Research and analysis

Children’s services omnibus

A summary of responses from senior leaders in local authorities to questions asked in waves 1 to 6 of the children’s services omnibus survey.

Applies to England

Documents

Children’s services omnibus: wave 1

Children’s services omnibus: wave 2

Children’s services omnibus: wave 3

Children’s services omnibus: wave 4

Children’s services omnibus: wave 5

Children’s services omnibus: wave 6

Details

Topics covered in wave 1 of the children’s services omnibus survey include:

  • understanding demand for children’s social care services
  • support for adopters and special guardians
  • monitoring of the early years and childcare workforce
  • assessment of the sufficiency of childcare places
  • systems for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Topics covered in wave 2 include:

  • reducing demand for children’s social care services
  • assessment of mental health needs
  • care orders, supervision orders and special guardianship orders
  • early years entitlement and early years workforce training
  • business sustainability support to childcare providers
  • challenges when providing special educational needs services

Topics covered in wave 3 include:

  • social worker workforce
  • multi-agency arrangements
  • sufficiency of care/adoption placements
  • early years home learning environment and parenting programmes
  • recruitment of early years staff
  • development of education, health and care plans
  • short breaks for disabled children and their families

Topics covered in wave 4 include:

  • using independent schools for looked-after children
  • child protection and children in need
  • personal advisers for those leaving care
  • multi-agency arrangements
  • early education entitlements
  • monitoring special educational needs services

Topics covered in wave 5 include:

  • social care workforce
  • implementation of the 2014 SEND reforms
  • early years pupil premium
  • use of children’s social care data
  • home learning environment
  • local authority leadership

Topics covered in wave 6 include:

  • social worker workforce
  • challenges in children’s social care
  • sufficiency of care and adoption placements
  • ensuring sufficient SEN provision
  • preparation for adulthood

Updates to this page

Published 3 August 2017
Last updated 15 December 2022 + show all updates
  1. The Wave 6 report has been added.

  2. Added Wave 5 report.

  3. Added the Wave 4 report.

  4. Added wave 3 research report.

  5. Added the wave 2 document.

  6. First published.

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