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Latest News
CSN conference looks to the future
14/11/08 Five years into Every Child Matters (ECM), the government's flagship programme to ensure every child has a safe, healthy and happy childhood is failing to bridge the gap between the UK's wealthiest and most deprived children, the LGiU's Children's Services Network has said.
An LGiU conference yesterday reviewed the progress of ECM so far and looked ahead to assess what the priorities should be for the next five years.
Jasmine Ali, Head of CSN, warned that "to reduce the persistent gaps in outcomes between the richest and poorest there must not be an obsession with process at the expense of policy - especially in the current economic climate.
"ECM has made good progress, but there has inevitably been a strong emphasis on the national implementation process. It is now time for the balance to shift towards a greater emphasis on developing policy locally", she said.
"Outcomes for all children need to be improved, particularly because the economic downturn will have a big effect on disadvantaged families.
"By prioritising attention on a number of key groups who experience particularly poor outcomes, children's services could see significant gains. It would improve outcomes for many of the poorest children and help to raise awareness of the needs of several groups who, for a variety of reasons, sometimes escape attention."
This Month's Events
Participatory budgeting: the why and the how
27/11/2008
Intergenerational practice - addressing national and local priorities
25/11/2008
Fear of crime: councils closing the gap
24/11/2008
Accommodation and care leavers - pulling together
28/11/2008
Economic Development Learning Network (EDLN)
25/11/2008
Latest Analysis
New from C4EO
17/11/08 The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services (C4EO) has published its first scoping studies for the early years theme. It has also recently published updated Narrowing the Gap Final Year One Guidance.
Asylum children need more protection conference hears
15/10/08 A panel of leading representatives from the government, local government, Barnardos' and the Refugee Council told delegates at a CSN conference yesterday that they do not believe that children seeking asylum in the UK are safe. The delegates, who were mainly from local authorities were attending CSN's conference, Are asylum seeking children safe in the UK?
Social networking and youth participation - action learning set
Sign up to CSN's new action learning set by 30 November. Social networking has the potential to revolutionise how councils engage with children and young people. The LGiU's Children's Services Network will run an Action Learning Set between December 2008 and June 2009 for local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and the private sector. The closing date for joining is 30 November.
Latest Publications
Fundamental Health: children's mental health a guide (CSN)
19/9/2007
Mental health has been making its way up the children's agenda for a number of years. This timely guide from LGIU/CSN provides an overview of the main issues and is essential reading for councillors, those working in local authorities and partner organisations and school staff and governors.
Youth Justice and Schools in Wales / Cyfiawnder ieuenctid ac ysgolion yng Nghymru (CSN)
5/10/2006
Every year some 150,000 children and young people enter the youth justice system in the UK. Almost half of them are below the statutory school leaving age. This new booklet looks at how those working in children's services and youth justice in Wales can work together to prevent offending and reoffending.
The LGiU needs two new policy analysts - one in our Centre for Local Sustainability and one in the Centre for Service Transformation