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martinbarrow.bsky.social
@martinbarrow.bsky.social
3.3K followers 880 following 1.7K posts
Local authority foster carer, journalist. Sharing news and views about the care system, children and young people. Subscribe to my weekly bulletin via weekincare@gmail.com
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martinbarrow.bsky.social
martinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 2d
The latest Week in Care is out, rounding up news and views about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Sign up for this free service via weekincare@gmail.com
martinbarrow.bsky.social
MacAlister pledges action on out-of-area placements as data shows children placed further from home

www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/18/m...
Josh MacAlister pledges action on out-of-area care placements - Community Care
Minister Josh MacAlister says forthcoming plan to 'improve and expand fostering' will cut numbers placed away from their communities
www.communitycare.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Children in care who lash out may no longer face automatic arrest under UK review

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Children in care who lash out may no longer face automatic arrest under UK review
Plan aims to restrict ‘over-policing’ of looked-after young people and ensure challenging behaviour is met with support rather than criminalisation
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Training hub teaches care leavers practical skills

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Training hub in Nottingham teaches care leavers practical skills
Courses are being trialled in a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
A 12-year-old girl who was suffering acute psychosis died in hospital less than a month after being detained under the Mental Health Act, an inquest has heard.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Girl, 12, died after being sectioned, Sheffield inquest told
Mia Lucas was found unresponsive at Sheffield Children's Hospital in January 2024, a jury is told.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Number of children in care in Northern Ireland reaches record high with more than 100 in ‘inappropriate’ placements

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/...
Number of children in care in NI reaches record high with more than 100 in ‘inappropriate’ placements
New figures that reveal how more than 100 young people in care in Northern Ireland are without an appropriate placement for their needs are “alarming”, an MLA has said.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:23 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Thousands of children are being taken into care and sent to live great distances from their families and communities, according to today’s government data.

explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statist...
Children looked after: A focus on placement location, Reporting year 2024
Analysis of Children Looked After (CLA) in England by location of their placement and distance from home (out of area placements), including trends over time.
explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted
paulbernal.bsky.social
What the Labour Party used to understand was that it wasn’t that immigration was tearing the country apart, but that immigration was what was holding the country together. Immigration kept our NHS going, our transport system going, our education and much more.

It’s still true. They must know it.
November 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Reposted
martinbarrow.bsky.social
The latest Week in Care is out, rounding up news and views about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Sign up for this free service via weekincare@gmail.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Vote Labour, get Reform/BNP

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Shabhana Mahmood announces big changes to 'unfair' asylum system
Under the plans, refugee status will become temporary and new capped "safe and legal routes" into the UK will be created.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:34 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
The latest Week in Care is out, rounding up news and views about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Sign up for this free service via weekincare@gmail.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Abysmal care of children at this children’s home run by the private company Young Foundations Limited in Calderdale. Seven children live here.

reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/2/1...
November 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted
eduardosuarez.bsky.social
Para mí el hilo del mes
bsky.app/profile/kiko...
kikollan.llaneras.es Kiko Llaneras @kikollan.llaneras.es · 11d
📈 Los jóvenes españoles giran a la derecha.

Es un vuelco histórico: nunca en 40 años se habían ubicado tan a la derecha. Nunca habían sido el grupo más de derechas.

Hasta ahora. Hilo 👇
November 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Child 'left to fend for themselves' as paid carers 'locked themselves away in attic'

www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-countr...
Child 'left to fend for self' as paid carers 'locked themselves away'
A new report has revealed that there are staffing problems and a lack of collaboration between agencies providing children's services in Dudley borough
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Reposted
sundersays.bsky.social
The clearest proof that the UK is *not* the destination of choice for asylum seekers comes from the Home Office data showing the UK is not the destination of choice for asylum seekers
November 14, 2025 at 7:41 AM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
At 15, Chereece Bateson was missing almost every day while living in care. Now 24, she’s helping to build a new service designed to stop other children from falling through the cracks

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
‘I lived in a toxic household – I went missing 27 times in a month’
At 15, Chereece Bateson was missing almost every day while living in care. Now 24, she tells Tara Cobham why she’s helping to build a new service designed to stop other children from falling through t...
www.independent.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
The special educational needs and disabilities system for children in England faces "total collapse"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Special needs support in England faces 'total collapse', councils warn
The government is facing political pressure as it tries to reform the
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:18 AM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Sara Sharif -what we now know from the Safeguarding Review. Via @seethrujustice.transparencyproject.org.uk

transparencyproject.org.uk/sara-sharif-...
Sara Sharif -what we now know from the Safeguarding Review
Chris Barnes represented the journalists, Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers, in proceedings before the High Court and Court of Appeal arising from applications f
transparencyproject.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 10:37 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Cornwall Council offered suppliers £6 million to staff illegal children’s homes. Shocking investigation by @tbij.bsky.social

www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Cornwall council offered suppliers £6m to staff illegal children’s…
Regulators intervene after UK local authority accused of normalising unlawful placements
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:50 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
How broken is the children’s homes ‘market’? Prosperity Children’s Services Ltd already operates seven Ofsted-registered children’s homes in Lancashire, but has never cared for a Lancashire child.

www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/2561798...
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Council staff visited wrong address day before Sara Sharif’s murder, review finds

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Council staff visited wrong address day before Sara Sharif’s murder, review finds
Education secretary says report highlights ‘glaring failures and missed opportunities’ by various agencies
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 AM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
It is always frustrating when media describe foster care allowances as ‘pay’, akin to wages or salaries

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Foster carers in Worcestershire awarded pay rises of up to 7%
The decision was made by Reform councillor Justin Bowen, who spent time in respite foster care as a child.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:24 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Council pays £289k for teen's 17-week placement

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Council pays 'astronomical' £289k for teen's 17-week placement
Liverpool Family Court heard local authorities are
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:20 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years
More than third of profits analysed went to firms owned by private equity or based in tax havens, research finds
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
A charitable trust has set out plans to buy 20 properties near to its schools to help vulnerable pupils and their families.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oasis Charitable Trust to offer 20 homes for vulnerable pupils
The trust hopes the scheme will improve education outcomes for pupils in Sheffield and Scunthorpe.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:16 PM
martinbarrow.bsky.social
For all the faux outrage about Bob Vylan, he is still deemed to merit a regular First Night review in The Times
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM