vulnerable children

Meeting the best interests of children facing homelessness

Draft guidance is presented. Local authorities’ duties to homeless people are set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by both the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003. Section 32(8) of the 1987 Act sets out that a local authority, in exercising its functions under section 31 or 32 in respect of an applicant having a priority need for housing by virtue of a dependent child residing with them, must have regard to the best interests of the dependent children.

Ensuring all disabled children and young people and their families receive services which are sufficiently differentiated to meet their diverse needs

This review sets out to investigate the evidence base for the provision of differentiated services to meet the diverse needs of disabled children and young people and their families. It focuses on children from BME (black and minority ethnic) communities, children with complex needs, children living away from home, and children from refugee and asylum-seeking families as instances of those who face the most challenges to adequate service delivery.

Support and Information for children affected by imprisonment

Key points from this briefing are presented. Every year in the UK, more children experience a parent’s imprisonment than a parent’s divorce. Prisoners’ children suffer from many problems as a result of the imprisonment. Talking to children and young people about imprisonment is not easy and is a significant source of stress for parents and carers. A number of resources are increasingly available to help explain imprisonment to children and to give children and young people the information they need.

Understanding Parents' Information Needs and Experiences where Professional Concerns about Non-Accidental Injury were Not Substantiated

This project explored parents’ experiences of situations where concerns of Non-Accidental Injury (NAI) were raised and how they remembered and reflected on these. It also investigated increasing the awareness of paediatricians and other health professionals of what is perceived as helpful or less helpful from the parents' perspective, and making suggestions for paediatric training to improve communication.

Introduction to the Integrated Assessment Framework. An interview with Professor Norma Baldwin.

This learning object provides an introduction to the assessment framework in which Norma Baldwin discusses the origins, nature and key features of the Integrated Assessment Framework. Norma currently teaches child care and protection at Dundee University's Faculty of Education and Social Work. Her extensive research into community development approaches to child protection has influenced policy development throughout the UK. Norma has also conducted developmental and evaluative work on services in a number of local authorities.