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-...