Children's Services in the news
Balls warning to Birmingham over child death
The education secretary Ed Balls says officials face serious questions about how a seven-year-old starved to death
Councils 'judge and fail families'
Local authorities are criticised by families for failing to meet their needs and for judging their lives
Hundreds of jobs at risk at NSPCC
Hundreds of jobs are at risk ahead of restructuring at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, it is reported
Social workers praised over child death toll fall
The LGA welcomes research suggesting the number of violent deaths among children in England and Wales has fallen by almost 40% in the past 30 years
Watchdog slams under-fives outcomes
The Audit Commission calls on councils and NHS to better target funding for young children
Doncaster faces new probe
Troubled Doncaster MBC is to be subjected to an Audit Commission corporate governance inspection - a rare measure for failing councils with services believed to pose “serious risk”
Analysis
Jack of all trades - master of none?
One history lesson Ofsted might have missed teaches that you should be wary of opening a second front when you’re still fighting on the first
Baby P: the good changes - and problems
The aftermath of Baby Peter’s tragic death brings good and bad changes, says Kim Bromley-Derry
Balls after Baby P: 'Short on detail'
Balls’ response to Lord Laming’s Baby P review falls worryingly short on detail in some of the most important areas where change needs to happen - LGC’s Jim Dunton assesses reaction to the government’s announcement.
Watchdog challenged by its new broad remit
This week a new regulator officially took over responsibility for ensuring standards are met in health and social care, bringing together three separate predecessors. Some question the Care Quality Commission’s ability to be all things to all people.
