Dorset Council

Young people in Dorset leaving care will face less of a disadvantage, following approval by Dorset Council to make being care experienced a protected characteristic. A report at Dorset Council’s Cabinet meeting heard that the council, its elected members and employees are all corporate parents to Dorset’s children in care and care leavers. Councillor Byron… Read more ‘Being Care Experienced’ becomes a protected characteristic in Dorset

A message of hope for children and young people was the key theme delivered at a recent conference to professionals from Dorset Police, Dorset Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Health, NHS Dorset and other organisations who work with children in Dorset. Presentations centred around how young people in Dorset can be better protected… Read more Practitioners given insight into more hopeful safeguarding for children

Results of a recent survey show that the majority of children in care in Dorset feel their life has got better since coming into care. The ‘Bright Spots’ survey, which was commissioned by Dorset Council, was carried out by Coram Voice and asked the views of children and young people in care between the ages… Read more Bright Spots for Dorset Children in Care

  Plans have been unveiled which will make a difference to the lives of children, young people and families in Dorset over the next ten years. A partnership of local agencies from across Dorset has published its ambitious Children Young People and Families Plan which details the work that it will carry out to create… Read more Ambitious ten year plan for families is announced 

Dorset’s young people are being thanked for their hard work and commitment in the run up to this year’s exams. Students receive their A-level and Functional Skills, BTECs and Level 3 Qualifications results on Thursday 17 August, and GCSEs on 24 August. Cllr Byron Quayle, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early… Read more Students thanked for their hard work

Dorset Council has been recognised for its ground-breaking work with children and families and has been selected as one of three local authorities to be a pathfinder in the government’s new programme to ensure families are better supported.  Families First for Children is the name the government is using for its project to implement some… Read more Dorset selected for government pathfinder programme 

Parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (aged between 0 and 25 years old) are being asked to complete a survey to find out their experiences of education, health and care services and support over the last 12 months.  The results of the survey will help to decide… Read more Calling all parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families have benefited from the work of Dorset Council and its co-production partners over the past year, but they have also faced some challenges. The achievements of the work of Dorset Council, NHS Dorset and Dorset Parent Carer Council (DPCC) are available… Read more Dorset Council publishes SEND impact report highlighting success and challenges

On Saturday 20 May, Dorset Council’s fostering service hosted a group dog walk along Weymouth Esplanade to raise awareness of Dorset’s need for more foster carers. Dorset Council foster carers attended, alongside members of the fostering team, with many people bringing family members, children, and of course their beloved dogs. The walk started at Lodmoor… Read more Foster Carer walk to raise awareness

Have you considered fostering? If so, meet Jo. Jo has fostered with us for over two and a half years and has looked after over 20 children during this time, providing emergency, respite and day care placements for children and young people in Dorset. Meet Jo Jo Wheeler, aged 49, lives in North Dorset. She… Read more Foster Care Fortnight: Meet our foster carers

Councillors will consider a report on the annual progress made by Dorset Council Children’s Services at its Cabinet meeting on 28 March. The report details how the service regularly takes stock to ensure it continues to offer all children in Dorset every opportunity to thrive. Dorset Council’s Children’s Services were last inspected by Ofsted in… Read more Dorset’s Children’s Services publishes annual report on strengths and progress

Following the government announcement today of the next round of funding for Family Hubs, Dorset is set to launch its second hub at Wimborne later this month. Dorset was part of the first round of local authorities, announced by the government last May, who benefited from an award of £875,450 to set up Family Hubs… Read more Dorset Council announces second Family Hub

Foster care families in Dorset will benefit from even more support thanks to a partnership with The Fostering Network to deliver the global award-winning Mockingbird programme. Mockingbird delivers sustainable foster care. It is an evidence-based model structured around the support and relationships an extended family provides. The model nurtures the relationships between children, young people… Read more Internationally acclaimed programme supports Dorset foster families

Children in Dorset with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) will benefit from the approval of the second phase of Dorset Council’s ambitious multi-million pound investment plan to expand specialist provision across Dorset to achieve an additional 228 places. The plan, which was approved by a recent Cabinet meeting, prioritises the programme of projects at… Read more Support approved for Dorset’s children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities