WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH 2006

Social care pushed up political agenda
It looks like social care may well go to the ball. Ministers will pre-empt today’s Wanless report by announcing its own review of the provision and funding of social care, putting the issue at the heart of the government’s policy agenda.
Source:-  Society Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 2

Ministers seek urgent talks after a million workers join walkout
Ministers will today hold urgent talks with the trade union leaders responsible for yesterday’s mass walkout by up to a million public sector workers, amid fears of more industrial action timed to devastate the local elections on May 4.
Source:- The Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 6

Helpers for victims of violence
Battered women are to get special advisers to help them flee abusers and bring court cases, it was announced today. Based in 21 special domestic violence courts, they will give help and advice, guide victims through the court process and provide emergency shelter.
Source:-  The Daily Mirror, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 4

Pitch for post-Blair agenda
Means testing pensions ‘may deepen poverty trap.’
Source:- The Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 13

‘Failure’ sues schools for £500,000
A student who claims he failed at school because his dyslexia wasn’t spotted is suing education bosses for £500,000. Richard Smith, 27, argued that he was “grossly misplaced” by Hampshire Council for his education between eight and 15.
Source:-  The Daily Mirror, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 15

Peace of mind
Report on the controversial growth of a ‘therapy industry’ in Northern Ireland as people try to come to terms with the traumatic effects of 30 years of violent upheaval
Source:- Society Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 1

Growing pains
Where did it all go wrong for Louise? Once a cheeky, freckle-faced girl, she is now a prostitute addicted to crack cocaine – and is still only 23.
Source:- Society Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 3

Individual taste
The government’s chief adviser on children’s services has no time for “I love kids” soppiness. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t delighted with the chance to help ensure they get a good start in life.
Source:-  Society Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 5

Locked in conflict
Do changes to the mental health bill announced last week improve what was already on the table or is it merely a case of throwing away the good bits and keeping the bad?
Source:-  Society Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 6

Unwelcome development
Private companies are being given powers to regenerate our streets – and to police them. Is this the end of public space as we know it?
Source:-  Society Guardian, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 7

Online, but out of control
Councils have made real progress in making services available online, but a new report says most host websites need a radical overhaul before they can start delivering.
Source:-  Society Guardian, Epublic, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 1

Voluntary work – politicians told not to interfere
Politicians should stop regarding volunteers as a convenient way of providing cheap public services on the cheap and start to recognise and reward them for the vital work they do, one of Britain’s leading social care experts, Baroness Neuberger, has said.
Source:-  The Times, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 22

Father jailed
Ian Hunt, 26, of St Helens, Merseyside, who had admitted murdering his seven-week-old son Christian by choking him with a baby wipe to stop him crying, was jailed for life by Liverpool crown court and must serve at least 20 years.
Source:-  The Times, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 29

Treasury drive to improve procurement
A drive to improve procurement of complex projects across the public sector is being launched by the Treasury. It will encourage more experimentation with hiring “integrators” or private sector providers who can help to develop a project before it goes to market then run the competition to provide the service.
Source:- Financial Times, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 4

More pensioners will carry on working
Many pensioners will have to continue working part-time to make ends meet, according to research by financial products provider GE Life. Ten per cent of people who have officially retired already do some work to supplement their income but the figure is likely to double in the next five years.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 1

Job losses increase as NHS trusts cut spending
Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust announced hundreds of job losses in its plan to cut spending by £21.3 million in the new financial year.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 8

Council faces £50 million bill over sex bias
Cumbria Council faces an estimated bill of £50 million after losing a sex discrimination tribunal involving thousands of women. Almost 3,000 female employees brought a legal action claiming overtime and bonuses paid to male workers that they had been denied.
Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 9                         

Migration tensions warning by Straw as 2.6 million try to enter UK
Jack Straw has been forced to put immigration at the top of his agenda after revealing that the number of people trying to get into Britain will soar past three million in the next two years.
Source:- Daily Mail, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 2

The girls of 12 who grow up hating their natural shape
Three quarter of girls dislike some part of their body by the age of 12, a survey by skincare brand Dove has found.
Source:- Daily Mail, Wednesday 29 March 2006, page 7

Scottish news

Elderly on waiting lists for free care in nearly half of councils
Almost half of Scotland’s councils are operating waiting lists for elderly people needing free personal care, the executive has admitted.
Lewis Macdonald, the deputy health minister, said that 15 out of 32 councils had people waiting for free personal care services to be provided in a home or the community, while a further two had people waiting to be assessed to see if they qualified for care.
Shona Robison, the Scottish National Party’s health spokeswoman, said that in some parts of Dundee, people were not getting free personal care in nursing homes until they had been in residence for over 90 days.
Source:- The Scotsman, Wednesday 29 March 2006

Unmarried couples to win adoption rights
Unmarried and same sex couples will be able to foster and adopt children for the first time under planned reforms of children’s services in Scotland.  The Adoption Bill, published yesterday, has been drawn up in response to a falling number of places for vulnerable children. The legislation, which has yet to go through parliament, proposes to fill the shortfall by allowing more groups to adopt. There are also measures to make adoption easier and better to protect all the parties involved.
Source: The Scotsman, Wednesday 29 March 2006

3 years on – kids still put in B&Bs
Homeless children are still being placed in B&Bs three years after ministers pledged to end the practice.Last year, the number of children placed in B&Bs by councils peaked at 262. It has since dropped to 121 – 78 families – at the end of last year after new rules were brought in to discourage the practice. However, campaign groups and ministers agree B&Bs are not suitable for families, as they have nowhere to go during the day and end up walking the streets.
Source: – The Record, Wednesday 29 March 2006

Welsh news

More council strikes if today’s talks fail
Further local government strikes are on the horizon if talks break down, union leaders warned yesterday.
Paul O’Shea, secretary of Unison Wales said that the new strikes could be for longer than one day.
It has been estimate that up to 80, 000 workers went on strike in Wales yesterday.
Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday 29 March 2006

Extra £13 million for disadvantaged schools with underachieving pupils
Extra budget money will be used to try to drive up educational attainment amongst underachieving pupils it was announced yesterday.
The Assembly Government announced £13 million for the group which will now be split between councils.
Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday 29 March 2006

Ben made bid for freedom, jury told
A school boy who was found dead on a Swansea beach tried to run free from his attackers a court heard yesterday.
Andrew Rafferty, one of the three teenagers accused of his murder, said that he saw 17-year-old Ben try to escape while being punched on the beach by his two friends.
All three of the accused deny murdering Ben.
Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday 29 March 2006