Update no 563 30th June 2023

The Big Listen Report:

On 30 June 2023 SESLIP and LIIA published a Report on The Big Listen Survey 2022-23

#thebiglisten Research Final Report:

The Big Listen is an ambitious research project undertaken collaboratively between 52 local authorities in London and the South East. The research sought to listen directly to frontline social workers and managers through a combination of focus groups attended by over 150 people and a survey completed by over a 1,000, representing more than 8% of all social workers/managers in both regions. The research also looked at a range of other sources with the aim of bringing together the best possible evidence to inform the development of a regional workforce strategy.

The report includes an accessible short executive summary. Authorities who contributed to the research by getting more than 25 of their staff to participate will also be provided with an individual authority level report.

Key findings from the research will be presented at the next regional DCS Meeting (21^st July) where discussion will focus on how the research can be used to contribute to developing a South East regional work force plan.

Ofsted changes to school inspections:

On 12 June Ofsted published a press release on changes to school inspections

Amanda Spielman HMCI said:

“When we inspect schools our priority must always be children’s education and wellbeing – but at the same time we want to make sure inspection is as positive an experience for school staff as it can be. Since the sad death of Ruth Perry, there has been considerable debate around Ofsted’s work and I want to reassure people that we are listening to their concerns, and thinking carefully about how we can revise aspects of our work without losing our clear focus on the needs of children and their parents.

Academic year 2022/23 – special educational needs in England:

On 22 June DfE published SEN data by type of SEN provision, type of need, age, national curriculum year group, gender, ethnicity, English as a first language and free school meal eligibility for 2022/23.

Further information:

Local authority data on EHC plans is published in the Education, health and care plans publication. That data covers all children and young people up to age 25 with EHC plans, and includes those not captured in this publication in non-maintained early years provision, further education, home education or not in education, employment or training.

Reminder:

Network dates:

Network dates:

Taking Care – Immigration support pledge and learning package for local authorities:

The South London Refugee Association has published a learning package for local authorities.

Learning package:

Taking care campaign:

The report, ‘Taking Care: How local authorities can best address immigration issues of children in care’, finds that delaying providing help on immigration and nationality issues could be costing local authorities hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. A citizenship application for a child costs £1,012. By comparison, waiting to resolve immigration issues until the young person leaves care can cost as much as £130,000 per young person in Home Office fees and support with living when that young person is barred from claiming benefits.

Court Ruling Decides Councils are Responsible for Unaccompanied Children in Home Office Hotels:

Article 39 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2023] EWHC 1398 (Fam)

High court judgement:

Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership:

The decision was made in a ruling, published last week (9 June), following two hearings, held in March and April after children’s rights charity Article 39, backed by the Good Law Project, sought a wardship application for 66 children who were reported to have gone missing from a Home Office-run hotel in Brighton and Hove in January.

Article 39 argued that that there is a “lacuna in protection” as individual missing children have no corporate parent responsible for their safety and welfare.

Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership, at the end of February 2023, published a report, referenced in the ruling, which states: “The status of [unaccompanied asylum-seeking] children remains ‘in limbo’. They do not have looked-after children or child in need status with the local authority and the Home Office has no statutory responsibility for their care. This creates a significant statutory gap in provision and leaves the child with no corporate parent.”

Forced Out: delivering equality for kinship carers in the workplace:

Kinship has published Forced Out exploring the views and experiences of kinship carers around work, and reveals the devastating consequences which a lack of employment support is having for kinship families and for the state.

Kinship campaign:

Recommendations

For more detail on each of the recommendations, please see the full report.

1. The Government should introduce a right to paid kinship care leave for all kinship carers.
2. The Government should ensure that its planned Pathfinder and pilot activity includes elements of employment support for kinship families.
3. The Government should introduce a mandatory financial allowance for kinship carers.
4. Local authorities should provide better employment advice and support to kinship families.
5. Employers should introduce kinship friendly employment policies and seek to improve their understanding of kinship care.