Articles by Date : January 01 2008 - January 31 2008

Assessing mental capacity
Each week the Social Care Institute for Excellence analyses research findings behind specific social work practices more
(16 January 2008 16:16)

Practitioners' messages
Questions for practitioners to ask when assessing mental capacity more
(16 January 2008 16:10)

Josh Harris, autism and the ambition to become a rabbi
Andrew Mikel talks to Josh Harris about his autism, his struggle to be educated and his eventual placement in a Jewish religious school more
(16 January 2008 16:00)

'People with a similar level of need to Steven Hoskin would not receive services now'
A practitioner who knew Steven Hoskin says people with a similar need would not recieve a council service now Cornwall's eligibility criteria are set.... more
(16 January 2008 15:41)

Government launches short-break services for disabled children
The government has selected 21 local authorities to kick-off the first wave of short-break services, over the next three years, for families with.... more
(15 January 2008 11:11)

Learning disabilities: Valuing People Now and Community Care's A Life Like Any Other campaign
As the government commits to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, Mike Broad examines the plans and role played by Community.... more
(16 January 2008 12:55)

Editorial Comment: Merger upsets inspectors
The new year has not brought new priorities. Gordon Brown has lost no time in saying how committed the government is to modernising the NHS. He's.... more
(16 January 2008 00:00)

Watchdog plan endangers mental health safeguards
Lord Patel echoes fears of other inspection leaders over new commission more
(16 January 2008 11:13)

More risk-taking in public services urged by minister
Other headlines today include: In Ruins: The Ujima housing association, Choose a care home by stopping off for dinner, Schools offered cash to.... more
(16 January 2008 00:00)

Editorial Comment: Mystery of the happy staff
The social care workforce never ceases to amaze. A new survey by Skills for Care reveals that, despite low pay and high levels of abuse, the vast.... more
(17 January 2008 00:00)

Every Disabled Child Matters urges councils to prioritise group
The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign is calling on councils to include an indicator on disabled children in their local area agreements. more
(14 January 2008 18:32)

Hammersmith and Fulham accused of failing custody leaver
Hammersmith and Fulham council allegedly failed to support a pregnant 17-year-old leaving custody, the House of Lords heard today. more
(14 January 2008 18:42)

Social care staff in England love work, Skills for Care survey finds
Nine out of ten social care workers in England are happy in their jobs, according to the largest national survey of the workforce published today. more
(14 January 2008 16:02)

BBC launches care calculator
A BBC campaign has highlighted the state of caring in the UK by introducing a groundbreaking online “care calculator”. more
(14 January 2008 12:04)

Inquest begins into prison death of 19-year-old woman
An inquest into the death of a young woman who died in custody five years ago begins today. more
(14 January 2008 09:42)

Watford footballer facing deportation is saved in extra time
For this and more stories from today's national newspapers read on... more
(15 January 2008 10:47)

Unison, GMB and Unite bid for 6% pay hike for council staff
Unison, GMB and TGWU-Unite are bidding for pay rises of at least 6% for more than one million council workers across England, Wales and Northern.... more
(15 January 2008 10:30)

Editorial Comment: Make social work greener
It may not have felt like it last week, but Met Office figures confirm the UK is getting warmer. more
(10 January 2008 09:30)

Parenting TV shows 'may harm children'
Read on for the key social care headlines from today's papers more
(14 January 2008 10:40)

How eco-town plans could see community social work back in fashion
The government plan to build 10 "eco-towns" offers opportunities for a revival of community social work, writes Mark Ivory more
(14 January 2008 08:43)

How Anderida Adolescent Care has become more eco-friendly
A green agenda is being implemented in residential care units for young people on the Sussex coast. Nina Jacobs reports on the benefits more
(14 January 2008 08:42)

Liverpool secure children's home to close after funding stand-off
A Secure Children’s Home in Liverpool will close in March over a £1m funding issue between Liverpool City Council, the Youth Justice Board, and.... more
(11 January 2008 14:50)

Answers to Christmas quiz
Answers to Christmas quiz 1b 10 years 2c 1983 3a Care Matters: Time For Change 4a Getting it Right for Every Child in Kinship and Foster.... more
(11 January 2008 14:07)

Birmingham Council staff rally to protest at pay plans
Birmingham City Council staff are taking to the streets again this weekend to protest at plans to change their pay and conditions. more
(11 January 2008 12:27)

Losers outnumber winners in drug treatment budget shuffle
Changes in the funding formula for drug and alcohol services will lead to a 30% budget cut for some drug action teams over the next four years, the.... more
(11 January 2008 12:12)

Independent Living Fund cuts access to cash as applications rise
Independent Living Fund money may only be available to disabled people who claim specific benefits or work 16-plus hours a week, under changes to.... more
(09 January 2008 11:19)

Werrington YOI cleared in strip search child protection probe
A Staffordshire Council child protection probe has found that Werrington Young Offender Institution's use of strip searching is lawful, after it was.... more
(11 January 2008 10:13)

Safe refuges to stop child runaways sleeping rough
Other stories include 'Abuse of cannabis puts 500 a week in hospital' more
(11 January 2008 00:00)

Social Exclusion Task Force puts onus on families not individuals
Local services will be encouraged to support adults within the context of family units, rather than as individuals, in a new £16m approach launched.... more
(11 January 2008 09:53)

GSCC: Social workers need code on sexual boundaries
The General Social Care Council is keen to develop codes of practice on sexual boundaries for social care staff, which has proved a recurring issue.... more
(11 January 2008 09:47)

Ombudsman: Trafford refuses full compensation for care failure
The local government ombudsman has told Trafford Council to think again today after it offered only a fraction of the recommended compensation to the.... more
(11 January 2008 08:55)

Young runaways: minister Kevin Brennan launches prevention bid
Minister for children Kevin Brennan today (10 January 2008) unveiled a new cross-government working group to look at what can be done to reduce the.... more
(10 January 2008 15:34)

Research abstracts: the mental health of children in care
Title: Intensive care Author:  Terry Philpot Reference: Young Minds Magazine, No. 86, January/February 2007, pp20-21 Abstract The author.... more
(10 January 2008 12:47)

Lords criticise GP-style social work practices
Liberal Democrat and crossbench peers have raised concerns about plans to pilot GP-style practices to provide social work services to looked-after.... more
(10 January 2008 10:50)

Care Quality Commission: more social care input demanded
Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission and Mental Health Act Commission leaders have raised significant concerns about.... more
(10 January 2008 10:35)

Drug aids Alzheimer patients 'in minutes'
Other headlines today include: Drug rationing essential for health service, MPs say; Teenager found dead in river was beaten at home, inquest told;.... more
(10 January 2008 10:14)

How sustainable schools are meeting the Every Child Matters agenda
Defying the UK's reputation for nurturing a nation of unhappy children, sustainable schools are meeting key outcomes in the Every Child Matters.... more
(10 January 2008 09:36)

Tips for going green at work and at home
Few of us have the power to change the world but all of us can give it a longer lease of life. Opening our series of articles on.... more
(10 January 2008 09:34)

Greenwich Youth Inclusion Project plants the seeds for a greener future
An environmental scheme on a deprived estate in south east London is helping disadvantaged young people improve their surroundings. Emma Parsons.... more
(10 January 2008 09:32)

Going Green
The start of a new year is as good a time as any to think about cleaning up your life. But this is no reference to fad diets or gym memberships. This.... more
(10 January 2008 09:22)

Foster children's emotional needs: SCIE reviews the research
Each week the Social Care Institute for Excellence analyses research findings behind specific social work practices more
(10 January 2008 00:00)

Practitioners' Messages
Related article: Foster children's emotional needs: SCIE reviews the research more
(09 January 2008 21:16)

Sustainable living: Chris Martin's goes green for a day at work
Chris Martin made only small adjustments to his working day in order to make a sizeable contribution to a more sustainable lifestyle. Here's how it.... more
(09 January 2008 21:01)

A sustainable community on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight has ambitious plans to improve the well-being of children and families in one of its most deprived wards by building a sustainable.... more
(09 January 2008 17:05)

Social skirmishes
Rosie Warlock, a senior practitioner in children's social services, tells us what's on her mind in her weekly column more
(10 January 2008 00:00)

GSCC has referred only one social worker to the CSCI
The General Social Care Council has only ever referred one social worker, who is a care manager, to the Commission for Social Care Inspection,.... more
(08 January 2008 16:28)

Extra Care and older people: Jill Manthorpe reviews two pieces of research
Jill Manthorpe examines research into extra-care housing for older people and the role of remodelling accommodation more
(09 January 2008 15:49)

Practice implications
Relates to article "Extra-care and older people" issue dated 10 January more
(06 January 2008 15:42)

Holidays and carbon footprints: our lust for foreign travel should be quelled
Worried about your carbon footprint when taking a break? Richard Hammond takes a metaphorical flight in the direction of some carbon neutral.... more
(09 January 2008 15:29)

Diary - A lighter take on the week
A social worker in an adults community team writes... more
(10 January 2008 00:00)