Daily roundup 20 October: Rotherham DCS, child abuse, and mental health

Rotherham Council gave a £40,000 payoff to its former head of children’s services after she left her job in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal. Joyce Thacker left her role by mutual agreement and with immediate effect last month. “The agreement was for payment of £40,000, which was less than the contractual notice entitlement,” the council said in response to a freedom of information request made by the Sheffield Star.


Disabled children are three times more likely to be abused than non-disabled children in Wales and are less likely to get the protection they need, it has been claimed. The Western Mail reports that the NSPCC claims people’s reluctance to believe disabled children are suffering physical, sexual and emotional abuse is to blame. A report by the charity also says there are “barriers” for the families of disabled children in accessing the right support services.


Plans for a £2m programme using sport to improve the lives of 75,000 people experiencing mental health problems has been launched by the charity Mind and grassroots sports body Sport England. When the programme is launched next year, people experiencing mental health problems will be supported to join mainstream sports clubs, go to the gym or take up a new sport. The project, which will be run in eight areas across England, will be designed in collaboration with people living with mental health problems and will offer peer support groups, taster sessions and events.


The Guardian reports that the home affairs select committee has called for a full, transparent and urgent inquiry into how records detailing the scale of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham went missing. The MPs said a former researcher employed by the council claimed an unknown person gained access to her office and stole files – set to be passed to the Home Office – detailing failures in tackling the abuse. The MPs have called on the Home Office to do everything in its power to locate any missing files in its possession relating to the case.


Scottish children as young as five have been diagnosed with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The Daily Record reports that nearly 100 children across the country have been diagnosed with severe psychological problems such as anxiety, panic attacks and poor concentration due to traumatic experiences.


Family courts will from this week be required to presume that each parent's involvement in the child’s life will, when safe, further their welfare. The new law of parental involvement is the last part of the Children and Families Act 2014 to be implemented, the Ministry of Justice said.