Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2000): Child Welfare - UK
CHARITY IN CLASH OVER CHILD ABUSE CLAIMS
D. Brindle
Guardian, Jun. 10th 1999, p.4
NSPCC alleges that children in care are still suffering abuse and calls for further measures to protect them, including the creation of a children's commissioner, a statutory right to independent advocacy services, access to an adult friend trained as an independent visitor, and investigation of all allegations of abuse by independent teams of child protection officers. The charity's intervention has angered social services leaders, who accuse it of exaggerating problems in order to promote its own role.
(See also Independent, Jan. 10th 1999, p.8)
CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS: A NEGLECTED PROBLEM?
D. Boyd
Childright, no. 162, 1999, p.11-12
In view of alarming evidence of the numbers of children with alcoholic parents, article looks at the problems these children face and asks why so few services are available to them.
LISTEN UP
J. Waters and A. Ash
Community Care, no. 1304, 2000 p.30-31
Describes a project in Monmouthshire to encourage looked after children to become involved in services and decisions.
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH
Anon
Childright, no. 162, 1999, p.3-4
Summarises Bills announced in the Queen's speech that impact on children and young people. These include a special educational needs bill, and legislation to modernise post-16 learning. The Children (Leaving Care) Bill makes provision for more help for young people leaving care, and the new Welfare Bill introduces the long promised reform of the Child Support Agency.
SCOTLAND GOES ITS OWN WAY ON SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
B. Chatrik
Working Brief, Dec. 1999/Jan. 2000, p.12-13
Article reports on how Scotland intends to approach the problem of helping young people in danger of social exclusion. Proposals include provision of 'key workers' to support disaffected young people to move towards an all age careers guidance service, involvement of young people in the decision making process, and closer co-operation between agencies engaged in providing services for young people, including pooled budgets.