on the work of Youth Offending Teams (YOT) with looked after children. Findings include: looked after children enter the criminal justice system at an earlier age; being looked after impacts on their education and training opportunities. Recommendations include measures to improve safeguarding of young people looked after outside their home area and separated from family members.
Source: Criminal Justice Joint Inspection 18 December 2012
Further information:
Looked After Children: An inspection of the work of Youth Offending Teams with children and young people who are looked after and placed away from home (PDF)

The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) has published a report about parents with drug problems.

The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) has published a report about parents with drug problems. Findings for 2011-12 include: A third (66,193) of all adults in treatment lived with a child or young person under 18, and a further 20% (39,587) of people in treatment were parents who do not live with children.
Source: The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA): publications 20 December 2012
Further information:
Parents with drug problems: how treatment helps families. (PDF)

The Children’s Society has published a survey of teachers’ views on food in schools

The Children’s Society has published a survey of teachers’ views on food in schools covering levels of pupil hunger. Findings include: 72% of teachers have experience of children coming to school without a lunch or lunch money. The report recommends extending entitlement of free school meals to all children in families receiving universal credit.
Source: Childrens Society 14 December 2012
Further information:
Food for thought survey (PDF version)

Community Care reports on training staff to work with learning disabled sex offenders.

Community Care reports on training staff to work with learning disabled sex offenders. Training, provided by the charity Respond, covers: identifying and understanding sex offending, best practice in risk assessment and management, psychodynamic approaches to working with learning disabled sex offenders, and understanding legislation as it applies to learning disability and sexual abuse.
Source: Community Care 17 December 2012
Further information:
Respond

Children and Young People Now reports on a youth homelessness charter

Children and Young People Now reports on a youth homelessness charter, presented to MPs at the inaugural meeting of the Homeless Young People’s Parliament. Proposals in the charter, by young homeless people from the Foyer Federation, include: a personalised approach to housing provision; the integration of housing with learning, welfare to work and public health provision; and accommodation pathways that enable young people to develop their potential.
Source: Children & Young People Now 17 December 2012
Further information:
Foyer
   Parliament Charter Foyer Federation. (PDF)

The Department for Education has published the Government’s response to a consultation on parental internet controls.

The Department for Education has published the Government’s response to a consultation on parental internet controls. Proposals include: communication and information businesses should develop family-friendly internet access; internet service providers should actively encourage people to turn on parental controls and automatically prompt parents to tailor filters to suit their children’s needs.
Source: Department for Education press release 14 December 2012
Further information:
The Government’s Response to the Consultation on Parental Internet Controls. (PDF)