@martinbarrow.bsky.social
Local authority foster carer, journalist. Sharing news and views about the care system, children and young people. Subscribe to my weekly bulletin via weekincare@gmail.com
A devastating outcome": Trafford children's services rated 'inadequate' as Ofsted warns children left at risk of harm altrincham.todaynews.co.uk/news/2026/08...
"A devastating outcome": Trafford children's services rated 'inadequate' as Ofsted warns children left at risk of harm
It follows a two-week inspection in June.
altrincham.todaynews.co.uk
The NHS and local councils paid £2bn to companies part or wholly owned by G Square Capital in the past three years, a period when either the current top health official Samantha Jones or her husband held financial interests in the private equity business. www.ft.com/content/ea8c...
Companies linked to top health official and husband received £2bn in public contracts
Samantha Jones or spouse held financial interests in G Square Capital private-equity business
ft.com
Court of Appeal rejects local authority adoption bid todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/court-of-app...
Court of Appeal rejects local authority adoption bid - Today's Family Lawyer
Court of Appeal rejects local authority adoption bid: Care and placement orders made by the Family Court on the application of a local authority and supported by the children’s guardian have been over...
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk
FosterWiki is fostering’s equivalent of Nigel Farage & Reform. Do social workers have too much power/is immigration out of control? “We’re just asking the question…”
Catalyst Care Limited has been prosecuted and fined for running illegal children's homes in what has been called the first case of its kind. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Care company fined for running illegal children's homes in legal first
The company pleaded guilty to failing to register three homes after being prosecuted by Ofsted.
bbc.co.uk
Leaders of flag-raising group Raise the Colours Oxfordshire placed trackers on highway workers’ cars to find out their home addresses, the High Court has heard. RTC then attempted to intimidate the highway staff into no longer removing flags by repeating their addresses to them.
Latest data shows 3,010 children in England waiting to be matched with an adoptive family, but only 1,350 approved families waiting to be matched with a child. news.sky.com/story/worryi...
'Worrying decline' in families approved to adopt a child, charity warns
The latest data shows 3,010 children in England waiting to be matched with an adoptive family, but only 1,350 approved families waiting to be matched with a child.
news.sky.com
More on Somerset Council’s ill-fated children’s homes partnership with Homes2Inspire. www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2643333...
Five Somerset children's homes closed as charity apologises for failings
Shaw Trust is ending its "innovative" partnership with Somerset Council after Ofsted reports criticised failures in care
somersetcountygazette.co.uk
I think I have just experienced what people in the old days used to call ‘rain’
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Mindful of the sensitivities around death announcements, I am nonetheless shocked by the tone of recent tributes along the lines of “I didn’t agree with X but off camera they were absolutely charming.” Please, don’t . www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Newspaper columnist and broadcaster Rod Liddle dies aged 66
The columnist died in hospital in Middlesbrough on Sunday.
bbc.co.uk
The charity Family Rights Group has published a roadmap it says will help family justice areas support children and families earlier and safely reduce the need for care proceedings. todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/family-justi...
Family justice roadmap ‘will avert children entering care system’ - Today's Family Lawyer
Family justice roadmap ‘will avert children entering care system’: National charity Family Rights Group has published a roadmap it says will help family justice areas support children and families ear...
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk
Quite the stat, via @londoncentric.media “the 119,000 residents of Camden who pay income tax contribute more (£4.7bn) than all the residents of Birmingham and Glasgow combined (£4bn).”
Further analysis of the impact on schools of the significant fall in the number of children in the UK now underway. I’ve yet to see meaningful analysis of the impact on the care system, which will be considerable. theconversation.com/falling-birt...
Falling birth rates mean schools are closing – affecting whole communities
Schools provide a link between generations in a local area.
theconversation.com
Kent County Council has completed the first of four new council-owned children's homes under plans to provide more care closer to home for children and young people. news.kent.gov.uk/articles/fir...
First Project Athena Children's Home Complete as Kent Expands Care Closer to Home
The first of four new council-owned children's homes being developed through Project Athena has now been completed, marking a major milestone in Kent County Council's plans to provide more high-qualit...
news.kent.gov.uk
Random post, but coaches at our kids’ football clubs have noted how aggressive children have been since the World Cup. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
World Cup 2026: Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against Argentina
Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over their behaviour after their World Cup final loss to Spain and throughout the tournament.
bbc.co.uk
Woman, 86, orphaned as child opens prized garden to public to fulfill lifelong promise www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Penarth woman, 86, orphaned as child raises funds for charityafter childhood promise to herself
Ann Lush made a promise to herself when she was nine to “help any child I could”.
bbc.co.uk
Children’s homes have become part of the same ‘investment class’ as HMOs, proliferating in the same areas as speculative investors pivot from one to the other to get the best return. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
The revolt against HMO Britain: how many are in your area?
Landlords are splitting ever more properties to make bigger rents — councils who fear for their neighbourhoods are fighting back
thetimes.com
Samantha Morton on The Odyssey: “I spoke for every wronged woman - like my mum.” Star of Christopher Nolan’s hit epic says her acclaimed performance was inspired by a childhood in care and her mother. www.thetimes.com/culture/film...
Samantha Morton on The Odyssey: I spoke for every wronged woman — like my mum
In a deeply personal interview, the star of Christopher Nolan’s hit epic says her performance was inspired by a childhood in care and her mother who ‘suffered all sorts at the hands of men’
thetimes.com
Police join dozens objecting to Carlisle children's home plan www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/2642129...
'Eyesore' children's home plan triggers objections - including from police
POLICE chiefs have joined residents from a south Carlisle community who are opposing plans for a new children’s home in a converted house.
newsandstar.co.uk
It is so typically British to turn one of the world’s great accessible sports into an exclusive leisure pursuit to earn millions for investors www.bbc.co.uk/news/resourc...
Padel is exploding across the UK. So why can booking a court cost £100 an hour? - BBC News
Padel is exploding across the UK. So why can booking a court cost £100 an hour?
bbc.co.uk
25% voter turnout for what is arguably the third biggest job in politics in England www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Wait goes on for result in Greater Manchester mayoral by-election – as it happened
The turnout was recorded as the lowest on record for a mayoral role in the region
theguardian.com
Latest Ofsted figures reveal the children’s homes sector continues to grow at a rate of knots with more settings, places and providers coming on stream in the past 12 months. www.cypnow.co.uk/content/anal...
Key trends in children’s residential care - CYP Now
Latest Ofsted figures reveal the children’s homes sector continues to grow at a rate of knots with more settings, places and providers coming on stream in th...
cypnow.co.uk
The scale of the explosion in for-profit children’s homes in England is revealed in the latest Ofsted stats: the number of homes has risen by 20% in the last year and by 70% since 2022.
The scale of the explosion in for-profit children’s homes in England is revealed in the latest Ofsted stats: the number of homes has risen by 20% in the last year and by 70% since 2022.
Mother and her boyfriend jailed for life for the "sadistic" abuse and murder of her two-year-old daughter. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thornaby mum and boyfriend jailed for murdering girl
Isabelle Welsh was subjected to "sadistic" violence and abuse before her murder, a court hears.
bbc.co.uk
Plymouth Council has acquired properties to convert into two council-run children’s homes www.plymouth.gov.uk/news/new-chi...
New children’s homes to keep Plymouth young people close to home | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK
plymouth.gov.uk
