IT was money that was meant to support vulnerable youngsters at a children’s home in Winchester. But Bronte Smith used it to buy designer clothes, underwear and a widescreen television.

At the Local Government Group annual conference last month, The MJ and iMPOWER gathered a group of chief executives, members and other senior local government officers together to ask them: ‘With the change in the landscape of children’s services, even more pronounced since the Baby P case, where do we go now with children’s social services?’

SOCIAL workers say they did not receive any tip-offs that the little girl was in any danger before she was admitted to hospital.

IF the public are asked to pay more for social care, then a simpler and fairer system is the least they should expect.

Concerns have been raised that government-imposed restrictions on charities marketing their activities will undermine work with children and young people.

The Department for Education (DfE) has moved to allay fears that a ban on the use of the phrase Every Child Matters in the new government signals a shift in policy for children and young people.

A social services boss spent £5,000 in a sex shop after plundering the bank accounts of vulnerable people in his care.

The Care Leavers’ Association has just published a new report entitled, Listen Up! Adult Care Leavers Speak Out, based on the experiences of adult care leavers.

The Children’s Society is calling for evidence from the sector of how fathers can be more practically engaged in their children’s upbringing, as part of its Fatherhood Commission.

Care home bosses who illegally employed immigrant workers on 90p an hour have been ordered to pay back almost £500,000.