Destination Unknown: improving transitions for care leavers and young people with SEND
A lack of consistent and effective transition support for vulnerable young people when they turn 18 is leading to unacceptable poor outcomes, a new report has found.
Titled ‘Destination Unknown’, the Children’s Services Development Group’s (CSDG) report sets out the “cliff edge in support” care leavers and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) face when they leave care or specialist education, and the huge detriment this can have to their life outcomes.
To read our report, click here: Download
The State of Children’s Services 2018-19
Making sure every vulnerable child and young person receives the care they deserve is at the heart of the children’s services sector.
If we are to secure the best possible outcomes for these children, they must be at the forefront of how and why we commission the services they depend upon.
Local authorities have weathered funding constraints over recent years and are increasingly raising concerns about their ability to meet rising demand for services without sacrificing the quality of their provision.
Local authorities and independent ...
Commissioning in Children’s Services – What Works 2016
Despite significant policy attention and political action, looked-after children and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) remain some of the most vulnerable children in the country with their later life outcomes –social, educational and health related – remaining stubbornly poor. It is nocoincidence that in Ofsted’s inspections of local authority children’s servicesdepartments from November 2013 to March 2016, three-quarters were givenone of the two bottom ratings: ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’. These failings have ...
The Local Offer, Children And Parental Rights
The local offer is designed to provide meaningful choice for parents, and to ensure children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) have access to appropriate support services in their local area.
Hosted by each local authority in England, the local offer is a list of education, health and social care services made publicly available in an online information directory for use by parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. The local offer is also intended to help local authorities identify gaps in provision, and to make sure these ...
Children’s Services Taskforce – Final report 2014
Looking after children is the bedrock of any caring society. It is vital for the wellbeing of young people, their families and our communities and so it is essential that we get it right.
However, there are significant changes taking place in local government. Across the country councils are transforming the way they work and the organisations they work with, at the same time as dealing with cuts of up to 40% in their budgets.
In these circumstances innovation is both necessary and extremely challenging.
This is particularly true in an area like children...
In It Together: In Practice
In It Together: In Practice is the culmination of an extended piece of joint research by the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) and the Children’s Services Development Group (CSDG) – gathering senior representatives from local government and service providers together.
The report is the third in CSDG’s In It Together series, which has sought to demonstrate how strategic partnership working and excellence in commissioning can deliver the best outcomes for children with complex needs, at the best price.
In It Together: In Practice explores ...
In It Together II: redefining value in children’s services
Children with complex needs can and do develop into successful, stable adults. However, in many cases looked after young people or those with SEN require the help of specialist services to enable them to make this transition.
We are writing this report when the public coffers are running dry.
At a time when local authorities are struggling to meet many competing demands, it is critical that we examine every part of our public services to ensure that they are delivering the best results in the most cost efficient way.
In it Together II: ...
In It Together I: achieving quality outcomes for young people with complex needs
Vulnerable children deserve the best education, care and support available to meet their often challenging needs. Looked after children, those with learning disabilities, or those who are victims of neglect and abuse, rely on local authorities, and the providers that work with them, to provide high quality care and education services matched to their specific needs.
Across the country, services of the highest quality are being designed and delivered in partnership between local authorities and service providers from the public, private and voluntary sectors. It ...
