Daily roundup: Hospital care, child protection and respite centres

A leaked report has unveiled a number of safety fears at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. Details of an internal review, obtained by Channel 4 News, raises concerns about the sanitisation of operating theatres, a “mistrust of management” and limited reporting of incidents.

The Department for Education has issued a direction notice requiring Calderdale Council to make improvements to its child protection services. The notice, signed by children and families minister Edward Timpson, follows reports of poor performance and an inadequate Ofsted inspection.

Two respite care centres for disabled children in Essex face closure. According to the Essex Chronicle, parents fear they will be forced to put their children into permanent care if Essex County Council goes ahead with plans to close the centres in Colchester and Harlow, which are the only two of their kind in the county.

More than 40 children and young people were held in adult immigration detention centres last year despite a government pledge to abolish the practice in 2010. According to the Independent, incorrect age assessments saw a number of children and young people held in adult detention before authorities realised how young they were.

Cross-ethnic friendships help children from ethnic minority communities to develop an improved sense of wellbeing. The Daily Mail reports the findings of a study by psychologists at Goldsmiths, which claims that transracial friendships help minority children overcome discrimination and make white children less likely to grow up prejudiced against minority groups.

Jon Stonehouse has been appointed director of education at City of York Council. The York Press reports that Stonehouse was previously deputy director of children’s services at Salford City Council and has worked with children and young people for more than 20 years.