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.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mx35h7zw4k2zPrivate companies still opening for-profit children’s homes in Wales, even though it is set to be illegal . https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/residents-object-proposals-turn-rhuddlan-3470656004 Oct 2026 19:34 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx35h7zw4k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mx33hsfw6k2zThousands of child-on-child sexual offences reported at schools in England and Wales https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/oct/04/child-on-child-sexual-abuse-schools-england-and-wales04 Oct 2026 18:58 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx33hsfw6k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mx335l44322zA mother whose toddler was removed from her care over a petty crime she committed 20 years ago has finally been reunited with her son after a months-long court battle. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-family-court-mother-recall-b3059215.html04 Oct 2026 18:53 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mx335l44322zhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwysyylfdc2oPortsmouth foster carer on her 40-year journey of helping young people, and why she is 'not stopping any time soon' https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/fostering-children-portsmouth-diane-gash-915993903 Oct 2026 21:22 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwysyylfdc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwyrfep3zs2oReport finds more Northampton children in care are returning to live with their families https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/report-finds-more-northampton-children-in-care-are-returning-to-live-with-their-families-924680303 Oct 2026 20:53 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwyrfep3zs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwyi7viajc23£12.6 million high needs overspend forecast for Isle of Wight children’s services https://onthewight.com/12-6-million-high-needs-overspend-forecast-for-isle-of-wight-childrens-services/03 Oct 2026 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwyi7viajc23https://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwvqwfaxvc25The Department for Education has updated guidance for local authorities supporting children who are cared for by extended family, friends or connected persons and their families. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kinship-care-guidance-for-local-authorities02 Oct 2026 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwvqwfaxvc25https://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwvid2mj622mSomerset children's home run by Aspris rated inadequate by Ofsted https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/26590931.somerset-childrens-home-rated-inadequate-ofsted/02 Oct 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwvid2mj622mhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwtj75q2ec2hHartlepool Council warns that the rising number of children entering the care system in the borough has created “unprecedented” financial challenges. https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/news/article/331/council-sets-out-growing-financial-challenge-and-calls-for-government-support01 Oct 2026 18:43 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwtj75q2ec2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwtitdsfc22hGovernment to send in expert after 'inadequate' Dudley children's services rating https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/government-send-expert-after-inadequate-3470111301 Oct 2026 18:36 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwtitdsfc22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwtiqavxl22hWhat does stability really mean for children in care? Insightful blog by Kristina Khoo-Rhodes @reescentre.bsky.social https://www.education.ox.ac.uk/rees-centre/news/what-does-stability-really-mean-for-children-in-care/01 Oct 2026 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwtiqavxl22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwr66urwvc22Government efforts to find thousands of new foster carers are falling short, according to this new evaluation of the Foster with North East Pathfinder Hub https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6aa8195b1a63d2d2be90460e/Evaluation_of_Foster_with_North_East_Pathfinder_Hub_year_3_report.pdf30 Sep 2026 20:21 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwr66urwvc22https://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwqxyi5g422rPrivate equity-backed children’s homes are ‘rinsing council budgets dry’, says Southport MP Patrick Hurley https://southport.thelead.uk/p/private-equity-backed-childrens-homes30 Sep 2026 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqxyi5g422rhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwqwwvggf22aUnconscionable statement by heads of children’s services: this is their mess, inflicting harm on the most vulnerable children https://www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news/more-children-would-be-placed-far-from-home-under-plan-to-penalise-councils-for-unregistered-home-use-says-adcs30 Sep 2026 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqwwvggf22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwqj2q5fyk26Striking feature of the Man City scandal is that the UK’s strident anti-foreigner mobs have been strangely quiet about an £800 million fraud driven by Middle Eastern investors to rig English football . https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/30/guardiola-backs-manchester-city-owners-over-guilty-verdicts30 Sep 2026 14:02 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqj2q5fyk26https://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwqfnr3zl22qScotland’s care reforms have yet to deliver consistent improvements in the lives of children, families and care-experienced adults, despite progress on legislation and services, a watchdog has warned. https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news/scottish-care-reforms-failing-to-reach-children-and-families-watchdog-warns30 Sep 2026 13:01 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqfnr3zl22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwqaikhxpk2aHealthy Babies programme to be expanded across England https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/30/healthy-babies-programme-to-be-expanded-across-england30 Sep 2026 11:29 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwqaikhxpk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwq4dhssl22aSixteen English councils spent more than 80% of their core funding on adult and children’s social care last year, highlighting the growing financial pressure on other local services. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/30/councils-core-spending-social-care-england30 Sep 2026 10:15 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwq4dhssl22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwoizecwtc2rAn improvement notice on Liverpool's children's services has been formally lifted by the government. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj93vrk5nzllo29 Sep 2026 18:56 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwoizecwtc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwohlqod2c2rVulnerable Devon children placed in ‘illegal’ care as costs continue to soar https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/26592458.devon-children-placed-unregistered-care-costs-soar/29 Sep 2026 18:31 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwohlqod2c2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwogx3c27k2zFoster families in Bradford offered funding to expand homes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq1j46p2g657o29 Sep 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwogx3c27k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwnu7ctc5227“Just like that, I lost my girls”: the mother who feels betrayed by the family courts https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/29/mother-feels-betrayed-family-courts-parental-alienation-england-wales29 Sep 2026 12:44 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwnu7ctc5227https://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwnljmnd2k27The latest Week in Care is out, rounding up the latest news and views about children’s services and the care of young people from the past seven days. Sign up for your free weekly email via weekincare@gmail.com29 Sep 2026 10:09 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwnljmnd2k27https://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwne2feacs2i“Get young people off benefits” is deliberate toxic framing. Why not say “we have a moral duty to create jobs for young people that pay a living wage”?29 Sep 2026 07:55 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwne2feacs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwjmxrvlgk2dHighly recommend: Derek Owusu: ‘Why did you foster us – why not other children, lighter in tone and burden, closer to those you had brought up?’ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/sep/27/apologies-wish-made-repent-past-bads-behaviour-six-writers27 Sep 2026 20:24 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwjmxrvlgk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwefidsb522tHillingdon Council strung along prospective foster mum for 2 years before rejection https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/hillingdon-council-strung-along-prospective-3466121325 Sep 2026 18:26 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwefidsb522thttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwe4nqmffs2tPolaris, the children’s homes and foster care company, increased pre-tax profits by 53% last year, from £18.1 million to £27.8 million. The business charged councils almost £270 million over 12 months.25 Sep 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwe4nqmffs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwdg5zk7wk2qAlways missing from the Neets debate is the fact that we have a record number of young people (18 to 24), a consequence of a mini baby boom during the Blair. But this is already in reverse (hence high number of school closures across England ). https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/25/britain-unemployed-young-people-labour-plans-alan-milburn25 Sep 2026 09:06 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwdg5zk7wk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwd6ahjh6s2qNHS bodies in England impose two-year minimum wait for ADHD and autism https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/24/nhs-integrated-care-boards-england-two-year-waiting-times-adhd-autism-assessments25 Sep 2026 06:44 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwd6ahjh6s2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/martinbarrow.bsky.social/post/3mwd5rud42k2qThis children’s home in Kent, run by the private company Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd, has been judged inadequate. So many failings, but what sticks in in my mind is that one child had still not been supported to unpack two months after moving in. https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/2/1250521?utm_source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=report25 Sep 2026 06:36 +0000at://did:plc:2mringp5jkdqbeb6hczbtrcs/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwd5rud42k2q