If only there was something in the title to give us a clue that Married at First Sight might have been a manipulative, toxic reality show www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Stormont bill to establish a redress scheme for victims of mother-and-baby homes criticised by survivors for retaining a "cut-off date" for compensation. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The latest Week in Care has links to dozens of news articles and features about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Request your free weekly email via [email protected]

Privatisation of foster care in England is growing deeper and deeper. All this is happening under Labour.

How broken children became big business Vulnerable kids are dumped in illegal homes. Strong report by @ianbirrell.bsky.social via @unherd.com unherd.com/2026/05/how-...

Children's services in Coventry have been upgraded to "outstanding" overall, four years after being rated as good. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Terrific article by Matthew Pugh via @eastangliabylines.co.uk What my great-grandfather taught me about foster care eastangliabylines.co.uk/news/welfare...

Hampshire council spends £3.4m putting children in unregulated homes www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2610917...

ADCS questions readiness of regional commissioning for adoption support reforms www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

Liverpool City Region’s fourth not-for-profit children’s care home opens in Runcorn www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/liverpo...

This is lovely www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/2610764...

This is what happens when big business recruiters like Randstad are let loose in fostering.

Stand by for Reform to win both the Makerfield by-election and the Manchester mayoral election www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Foster carers for Tower Hamlets Council to get council tax exemption www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/News_events/...

Two men who were arrested as part of an assault investigation linked to a children’s care home have been released on bail, say Lincolnshire Police www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/crime/u...

Secure children's home occupancy declines sharply www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

Illegal children’s homes used as recruiting grounds for criminal gangs www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...

Some of Wales' poorest parents could receive extra cash within months www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Minister defends plans to remove fostering panels despite concerns www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

Black and mixed heritage adoptees and care-leavers who faced "abhorrent" racism and prejudice during the forced adoption era want their lifelong trauma and suffering to be acknowledged by the church and state. www.itv.com/news/2026-05...

Whatever Starmer’s shortcomings are, there is nothing that makes me think that Streeting has got the answers to the UK’s problems in his back pocket www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...

Poll finds widespread impact of adoption fund cuts as neediest families hardest hit www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

Leicestershire County Council has said it is being forced into paying "extortionate" fees to place children in residential homes, with some packages costing the authority an average of £10,000 a week per child. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fostering Fortnight is underway, so stand by for lots of news about foster carers. A major theme will be a supposed crisis of recruitment and retention. Have ‘leaving in droves’ on your bingo cards. Except it isn’t true. 🧵

Amid all the talk of parachuting Andy Burnham in to replace Starmer, I can’t help thinking that Sadiq Khan would be a far better option. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The latest Week in Care is out, bringing you news and views about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Sign up for your free weekly email via [email protected]

Surviving or thriving? As Fostering Fortnight gets underway, and with the Government looking to find thousands of new foster carers, I’ve written a column about fostering allowances. open.substack.com/pub/martinba...

B&Q being unnecessarily mean to learner drivers who use its (often empty) car park to practice parking before their driving test next door

Turnover among directors of children’s services declined last year, pointing to growing stability in senior leadership roles, according to latest data from the Association of Directors of Children’s Services www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

At a time of rising anti-semitism in the UK, I think it is also important to note that the surge in support for Reform has created a hostile environment for millions of people of different races and cultures. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...

Ministers have rejected calls to make schools the fourth statutory safeguarding partner, claiming it would create “significant accountability and funding complexities”. schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-will...

A community centre building could be demolished to make way for two new children’s homes in Warrington. www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/2608368...

On remand but not in custody – study highlights benefits of innovative Manchester pilot www.cypnow.co.uk/content/anal...

Family Court judge takes rare step of making care orders for children remaining at home with mother www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/child-protec...

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children 'put at risk in inappropriate accommodation' www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

High thresholds for neglect delaying interventions to protect children, find safeguarding heads www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news...

Ironically, the council that will be most affected by the collapse of the resettlement scheme would be Kent, also a Reform council www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Durham County Council has agreed to invest £3.9m in 25 properties to improve accommodation for young people in care. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I have a number of concerns about this fostering scheme. I hope I’m wrong (wouldn’t be the first time…) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For a glimpse into the plunder of children’s services by private companies, look no further than this new report into what is effectively, a market in children. www.revolution-consulting.org/wp-content/u...

Alas, Smith & Jones

The latest Week in Care is out, rounding up news and views about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Sign up for a free weekly email via [email protected]

Times headline "Muslim voters rank Gaza over the economy in local election poll" is reporting a poll where the top issue for [some] Muslim voters was the cost of living (50%) ahead of Gaza on 25% and economy on 21% Anti-Muslim hostility on 22% Times headline gives an entirely misleading impression

The @instituteforgovernment.org.uk latest report on children’s social care reinforces damaging and inaccurate narratives about the care system. Mt latest Substack column open.substack.com/pub/martinba...

A sharp drop in the number of child death or serious harm reports made by local agencies has prompted concern from the body that oversees such cases. www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news...

An extra £20 per week could reduce the chances of children who are living below the poverty line from entering the care system, a new study has found. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Some businesses are (strangely) determined to open children’s homes in Wales, even though making a profit from children’s social care is set to become illegal. www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/plannin...

Surely The Times realises that the issue with potholes is not that councils don’t know about them. Good PR for this company, though.

Care provider at centre of safeguarding probe shuts children’s services www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...