children’s services tagged articles

Ofsted identifies “strengths” in Borough Council’s children’s services

Ofsted has identified strengths in Bedford Borough Council’s work helping children in care achieve stable, long-term homes while highlighting areas where further improvement is needed...

Bedford council cuts agency social worker numbers as permanent workforce grows

New figures show Bedford Borough Council reduced the number of agency social workers in children’s services from 50 to 31 in a year, while permanent staffing increased...

Yarl’s Wood age-dispute referrals place ‘significant pressure’ on Bedford children’s services

Age-disputed individuals referred from Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre have placed “significant operational and financial pressures” on Children’s Services, councillors will hear...

Improvement panel warns Bedford Borough Council over budget risks and delays in Children’s Services

Bedford Borough Council’s independent improvement panel has warned that slow progress in Children’s Services reforms and mounting savings pressures are raising “significant concerns” about...

Bedford council introduces AI tool to transcribe meetings and generate assessments

Bedford Borough Council says more than 300 staff are using an AI system to record meetings, transcribe conversations and generate assessment reports across Adults’ and Children’s Services...

Bedford Borough Council children’s services facing ‘higher demand than anticipated’

Bedford borough social workers are assessing more children than expected for an area of its size, councillors have been told. Bedford Borough Council’s Children’s Services Overview...

Bedford Borough Council’s overspend rises to £14 million as financial crisis deepens

Bedford Borough Council’s forecast overspend has risen to £14.3 million, as internal auditors warned that the forecast overspend exceeds available reserves. The figures were discussed...

Unregistered homes costing £11,800 a week as foster carer shortage continues across Bedford Borough

Bedford Borough Council is spending up to £11,800 a week on unregistered homes as a foster carer shortage continues. Children in Bedford Borough are being placed in unregistered...

Children’s Services in Bedford Borough under “significant pressure” with caseloads higher than national average

Bedford Borough Council’s children’s services remain under "significant pressure", with social workers handling far higher caseloads than the national average, according to a new...

Application made for new children’s care home in Kempston

A six-bedroom house in Kempston could soon become a care home for vulnerable children, under plans submitted to Bedford Borough Council. The application proposes a change of use from a private home...

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