Latest news with #childservices
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Inspectors tell council to improve children's services as demand rises
A council asked to help a neighbouring authority improve its child services has been told by inspectors the effectiveness of its own found concerns in Stockport Council's children's services in areas like support for children experiencing domestic abuse and neglect, and the experiences of those in critical report comes after the council stepped in to help Tameside Council overhaul its struggling children's services last Councillor Wendy Meikle, who is cabinet member for children and families, said the authority had an improvement plan in place and was "determined to meet this challenge head-on". Management oversight was described as "weak in some key areas of front-line practice" and the council's overall effectiveness in children's services was judged to "be below par", the inspection said there had been a continued rise in the demand for children's services, including an "increase in complexity" since Stockport's last inspection in 2022 when it was given a 'good' rating overall. 'Disappointed' Inspectors found in its most recent report that the council's approach to domestic abuse was inconsistent and some social workers did not "understand the complexities relating to coercive control and fear". In some case, they said "safety planning sometimes relies on victims to protect their children from the people who have abused them". "Where the specialist domestic abuse team is co-working with vulnerable families, the response to risk and safety planning is stronger."The council was given a 'good' rating for the experiences and progress of care Council is run by the Liberal Democrats under a minority administration, after it was left under no overall control at the last local leader Mark Roberts said "we're disappointed by the overall judgement" but added the council was "fully committed to addressing the areas for improvement". Councillor Christine Carrigan, leader of the opposition Labour group, said the authority had to act with "urgency and transparency to put things right". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘They're not going to be academically successful': Trump Administration cancels $1 billion mental health funding for schools
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Trump Administration announced that $1 billion in funding has been cut towards mental health services for children. Following this announcement, State Attorney General Letitia James announced a lawsuit against the administration, calling recent actions dangerous, cruel and illegal. 'We are asking the court to halt the unlawful dismantling of HHS, mass firings, and to restore the lifesaving programs that millions of Americans depend on,' James said. 'Those cuts are going to compromise a health and human service care system that is already struggling to provide adequate resources for those in individuals in need,' said Dave Roberts, an Adjunct Professor of Psychology Child-Life at Utica University. Roberts says the cuts will play a role in a child's development. 'I think the services we provide not only from a mental health standpoint, but support standpoint, can help individuals develop the coping skills to navigate challenging times, but also develop essential critical thinking skills,' Roberts said. The Lemoyne College Wellness Center for Health and Counseling offers mental health services. The director tells us that a lot of young adults they see have been treated before going to college. 'Students who are identified early and get treatment early are much more successful moving through their academic years,' said Maria Randazzo, the center's director. And if students aren't treated. 'They're not going to be academically successful, they will tend to isolate, they will not engage socially. We find they don't connect to the campus as well,' Randazzo said. The decision to cut funding comes as the trump administration takes sweeping action against DEI programs and alleged racial discrimination practices in schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
