Call for national inquiry following second child custody death

Two teenagers who were serving time at young offender institutions in England have died in the space of a week.

Social work tools for direct work with children – Observation

Observation What is the technique? When would I use this? What resources do I need? What do I do? What am I looking for? Warnings

Social work tools for direct work with children – Drawing

Drawing What is the technique? There are a number of techniques to try with children that can be facilitated with just some coloured pencils...

Social work tools for direct work with children – Dolls

What is the technique? Using dollsor animals to represent people in the child's life, you begin a story and then ask the child to "show...

Social work tools for direct work with children – Games

What is the technique? This technique is a simple board game for two players. It helps develop a trusting relationship with the child because...

Half of social workers feel 'powerless' to stop neglect

Half of social workers feel powerless to stop children being neglected because of high thresholds and inadequate resources. (Image: Rex Features)

Council pays £1m damages for 'shocking' child abuse failings

Essex council has paid damages of almost £1m to four siblings it failed to protect from years of parental abuse, Community Care has learned. (Pic: posed by model, Nigel R. Barklie/Rex Features)

Councils face 'hidden army' of child abuse damage claimants

Local authorities could be hit by a “hidden army� of people seeking damages for historic child abuse cases, lawyers have warned.

BASW: Workloads undermining ethical social work practice

Unmanageable caseloads are making it impossible for social workers to practice ethically, the British Association of Social Workers warned today as it issued a revised version of its code of ethics. (Image: Rex Features).

Going into care early reduces risk of offending, study finds

Early entry into care, stable placements and purposeful activity can significantly reduce a child’s risk of turning to crime, research published today has found.