Amid rising knife crime, youth homelessness and care referrals, the case for spending on early help has never been so important, yet investment in prevention services has been falling, fuelling late interventions.
Richard Oldershaw, team leader with the Child Law Advice Service, examines the new guidance and funding to promote educational attainment for looked-after children and those who have left care.
As concerns persist over children and young people's mental health and the ability of services to cope with rising demand, there are plenty of pockets of innovation and effective practice across the system.
With the Children and Social Work Act requiring councils to produce a "local offer" outlining services care leavers are entitled to, Joe Lepper investigates progress to improve outcomes for young people.
Young people in residential care will soon have the right to 'stay close' to their placement when they leave, helping smooth the transition to adulthood. Joe Lepper investigates how this is likely to work.
The NSPCC has analysed findings from hundreds of serious case reviews to assess key lessons for safeguarding practice. Here is a summary of the learnings on the practice of returning children home from care.