Category: Children and Young People
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New National Standards for Children’s and Young People’s Advocacy Services
On 13 October 2026, the Department for Education published updated National Standards for the Provision of Children’s and Young People’s Advocacy Services in England. The publication provides an important opportunity for organisations and professionals working with children and young people to reflect on how effectively they promote children’s rights, support…
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November & December 2026 Live Online Training Calendar: Strengthening Practice, Confidence and Compliance
Social Care Skills is pleased to announce its November and December 2026 Live Online Training Programme, bringing together a range of practical, CPD-focused learning opportunities for professionals working across Children’s Homes, Supported Accommodation, Fostering Services and wider children’s social care. As we approach the end of 2026, this is an…
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We’re Turning THREE on the SIXTH! 🎉
Social Care Skills turns THREE on 6 October! To celebrate, we’re marking our third anniversary from the THIRD to the SIXTH with 20% off eligible upcoming training courses using code SCSKILLS3.
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Bring Social Care Skills Training Directly to Your Team
Social Care Skills courses can be delivered directly to your team, in person or via Microsoft Teams. Choose an existing CPD accredited course, have it adapted to your service, or ask us to develop something new.
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New Information Sharing Duty: What Changes from 30 September 2026?
Effective safeguarding depends on the right information reaching the right people at the right time. With a new statutory Information Sharing Duty coming into force on 30 September, we look at what this means for everyday safeguarding practice and the questions children’s social care providers should be asking now.
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October Training Programme: New Courses, Practical Learning and Professional Development
Our October Training Programme is now available, bringing together seven seminars covering direct practice, care planning, safeguarding, regulation, inspection, cultural competency and the experiences of children and young people. In October, Social Care Skills is also introducing several new courses, expanding our programme into areas of practice that are highly…
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Leaving Care: Independence Must Not Mean Being Alone
A new Children’s Social Care Blog post has highlighted a difficult but important issue for everyone supporting young people in and leaving care: the transition towards independence can also become a transition into loneliness and isolation. Published on 25 August 2026, Tackling the loneliness of leaving care is written by…
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New Ofsted & DfE Research: Preventing Young People from Becoming Disengaged from Education, Employment and Training
Ofsted has published the terms of reference for a new research study, jointly funded with the Department for Education, looking at what works in preventing young people aged 16–18 from becoming disengaged from education, employment and training. An important starting point for the research is that disengagement can begin before…
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Ofsted Updates its Social Care Enforcement Policy
Ofsted has updated its Social Care Enforcement Policy, setting out how the regulator will use its enforcement powers when concerns arise about registered children’s social care services or where services are operating without the required registration. The policy was updated today, 20 August 2026, and applies across regulated children’s social…
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Summer Without School: Supporting Children and Young People in Care Through the Holidays
When school stops for six weeks, much of that structure disappears. At the same time, summer can bring changes within the home or service itself. Staff take annual leave. Rotas change. Familiar workers may be away. Activities and holidays are planned. Family contact arrangements may change. And young people are…