Children

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a multi-million-pound fund that it says will give mothers and babies from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) or poorer backgrounds the best chance at a healthy start in life.

Referrals of suspected child victims of modern slavery made by councils in England have soared by 1,400% in five years, putting children’s services under increasing and significant pressure, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.