Daily roundup 22 November: Same-sex adopters, mental health and workplace skills

Same-sex couples are playing an increasingly significant role in adopting vulnerable children as local authorities struggle to find homes for children in care. The Times reports that one in seven child adoption orders made last year was with a same-sex couple.


Suicidal children are being abandoned by mental health services, the children's commissioner for England has warned as she called for "seismic change" to support for young people. The Telegraph reports that Anne Longfield said understaffed and fragmented services meant children are being turned away even if they say they no longer want to live.


Girls outperformed boys in problem-solving tests that suggest they will have better workplace skills. The Times reports that the results of 125,000 teenagers were analysed for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The results found that female pupils were better at working together in all 51 countries that participated.


Children using social care services by a Scottish charity are to be given access to an app to help them share concerns and experiences of being in care. Mind of My Own (MOMO) is an app that will be delivered to children in Glasgow being supported by the Quarriers Kinship Care service.


Nearly 20 per cent of sibling groups taken into care were split up because of a difficulty in finding suitable placements, a report has found. The BBC 60 per cent of local authorities had difficulties placing sibling groups, according to the report from the Care Inspectorate.