Parents in the UK have been warned against putting images of their children on public display online amid growing fears about AI child sexual abuse. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) issued an alert and guidance for parents and carers earlier this month to make them aware of the...
Record number of children receiving support for SEND
The latest figures reveal that the number of children receiving support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England has reached a new record high. Records show that, between January 2025 and January 2026, the number of children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) rose sharply – by 12.5%. This is...
NSPCC warns about leaving children home alone ahead of summer holidays
The NSPCC says it has seen an increase in reports about children being left home alone. The national children’s charity says that contacts to its Helpline from adults concerned about children being left home alone or unsupervised increased by 11% over the last financial year, with concerns peaking during the school summer holidays. The...
10% rise in child protection concerns in sport
The NSPCC has reported a 10% rise in child protection concerns in sports. The national children’s charity said its confidential Helpline dealt with nearly 700 contacts from adults who had child protection concerns relating to children and young people taking part in sporting activities in 2025-26. This represented a 10% increase on the previous...
FRT delivers Oliver’s Training to over 100,000 learners
A leading national training provider has reached a major milestone in their delivery of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. First Response Training (FRT), which was one of the first training providers in the UK to gain approval to rollout this mandatory programme, has now successfully delivered Oliver’s Training to...
Working lives study reveals ‘widely distributed issues and harms’
The landmark Working lives research study has revealed “widely distributed issues and harms” affecting the national workforce. The independent research project was first commissioned in 2022 by the former Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement (ODLME) to review labour market compliance in relation to minimum wage enforcement, employment agency standards, gangmaster licensing...
First Response Training staff walk over 1 million steps for autism
First Response Training (FRT) have raised over £1,400 and clocked up over 1 million steps to raise awareness of autism and fund vital research and support. The leading national training provider, which delivers a range of training on autism, neurodiversity and learning disabilities, supported the annual Walk for Autism fundraising challenge which encourages participants...
First Response Training returns to deliver ‘engaging and accessible’ training for local community group
National training provider First Response Training has delivered another “enjoyable, engaging and accessible” first aid training session for The Monday Night Club. The leading provider first delivered a free first aid training session for members of the Worcester-based social club run by and for adults with a learning disability and autistic people in May...
New Health Bill promises ‘safer and faster care’
The government has pledged that its new Health Bill will deliver ‘safer, quicker and more accurate healthcare’. A press release from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England explains that the NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce two major changes to join up fragmented health information and cut bureaucracy. The first...
Skills for Care refreshes Leadership Qualities Framework
Skills for Care have published a refreshed version of their Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) to support great leadership in the adult social care sector. The updated framework defines the behaviours, skills and mindsets that define great leadership in adult social care. Importantly, it is aligned to the Care Workforce Pathway and so is designed...
Skills for Care launches new practical approaches toolkits for care
Skills for Care have launched new ‘Practical approaches toolkits’ to help support leaders and commissioners in adult social care. The workforce development charity has developed the suite of practical approaches toolkits to provide leaders and commissioners in adult social care with guidance, tools and resources to support them to adopt proven workforce models and...
Take action this Mental Health Awareness Week
Take action to support positive mental health and wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 is being observed in the UK from 11th – 17th May, and the Mental Health Foundation is calling for people to come together to take powerful action to support good mental health. Action is the...
Celebrate autism and promote neuroinclusivity for World Autism Day
Thursday 2nd April is World Autism Day 2026; a day to celebrate the strengths of autistic people and promote neuroinclusivity across health, education, workplace, sports and all sectors of society. Acting as a kick off point for World Autism Acceptance Month, and backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Autism Day unites families...
No Need for Needles
Discover how needle-free blood testing is transforming healthcare accessibility. No Need for Needles: Inclusive Healthcare explores innovative technologies like Touch Activated Phlebotomy (TAP) and how they are removing barriers for neurodivergent individuals and those with needle phobia. This practical resource highlights the benefits, challenges, and future potential of painless, inclusive diagnostics, supporting better patient...
CQC publishes research on good practice in dementia care
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a research report on good practice in dementia care. Commissioned as part of the care watchdog’s dementia strategy, the good practice in health and social care services when caring for people living with a type of dementia review was conducted by IFF Research in partnership with Leeds...