Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2002): Child Welfare - UK
BETTER RESULTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: INVOLVING COMMUNITIES IN PLANNING SERVICES BASED ON OUTCOMES
D. Utting, W. Rose and G. Pugh
London: National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations, 2001
Postulates that planners should focus on the outcomes they want to achieve in the lives of children and families before deciding on services. In order to move towards this kind of results-based approach planners need to:
- involve local families;
- build capacity to ensure community involvement;
- commit themselves to multi-agency working;
- create a standard set of data for each neighbourhood concerned with the well-being of children and families.
CAN CONNEXIONS BRIDGE THE GAP?
L. Britton
Working Brief, issue 131, 2002, p. 12-13
Reports research that shows that the new Connextions Service will face major problems in identifying and keeping in contact with disaffected young people not in education, employment or training. Manny of these young people have no desire to pursue a career in the formal economy and resent the intrasion of helping professionals in their lives. They may be best approached through user-friendly voluntary sector projects.
FOSTERING FOR THE FUTURE : INSPECTION OF FOSTER CARE SERVICES
Social Services Inspectorate
2002
Report expresses concern over the overall condition of foster care services and their ability to provide the range of care needed unless some fundamental changes are made.
MAKING CONTACT WORK
Advisory Board on Family Law, Children Act Sub-Committee
Lord Chancellor's Department, 2002
Report to the Lord Chancellor on the facilitation of arrangements for contact between children and their non-residential parents and the enforcement of court orders for contact.
NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE
J. Pybus
Foster Care, issue 108, 2002, p. 12-14
Article offers practical advice to foster carers looking after children from a different cultural background. Covers issues of racism, development of cultural identify, and contacts with birth parents.
RESIDENTIAL HOMES FEAR IMPACT OF NEW STANDARDS
R. Downey
Community Care, Mar. 7th-13th 2002, p. 19
There are fears that many small and medium-sized childrens homes will be forced either to close or put up their charges to local authorities. At a time when the number of children coming into care is rising, councils could face a shortage of residential places.
SPHERES OF CARE IN THE UK: SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL
H. Land
Critical Social Policy, vol. 22, Feb. 2002, p. 13-32
It is argued that the government's focus on supporting only formal care for children and the frail elderly ignores the crucial contribution made by the informal sector (friends and relatives). A small study of the childcare arrangements of mature student parents shows that the use of cash payments in the informal sector can sustain, rather than damage, the willingness and ability of carers to care. A choice does not have to be made between love and money, and policies that support both are needed.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND SEXUAL HEALTH
V. Crouch
Community Practitioner, vol. 75, 2002, p. 82-84
Article considers issues surrounding the ongoing debate about confidentiality, emergency contraception and sex and relationships education in the context of the "Better Prevention" strand of the government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.
TIME FOR THE COURTS TO STAND UP TO THE CHILD SUPPORT ACT?: AN ADDRESS TO DISTRICT JUDGES.
J. Pirrie
Family Law, vol. 32, 2002, p. 114-118
Section 8(5) of the Child Support Act 1991 permits the courts to make an order by consent relating to child maintenance issues. This prevents either party from approaching the Child Support Agency for an assessment until the parent with care falls onto benefits. However implementation of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 will change the position. While s 8(5) orders for general maintenance will remain, either party will be able to ask the CSA for an assessment as soon as the order has been running for a year.