“The fridge freezers in two children’s bedrooms contained mouldy food.” Wonder whether those who led, enabled and supported the demise of day-to-day care for children in care aged 16-17 ever anticipated a company offering such care-less accommodation calling itself ‘Caring Thoughts Ltd’.

Thinking of dear Ian Dickson this evening, a wonderful children’s rights champion and truth-teller. He strove to ensure every child has a ladder to the stars ✨ article39.org.uk/our-story/ch...

Our challenge to the government's decision to authorise PAVA spray in prisons holding children is being heard in the High Court today. Children and Young People Now coverage: https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news/high-court-hears-challenge-to-pava-spray-use-in-children-s-prisons

After living through the Nazi & atomic bomb eras, Tove Jansson writings would often encompass fearful ideas about loss of a familiar world. However she would balance this with characters who encompassed #kindness & #community, even in the darkest times #WomensArt #WorldKindnessDay

Sky documentary about the death of a very young care leaver, Nonita Grabovskyte, and how we and @inquest-org.bsky.social joined forces to fight for justice for her. Link to documentary here: article39.org.uk/2025/11/11/a...

Saw this hugely powerful, anger-making production last night in Derby. Catch it if you can. Thinking of my very dear friend Eric Allison who worked tirelessly with @shattenstone.bsky.social to bring to public view the reign of child abuse at Medomsley detention centre graeae.org/event/bad-la...

A veteran activist, who has spent her life campaigning for disability rights, has called on the government to fix the “rotten to the core” social care system, after experiencing “terrifying” treatment during a short stay in a care home. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/safeguarding...

2025: a child in care is sleeping on a mattress on the floor in an ‘annex’. Ofsted visit prompted by a serious incident alert. Private company operating the annex illegally. Child’s place paid for by their LA / corporate parent. They will have a social worker and an independent reviewing officer.

When giving oral evidence to Covid-19 Inquiry, I said whenever I encounter govt plans to remove or weaken safeguards for children in care I think about past inquiries & scandals. The death of Dennis O’Neill & the cruelty also inflicted on his brother, together with both boys’ bravery, often in mind.

Been reminded (through anniversary of a family wedding I missed 😬) that it’s 29 years since the residential weekend laying the ground for the formation of A National Voice organisation run by and for care experienced people. Anyone on here who attended, I still have group photos!

Vital work of museum of homelessness @ourmoh.bsky.social bringing to light the shocking reality of deaths of people experiencing homelessness. museumofhomelessness.org/news/new-res...

UK Covid-19 Inquiry, day 1 hearing: strong and consistent calls for making the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child fully part of UK law article39.org.uk/uk-covid-19-...

Very grateful to Chambers for supporting me to concentrate on assisting @article39.bsky.social over the next month, during the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's module on children and young people. Hearings start Monday 29 September, going through to 23 October. More here: article39.org.uk/2025/09/26/i...

It is, frankly, devastating to see councils campaigning for MORE supported accommodation, which is increasingly used to house children in care as young as 16, often sharing premises with vulnerable adults. By law, no ‘care’ can be provided. www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...

Why was Prison Officers Association speaking about its members working in Oasis Restore secure school on @channel4news.bsky.social when this is legally meant to be a secure children’s home, not a child prison?

Due to one child’s needs, waking night staff in place for 8 months. Yet this is meant to be accommodation for children able to live with high degree of independence (a fiction in itself). This was always policy development full of risks for children, designed by last government for LAs in crisis.

A reflection on my care files, three years after sharing “An open letter to the social worker who wrote my case notes”, which ended up going viral at the time. Here’s how my perspective has shifted: (Original letter available at basw.co.uk/articles/ope...)

About half of the 100+ Ofsted inspections published so far have identified concerns, some very serious.

Excellent that Education Committee has urged Department for Education to amend legislation to ensure all children in care receive care where they live. (Report published this week.) ❗Several thousand 16 and 17 year-olds in care are currently housed in accommodation where they *receive no care*.

These children are too vulnerable to live in supported accommodation and staff are not able to keep them safe.

Got mine from the wonderful @fiveleavesbooks.bsky.social, read last week on holiday and, wow, is it a powerful, moving, energising read.

Sorting out my study, stopped in tracks to marvel once more at this beautiful book written by the exceptional human being Micheline Mason. A primer in human rights, this wonderful book powerfully communicates the social model of disability for parents primarily, though is a gift to all.

Inquest concluded yesterday into the preventable death of a very young and vulnerable care leaver. Litany of failings. PLEASE NOTE: @article39.bsky.social & @inquest-org.bsky.social joint statement contains lots of distressing information, including about suicide. article39.org.uk/2025/05/23/n...

Government has authorised use of PAVA spray on children in three prisons. Latest data on children in prison: ❗️63% were formerly in care ❗️53% are from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities ❗️44% have health problems ❗️35% are disabled questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

Will new corporate parenting responsibilities transform England’s children’s care system. My latest blog on Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/the-chi...

Heading to Birmingham to join this important conference ⬇️

Children aged 16 and 17 without a home and parental care not being offered vital assistance from advocates: thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/ofsted-...

On very same day government minister sought to assure MPs that children have sufficient protection from violence, High Court delivered judgment on a doctor’s appeal not to be struck off from medical register for the “lawful chastisement” of his children. thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/r-v-hop...

On very same day government minister sought to assure MPs that children have sufficient protection from violence, High Court delivered judgment on a doctor’s appeal not to be struck off from medical register for the “lawful chastisement” of his children. thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/r-v-hop...

Care experienced children and adults have been championing change through self-led groups and organisations since the 1970s. Shouldn’t it now be the norm for care experienced people to be in the majority at policy-making tables. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We are delighted by today's decision from the High Court that school exclusion hearings are covered by the European Convention of Human Rights, opening the possibility of legal aid being granted in appeals against exclusion. More info: www.coram.org.uk/news/high-co... @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social

Very important hearing in Court of Appeal today, concerning local authorities power to deprive children in care of their liberty article39.org.uk/2025/02/04/c...

“Mums, midwives, solicitors, barristers and judges are all telling us the way we do this is ­inhumane. It is no way to provide ­justice. Everyone agrees, but it still keeps happening.” - Lisa Harker, Director, NFJO Read more from @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

I wrote about government plans for the deprivation of liberty of looked after children (Clause 10 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill): thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/clause-...