Regular News - 29 April 2024
Written by Lucy Nichol - Edited by CACHE Alumni
Sector news update
Hello and welcome to our new fortnightly news update. This week we have quite a bit on children’s care, including social inequalities in the North, and poet Lemn Sissay’s views on how the government is ignoring ‘brilliant’ recommendations for improvements. We’ve also got a piece on how friendships between peers in the sector can get social care professionals through the toughest of times, and we end on a nice story about an award-winning performing arts organisation that creates opportunities for people with experience of the care system.
General social care news
This piece from the Herald in Scotland argues for an interventional, ‘human rights’ based approach to social care, which will help people to thrive before they reach crisis point.
⇨ Read the full article here
The size of social care grants being awarded to local authorities across the country have been published. The largest allocation will go to Birmingham. Authorities will receive the funding in monthly payments and must use them to meet adult and social care needs.
⇨ Read more here
Andy Burnham has spoken of his father’s Alzheimer’s and the pain of a collapsing social care system, something he says, ‘we’ve all failed to deal with’.
⇨ Read the full story here
According to an article in Home Care Insight, the health and social care sector is the second fastest-growing in the UK, despite an overall decline in the total number of businesses.
⇨ Read the full article here
Children’s Care
The North of England accounts for just over a quarter of the child population, but has more than a third of the children in care, evidencing social inequalities.
⇨ Read more here
The poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay has accused ministers of ignoring ‘brilliant’ recommendations to improve the dysfunctional children’s social care system in England because they are not vote winners.
⇨ Read more here
One in ten children known to social care are missing half of school time according to new DfE data.
⇨ Read more here
The incoming president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services has shared the reasons behind his passion for the profession – he was himself a child in care whose life was transformed by a social worker.
⇨ Find out more here
Recruitment and Retention
A social worker reveals how workplace friendships can help practitioners persevere through tough periods and strengthen loyalty towards organisations.
⇨ Read the full story here
Education
Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition has published a joint report with Centre for Mental Health entitled ‘Not in school: the mental health barriers to attendance’. The report explores the drivers of school absence and reviews the measures that can be taken to improve school attendance.
⇨You can read it here.
And finally….
A drama group for care-supported adults has won a prestigious national talent award. The New Centre Stage and Drama Group offers people involved in the care system the opportunity to build confidence through drama, dance and music.
⇨ Read more here
We’ll be back in touch in a fortnight with more updates, news and views.
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