Daily roundup 10 December: Care applications, Manchester DCS, and FGM

The number of care applications made to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) rose 15 per cent last month, latest figures show. In November, Cafcass received 1,020 applications compared to 890 in November 2014. The number of applications made to Cafcass in 2015 have risen every month compared to 2014 figures.


Rochdale Borough Council’s assistant director of children’s services has been appointed as the new director of children’s services at Manchester City Council. Paul Marshall will take over the position from interim director Gladys Rhodes White, who was drafted in last year. A start date is yet to be arranged.


Young people have launched a website aimed at educating their peers about female genital mutilation (FGM) and how they can stop it. According to the government, Everybody’s Business will look to help young people spot signs of FGM so they can identify those at risk.


Companies in Britain must make apprenticeships more “highly regarded” if they want to attract the best young people, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw will say. The Telegraph reports Sir Michael will deliver a speech that criticises the UK for not making apprenticeships challenging enough for young people.  


A fresh bid has been launched by Labour peers to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU). The Daily Mail reports a new amendment to the EU Referendum Bill would allow all pre-registered 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, which Labour said has no cost implications. It follows the defeat by MPs earlier this week of a previous Lords' amendment on the issue.


The strategic director of children’s services at Rotherham Borough Council has been appointed on a permanent basis. The decision to take on Ian Thomas from his temporary position was approved on Wednesday following recommendations from the council’s staffing committee.? Thomas joined Rotherham from Derbyshire Council, where he was deputy chief executive and DCS, in January.