Child harm cases rise by more than a quarter
Serious child-related incidents reported by councils have risen by more than a quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to LGA analysis of latest figures.
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‘Rocket boost’ in funding needed to tackle children’s mental health
Damage to children’s mental health caused by the coronavirus crisis could last for years without a “rocket boost in funding” for children’s mental health services, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned.
£120m for social care staffing
The Government has announced an extra £120 million for councils to help tackle staffing issues in adult social care. The money can be used for additional care staff where shortages arise, support for administrative tasks so experienced and skilled staff can focus on providing care and help, and overtime payments or help with childcare costs so existing staff can take on extra hours, if they wish.
Stepping up on levelling up
The Government has renewed its commitment to levelling up as part of the recovery from the pandemic, with new announcements focusing on better access to high-quality education, improved infrastructure in town centres, and more public sector jobs outside of London.
Fresh vision for early years
Seamless support and a ‘welcoming hub’ for families are among new proposals for ensuring babies and young children get the best possible start to life.
White Paper ‘to join up health and care’
Plans to reform health and care services in England so they can work more closely together have been published in a Government White Paper.
Honours for public service
Local government workers, firefighters, teachers, police officers and foster carers were among the public sector workers on the New Year Honours List 2021.
New national lockdown as vaccines rolled out
Priority groups are receiving their first vaccine doses as the country begins another round of national lockdowns.
MPs: ‘Create green jobs’
MPs have called on the Government to counter rising unemployment by creating green jobs and focusing investment in energy efficiency, the circular economy, climate adaptation and nature recovery.
‘Lessons to be learned’ on rough sleeping
The number of rough sleepers accommodated during the ‘Everyone in’ initiative over several months “far exceeds” the number recorded in the Government’s annual national snapshot of the rough sleeper population, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).