Category: social services

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 – Community Care Blog

Posted June 16th, 2017 in children, local government, news, social services by tracey

‘After significant controversy and substantial amendments, the Children and Social Work Act 2017 received royal assent on 27 April. While the majority of the legislation is not yet in force, the changes contained in the Act will have important implications for the regulation of social work in England, safeguarding of children, and investigations into the death of children. In addition, the Act clarifies and amends the obligations of local authorities as corporate parents.’

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Community Care Blog, 14th June 2017

Source: communitycare11kbw.com

Ombudsman criticises council for “systemic fault” in care home charging policy – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 15th, 2017 in care homes, complaints, local government, news, social services by sally

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised a council for a “systemic fault” in its charging policy for care homes that could have affected a number of people in its area.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th June 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Murder of vulnerable alcoholic Angela Wrightson by teenage girls could not have been prevented, review rules – The Independent

Posted June 14th, 2017 in care homes, murder, news, social services, young offenders by tracey

‘Care home staff could not lock doors to prevent a 14-year-old from running away before she and a 13-year-old friend murdered a vulnerable alcoholic in her own home, it has emerged.’

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The Independent, 13th june 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Charities say ‘gag law’ stops them speaking out on Tory social care plans – The Guardian

Posted May 30th, 2017 in charities, elections, freedom of expression, news, political parties, social services by sally

‘Charities have been silenced from speaking out about the Conservative social care plans despite believing they will be hugely damaging to elderly and disabled people across the country, it has been claimed.’

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The Guardian, 29th May 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bullying mother robbed teenage son of his childhood by convincing him he was dying, judge says – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 26th, 2017 in children, medical treatment, news, parental responsibility, social services by tracey

‘A “bullying” mother robbed her teenage son of his childhood by convincing him he was dying, a judge has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th May 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge criticises ‘inhuman’ separation of elderly couples – BBC News

Posted May 10th, 2017 in care homes, cohabitation, elderly, judges, married persons, news, social services by sally

‘Separating elderly couples against their wishes when one or both move to care homes must end, Britain’s most senior family judge has said.’

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BBC News, 10th May 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teenage boy given court care plan to stop him ‘waging jihad’ in Syria – The Guardian

Posted May 10th, 2017 in news, social services, terrorism prevention & investigation measures, wardship, young persons by sally

‘A 17-year-old boy whose two older brothers were killed “waging jihad” in Syria is to be protected by a special care plan designed to keep him from following in their footsteps, the high court has been told.’

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The Guardian, 9th May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court to rule on Christian student declared unfit to practice as a social worker because of ‘traditional’ views on homosexuality – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 26th, 2017 in Christianity, homosexuality, judicial review, news, social services by sally

‘The High Court will rule on whether Christians who express “traditional” views on homosexuality can be barred from gaining professional qualifications after a social work student won the right to challenge his expulsion.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Child victims of sexual abuse in families let down by system: report – The Guardian

Posted April 20th, 2017 in child abuse, children, families, news, police, reports, sexual offences, social services, teachers, victims by sally

‘Child victims of sexual abuse within families are being let down by the system, the children’s commissioner for England has said.’

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The Guardian, 20th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Disguised Compliance – Or Undisguised Nonsense? – Family Law Week

Posted April 19th, 2017 in families, legal language, news, social services by tracey

‘Paul Hart, barrister of 15 Winckley Square, discusses a term (and its appropriateness) which has become ubiquitous in social work statements in recent years.’

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Family Law Week, 10th April 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Shanay Walker abuse death: School and care workers criticised – BBC News

Posted April 13th, 2017 in child abuse, child cruelty, education, news, social services by sally

‘Teachers and social care staff did not show enough “professional curiosity” in a girl who died after years of abuse by her aunt, a serious case review said.’

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BBC News, 13th April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mentally ill mother who jumped off cliff with newborn did not get help from medics because she was ‘articulate’ and ‘middle class’, review finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 7th, 2017 in hospitals, mental health, news, pregnancy, social services, suicide by tracey

‘A mother who jumped off a cliff with her newborn daughter was failed by medics because she was “articulate” and “middle class”, a review has found.’

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Daily Telegraph, 6th April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dove v Havering LBC – Arden Chambers

Posted April 6th, 2017 in adjournment, appeals, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, social services, tribunals by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against a decision that two joint tenants had lost security of tenure under the Housing Act 1985 because they no longer occupied the property as their only or principal home.’

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Arden Chambers, 16th March 2017

Source: www.ardenchambers.com

Independent Reviewing Officers – myths and misunderstandings continue – Family Law Week

Posted April 6th, 2017 in care orders, case management, children, fostering, local government, news, social services by tracey

‘Professor Jonathan Dickens, University of East Anglia, Norwich, considers some of the strengths and limitations of the IRO service, drawing on recent debates and the findings of a research study conducted between 2012-14.’

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Family Law Week, 6th April 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Child locked locked in bedroom by grandparents is taken into care – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 3rd, 2017 in children, family courts, fostering, grandparents, local government, news, private hearings, social services by sally

‘A child was taken away from her grandparents and put into foster care after they locked her in her room overnight.’

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MPs slam funding crisis and ‘postcode lottery’ of children’s services – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2017 in children, local government, news, parliament, reports, social services by tracey

‘Children’s social services are being engulfed by a funding crisis in which nine out of 10 local authorities are struggling to meet their legal duties and families face a postcode lottery, a damning report has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 20th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Migrant teachers and nurses face overseas crime checks – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2017 in criminal records, disclosure, news, nurses, social services, teachers, visas by tracey

‘Teachers, nurses and social workers from outside the European Union are set to face criminal record checks before being allowed to work in the UK.’

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BBC News, 16th March 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Essex agrees payouts, review of foster care placement terminations after LGO report – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 16th, 2017 in complaints, fostering, learning difficulties, local government, news, reports, social services by tracey

‘Essex County Council social workers moved a vulnerable teenager from her aunt and uncle’s care without warning, and then failed to follow the statutory children’s complaints process, the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th March 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/

Benefit claimants twice as likely to experience multiple legal problems, according to MoJ study – Legal Voice

Posted March 9th, 2017 in benefits, law centres, legal aid, news, social services, victims by sally

‘People receiving means-tested benefits were twice as likely to experience multiple legal problems as those who did not, according to new research by the Ministry of Justice. It also found that almost one in four black and minority ethnic adults received no help in relation to their legal problems compared with 15% of white adults.’

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Legal Voice, 7th March 2017

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Association of Lawyers for Children hits out at Cafcass/ADCS agreement – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 6th, 2017 in agreements, children, family courts, guardianship, human rights, local government, news, social services by sally

‘The Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC) has said it is “deeply concerned” by a recent agreement entered into by Cafcass and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd March 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk