Daily roundup: Social work practice pilots, sexual exploitation in Derby and mental health in schools

Social work practices must maintain strong relationships with local authorities and have limited caseloads to be successful, an evaluation has found. A report into the three-year pilot of social work practices, conducted by the University of Central Lancashire, also found that the social worker-led organisations, which are legally independent of local authorities, should have a tight remit so that staff do not end up carrying out child protection work. The evaluation team said all the pilots remained dependent on councils for various services and functions, arguing that social work practices are unlikely to ever replace the functions of local authority children's services.

Child sexual exploitation is a problem for the whole of society, not just particluar ethnic groups, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has said. Following the conviction of eight men who sexually exploited young girls in Derby, BASW highlighted the fact that only one of the perpetrators was Asian. Sue Kent, professional officer for BASW, said: “Child sexual exploitation is not linked solely to men from an Asian background. Perhaps we can stop looking to blame cultural groups within our society and get on with bringing the many abusers exploiting children across the country to justice.”

A new research centre at the University of Oxford that aims to improve the lives of children and young people in foster care will be officially opened by children’s minister Edward Timpson today. The centre is thought to be the only one in the world to be dedicated to examining how policy makers and agencies can improve outcomes for children in foster care. Centre director Judy Sebba said: “Fostering is an under-researched area and my ambition is that the Rees Centre begins to fill the gap. Children in care deserve only the best and the centre will promote its research findings to inform carers and providers.”

Schools in England are being encouraged to establish a “culture of positive emotional wellbeing” in a new guide published by the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. The free resource is being sent to all head teachers in England, and outlines ways to effectively approach, intervene and take steps to prevent behavioural and emotional difficulties arising in pupils. Mick Atkinson, spokesman for the organisation, said: “For too long the link between emotional wellbeing and academic achievement has been overlooked. Yet a child’s emotional and mental health inevitably impacts on their academic achievement, and on their ability to achieve their overall potential in life.”

And finally, a church has withdrawn plans for a youth centre in Berkshire following objections from local residents. According to the Bracknell News, Crowthorne Baptist Church's HopeZone submitted a planning application in May to construct a drop-in youth centre at a local recreation ground. But residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour. Reverend Martin Ceaser told the newspaper that the church plans to create alternatve provision in the village. “We have come to the conclusion that if the development were to go ahead, any behaviour deemed to be unsatisfactory on the recreation ground would immediately be blamed on HopeZone, and the young people, which would reinforce their feeling of alienation rather than reduce it as we aim to do.”