Some local authorities have combined the functions of director of children's services with those of other top-tier managers. Joe Lepper explores the benefits and potential pitfalls of different approaches.
Children's services leaders gathered at CYP Now's Early Help Conference to discuss latest policy developments in early help and hear how local areas are developing interventions across a range of settings and age groups.
Qualification requirements and training provision for working with children and young people is continuously adapting in line with changes in policy and practice. Charlotte Goddard provides a comprehensive overview.
There has been the scent of revolution in the air recently. First, Jeremy Corbyn won a landslide Labour leadership election on an anti-austerity ticket that was the antithesis of New Labour (Analysis,
p10). Then the man he hopes to one day replace in Downing Street, David Cameron, used a speech on the "smarter state" to outline the government's intention to pick up the pace of reform in children's
services by handing "failing" children's social care services to third-party providers (Analysis, p8).
Sure Start children's centres are at a crossroads. With funding cuts forcing many councils to close or downgrade provision and a government review about to be launched, experts set out what the future holds.
The way public services are commissioned is undergoing considerable change, but charities pitched into competition for funding with private companies have a possible advantage - as long as they can demonstrate the additional social values they provide above and beyond the primary aims of a project.
Poorer parents struggle to feed their children during the summer holidays; Department for Education publishes child-friendly guide to the special educational needs reforms; and judge warns of "paedophile panic", all in the news today.
Charities set to take on running of Liverpool youth centres; tri-borough arrangements to be reviewed by Labour; and new DCS appointed in Southwark, all in the news today.
Two people arrested in suspected FGM case; government lifts improvement notice on Walsall children's services department; and plans announced to reorganise children's centres in Bradford, all in the news today.
Haringey told to improve children's social care, major early intervention guide launched, and Nicky Morgan pledges to continue tough stance on term-time holidays, all in the news today.
Local authority chief executives' group says the requirement for a director of children's services is stifling innovation in children's services and isolating it from the rest of local government - arguments that don't stack up, say leaders.
Academics criticise government plans to outsource children's social care; NHS England raises concerns over failure to meet child mental health needs; and nursery to investigate after toddler found wandering streets, all in the news today.