Children’s public health 0 to 5 years: national reporting

Children’s public health 0 to 5 years: interim national reporting process for the universal health visiting service: full guidance for local authority members of staff 2018/19 Read guidance here

Co-Parenting After A Violent Marriage: What to Expect

Sadly, intimate partner violence is not uncommon among divorcing couples. And, when kids are involved, the first year after the relationship break-up is critical as this is when custody and co-parenting arrangements are being decided. Click here to read PsychCentral article

Government to revive controversial ‘exemption’ plans in social work bill

The government will revive controversial proposals in the Children and Social Work Bill that were thrown out by the House of Lords last month.

Peers voted to delete the so-called ‘innovation’ clauses from the Children and Social Work Bill. But the government will table amendments this week to re-instate the proposals in what ministers labelled a “much altered and improved” form.

The original proposals allowed councils to apply for exemptions from children’s social care law to “test new ways of working”.

The government said the powers would allow services to cut red tape and safely trial innovations. Opponents, including Labour and a coalition of more than 30 organisations, claimed the measures threatened legal protections for vulnerable children.

How children’s principal social workers feel about government ‘innovation’ proposals

Innovation proposals that were contained in the Children and Social Work Bill have generated much debate. Last month the House of Lords voted to remove the measures from the bill but with the bill now moving to the House of Commons the government could look to re-insert them.

The Children and Families Principal Social Worker network has recently considered the bill’s proposals. If they become legal duties they will have far reaching consequences for the social work profession across both children and adult services.

Local authority pays damages after transgender boy’s privacy breached

A local authority has paid almost £5,000 to a transgender boy whose right to a private life was broken by an employee.

The 17-year-old, who was born a girl, was an adopted child but his relationship with his adoptive parents “completely broke down” after he told them he wanted to change sex.

Government publishes skills statement for achieving permanence

The government has published what it believes all social workers must know to help children in or entering care find permanent placements.
The Knowledge and Skills Statement for achieving permanence sets out how social workers should:

• Decide on the best permanence option
• Negotiate the legal process
• Help children find permanence without unnecessary delay
• Support children and families in transition and support the placement
• Manage disruption and breakdown

The final version was published last week following a consultation.