Daily roundup 19 November: Homelessness, inspections and leadership

A survey of 200 homeless services run by charities and local authorities show that half of those seeking help are young people, many made homeless by a breakdown in relationships with parents. Half of those living in homeless accommodation are now under 25, with the average individual spending 38 weeks living in a service, the report from Homeless Link found. The report warns that experiencing homelessness when young is more likely to result in having more complex problems in later life and that more needs to be done to help young people avoid homelessness in the first place.


Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services have had its Ofsted rating raised to “requires improvement”. On the Wight reports that the inspectorate raised the rating from “inadequate” after the authority made a series of improvements to the department. Children's services on the island are delivered through a strategic partnership with Hampshire Council.


Gail Scott-Spicer is to join Carers Trust in February as its new chief executive. A former deputy chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, she has led teams delivering all aspects of finance, HR, IT and marketing and communications. She also has experience of the implications of caring.


Essex police and crime commissioner Nick Alston has admitted that the police force failed a five-year-old rape victim. The BBC reports that Alston said he was “deeply sorry" for the way Essex Police handled the case, which saw the victim’s 12-year-old attacker given a final warning.


The Federation of Community Association in South Tyneside has received a £414,410 grant to support a project warning young people about the dangers of forming abusive or exploitative relationships. The Big Lottery Fund grant will enable the charity to visit schools, colleges and youth clubs to equip young people with the knowledge needed to keep them safe.


Local authorities have coped well with reductions in government funding, but some groups of authorities are showing clear signs of financial stress, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) concludes. The NAO says the Department for Communities and Local Government has a limited understanding of authorities’ financial sustainability and the impacts of funding cuts on services. The report finds most councils have prioritised funding on children's social care, with other services absorbing the majority of cuts as a result of the estimated 28 per cent real terms fall in funding between 2010 and 2015.