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

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...

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...

Heading to Birmingham to join this important conference ⬇️

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...

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...

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Marit Skivenes (@mskivenes.bsky.social), Tarja Pösö, and June Thoburn (@jthobu.bsky.social) are invited to present on "Adoption from Care" book by Research Institute for Children’s Social Care, Waseda University, on 12 May 2025 (Online).

The first session of 2025 in our Expert Insights Series will focus on understanding hoarding behaviour with our expert trainer, Lisa Barrett. 🗓️ Thursday, 6 March ⏰ 09.30-12.30 (3 hrs CPD) 💻 Delivered via Zoom Book your place 🔗 basw.co.uk/training-cpd...

Most eyes understandably on HM Government but the descent of HM Opposition into Musk-style conspiracists bears more scrutiny. Good piece here by Polly Toynbee. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist” James Baldwin

Thatcher’s political crimes are still playing out 40 years later.

Day 24 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: An Energetic Stellar Nursery. This new image from the James Webb Space Telescope features the young star cluster NGC 602, near the outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud, about 200,000 light-years away. www.theatlantic.com/photo/2024/1...

The far-right is rising across Europe, but we're seeing early tentative signs that they can be frozen out of power. What's required is an absolute refusal from decent people on the centre-right to work with them inews.co.uk/opinion/nige...

Recently took a peek at Twitter and the disinformation is getting substantially more dangerous. Someone could get killed. The tactics of constantly repeating outright lies, targeting specific people, repurposing years-old footage and presenting them as new is getting to another level. It’s scary.

Encouraged a family to appeal a CHC decision, it went all the way to the Independent Review Panel but they have found the person had a primary health need and should have been eligible for CHC. I nearly cried reading the email, the family have been fantastic advocates #socialwork

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” Agnes M. Pharo #christmas #quotes #christmasquotes

❗As we warned: 2021 changes to care planning secondary legislation have radically restructured children's care system, giving veneer of legitimacy to what was once shameful. ⬇️ This kind of accommodation is meant to be restricted to children able to manage without any care or consistent supervision.

As adults in children’s social care,we must all be the guardians of their memories, ethically,holding life stories with care, respect & responsibility, ensuring their past is honored as they move forward 🌻 @sarahatfosterwiki.bsky.social @alcoates.bsky.social #adoption #children #fostercare

I used to avoid the 20th December. It marked a painful ending as a child in care whose placement broke down at Christmas. Now it marks a new beginning in a book where 100 care experienced people reclaim our past. Find your Christmas copy of Free Loaves on Fridays here: unbound.com/books/free-l...

“A better-funded version of the current system won’t suffice to address the profound demographic, societal and technological shifts shaping the future.” Spot on.

Not massively chuffed about being quoted in this publication but if it brings the issue of children’s home ownership and funding to the fore for people who might not otherwise think about then that’s a good thing.

As of right now, Bluesky is only a little more than 100K users away from 25 MILLION!! The growth of this platform since Election Day has been absolutely INCREDIBLE!! 💙 bsky-users.theo.io

Interesting and welcome change of mind by the Children’s Commissioner on Corporal Punishment. At her PreAppointment hearing in 2020 she wasn’t sure she wanted to ban it. Now she does. committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

🚨 A recent survey by @swu-uk.bsky.social & @itvnews.bsky.social has revealed 90% of social workers reporting an increase in the number of families they support experiencing poverty. Social workers are raising the alarm, and we need policy-makers to start listening. www.itv.com/news/2024-12...

Scotland is right to scrap the cruel two-child benefit cap. It's now time for Labour to act www.bigissue.com/opinion/scot...

The Government must take action on the cold damp homes crisis. We must see the Warm Homes Plan fully funded in the Comprehensive Spending Review. And we must have a social tariff in place to protect people from high energy prices before next winter. www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/millions-to-...

We spent three days on the frontline of children’s social services in Lewisham, witnessing firsthand the impact rising poverty and chronic underfunding is having. Watch here: www.itv.com/watch/news/a...

Shout out today to all the social workers out there who did the right thing this week, who upheld rights and stayed true to the values, and who in doing so made themselves unpopular with a whole host of people but did it anyway. We see you.

Helped one of my team challenge a decision not to provide temp housing to a homeless young man this week. Today she put me forward in good news stories for my help and teaching her not to give up. I’ve had a lovely message from our principal social worker in response #socialwork

Why is the government not capable wiping the floor with Nigel Farage every single day like this? Alastair Campbell effortlessly destroys him over his Brexit legacy which by almost every economic and financial measure has been disastrous for the country

Help us make sure that any national standards for social care start from the vision of a better future and don’t anchor us to the past. Help make sure they reflect what is important to people who draw on social care to live their lives www.linkedin.com/posts/martin...

Why Unlocked Graduates was doomed to fail. "It was the brainchild of someone who had come through the Teach First programme and follows a similar model... the whole model has an air of saviourism” www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/68...

Just one day in the life of McKinsey & Co, the founding partner of Teach First. Why do we let this firm anywhere near our public sector??

A lot of deserved criticism around for this defence of the institutional Lock up www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

This day in social work history ⏳ 2nd December 2019: Social Work England take over regulatory responsibility for social workers in England from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), becoming the third regulator of social workers in fewer than 8 years.

Oh

Good to see that @labswkgroup.bsky.social has also jumped ship. If you are a left leaning social worker or national or local labour politician please follow in new home

Indeed. It’s not either early/ family help OR high quality residential care.

Wonderful to return to #NCASC24 @LGAcomms to see a Labour Minster for Children & families @janetdaby.bsky.social giving a passionate speech. As ever brilliantly chaired by my friend @aroojshah.bsky.social 👏🏻

Leeds Labour are working hard to support people with the cost of living. Leader of the Council Cllr James Lewis and Cllr Mary Harland, Exec Member for Communities welcome to he Labour Government's extension of the Household Support Fund.

The focus on transitions is so welcome this year at #ncasc24. Delighted to see the adults *and* children’s Principal Social Workers talking whole family - great role-modelling of the kind of boundary-spanning leadership we need.

Up now: Anna Gianfrancesco (Asst D in Brighton) sharing work to develop anti-racism. Attending to info captured, trust / engagement with families. Practitioners need time & permission to do the emotional & mental work. System change not just training. #ncasc24

John Pearce : this stuff (residential, foster care, supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children, growing & nurturing workforce) is whole council business, not just children’s services. PREACH! #ncasc24

AS: SEND is in crisis, but it’s bigger than that. Education, inc curriculum, needs reform. #ncasc24

strong focus on people and lives at #ncasc24 and how any standards for a national care service have to focus on creativity and control over our lives. Strong evidence from @AnnaSeverwright on the difference this can make. @CQCProf will this be consistent with commissioning?

At #ncasc24 ADCS Pres Andy Smith says the crisis in SEND provision is now the number one worry for DCSs. ‘Reflects challenges in education and inclusion as a whole. A relentless focus on exams and zero tolerance behaviour policies must change.

Excellent #ncasc24 session on collaboration across the lifespan reminds me of what we’ve lost after two decades of separating adult and children’s #socialcare

Transitions comes up again as a key issue. Engaging early, applying ‘grace periods’ between children’s & adults’ services, working in a joined up way… all important in terms of ‘managing demand’ (yeah I know, it’s not human-centred language but I get why they’re using it) #ncasc24

Longer term spending options for councils - and returning the £900m stripped out of public health - would allow councils to invest in prevention. This also helps to address entrenched inequities, eg life expectancy. #ncasc24