Children's social services

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on children's social services and child protection issues. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs. For financial support for children, see child support.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
21.01.2013	Inter-racial adoption
	This note provides information on the current law and policy on inter-racial adoption. It also provides an update on the Government's proposals to reform the system to reduce delays in placing children for adoption.
02.11.2012	Children: Residence and contact related matters for parents, grandparents and others after separation
	Children: Residence and contact related matters for parents, grandparents and others after separation. By Manjit Gheera. SN/SP/3100.
02.05.2012	Viral 'Breadwinner' hoax email alleging abuse of fostering allowances
	A number of MPs have contacted the Library concerning an e-mail that constituents have forwarded alleging abuse of the fostering system in order to benefit from the allowances available. The e-mail in question is not based in fact, and is a hoax. This short note explains the many errors in the 'Breadwinner' email, and notes that an almost identical US version is also in circulation, which seems to be the source of the version discussed in this note.
02.05.2012	Fostering - long-term, emergency, temporary and private placements; and care orders
	This note provides information on the different types of fostering arrangements available, and the arrangements for taking a child into care.
01.05.2012	Children in care in England: statistics
	Children in care in England: statistics. SN/SG/4470 By Rachael Harker

Research Papers

Date	Description
30.08.2011	Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill: the NHS Future Forum and the Committee Stage Report
	On 21 June 2011 the House agreed a motion re-committing certain clauses of the Health and Social Care Bill to the Public Bill Committee that had previously considered the Bill. The Committee met between 28 June and 14 July 2011 and agreed a number of Government amendments, introduced in response to the recommendations the 'NHS Future Forum'. Key changes are intended to clarify the Secretary of State for Health's overall responsibility for the NHS, to ensure good governance for the new groups that will be responsible for commissioning NHS-funded services, to strengthen duties to involve the public and health professionals in decision making, and to amend duties in relation to the role of competition and integration in the health service. The Bill is due to have its Report stage and Third Reading on 6 and 7 September 2011.
06.04.2011	Health and Social Care Bill: Committee Stage Report.
	The Health and Social Care Bill had its Second Reading in the Commons on 31 January 2011. The Bill was considered in Public Bill Committee in 28 sittings, between 8 February and 31 March 2011. A large number of Government amendments were made, mainly minor and technical changes, although significant alterations were made to clauses 103 and 104 in Part 3 of the Bill, to prevent competition on price. No Opposition amendments were agreed. This Paper summarises the Commons Second Reading debate and Committee stages and supplements the House of Commons Library Research Paper Health and Social Care Bill (RP 11/11), which was produced for the Bill's Second Reading.
27.01.2011	Health and Social Care Bill
	This briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill has been prepared for the Second Reading debate on the Bill in the House of Commons on 31 January 2011. The Bill is intended to give effect to the reforms requiring primary legislation that were proposed in the NHS White Paper Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS. This White Paper set out the Government's aims to reduce central control of the NHS, to engage doctors in the commissioning of health services, and to give patients greater choice.
15.02.2010	Children, Schools and Families Bill: Committee Stage Report Bill No 8 of 2009-10
	This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Children, Schools and Families Bill. The Bill contained a clause on the charitable status of academies, but the Government decided it could achieve its objectives by non-legislative means, and at the end of the Committee Stage the clause was removed. No other changes were made to the Bill in Committee. There were many amendments proposed by the opposition parties but none was successful.
16.12.2009	Children, Schools and Families Bill. Bill 8 2009-10.
	This Bill provides 'guarantees' for pupils and parents in the school system, underpinned by new Home School Agreements, and makes provision for parental satisfaction surveys. It also makes changes to the powers of governing bodies of maintained schools; extends the remit of School Improvement Partners; provides greater powers for local authorities and the Secretary of State in relation to failing schools; paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards; and makes provision to introduce a licence to practise for teachers. The Bill also seeks to implement the recommendations of several major reports. These changes affect the school curriculum; provide a registration system for home educators; and provide an additional right of appeal for parents of children with special educational needs. The Bill would also make changes to the reporting of information relating to family proceedings. Other provisions relate to Local Safeguarding Children Boards, Youth Offending Teams, the charitable status of academies, and the fees system for the inspection of independent schools.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
30.03.2011	Looked-after children.
	Government response. Department for Education; Education Select Committee report [Commons]
03.03.2010	Training of Children and Families Social Workers.
	Government response. Children Schools and Families Select Committee; Department for Children, Schools and Families report [Commons]
20.07.2009	Training of childen and families social workers.
	Children Schools and Families Select Committee report [Commons]
24.06.2009	Looked-after children.
	Government response. Department for Children, Schools and Families; Children Schools and Families Select Committee report [Commons]
09.03.2009	Looked-after children.
	Children Schools and Families Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
09.02.2012	FOSTERS CARE HOME
	That this House notes with concern plans by Wokingham Borough Council to review the future of Fosters Care Home; further notes that Fosters Care Home is included in a list of council ...
08.02.2012	CROSS BOUNDARY LOOKED-AFTER CHILDREN
	<p>That this House congratulates Lancashire County Council's scrutiny committee on its report into the problems of cross boundary placements entitled Who Cares; notes that of 64,000 ...
16.01.2012	VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN
	That this House is aware the Government has yet to commit itself to ending the practice of the physical punishment of children in the UK despite its human right obligations and progress ...
07.11.2011	FAMILY JUSTICE REVIEW FINAL REPORT
	That this House regrets that the Family Justice Review resulted in a Family Justice Panel that was not representative; notes that the response to the final report from groups campaigning ...
19.07.2011	REVOE JUNIOR YOUTH CLUB BLACKPOOL
	That this House congratulates the organisers and members of the Revoe Junior Youth Club in Blackpool, who in their first year of existence have got over 60 young people involved and ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
22.10.2012	Debate on 25 October: Looked-after Children
	This Library Note provides background reading for the debate on looked-after children on 25 October.

POST Papers

Date	Description
01.01.2010	Pets, families and interagency working, January 2010
	This POSTnote examines the evidence base for the assumption that organisations that work with animals should be included in the safeguarding children agenda, and the rationale for cross-reporting between different agencies.