Articles by Date : February 01 2002 - February 28 2002

Charity criticises child care strategy
The government's drive to end child poverty will fail if it relies on the targeted area-based initiatives contained in the National Childcare.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Review to follow assault conviction
Powys Area Child Protection Committee in Wales has ordered an independent investigation after a baby girl, who was removed from the social services.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Criminal records search delayed
The Criminal Records Bureau is due to "go live" this week, but the delay since its planned launch last July has already impacted on the operation.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Mind campaigns for choice of treatment
Mental health charity Mind has launched My Choice, a campaign aimed at increasing the level of choice available to mental health service users at.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Call for inquiry into inspectorate head
The Association of Directors of Social Work in Scotland has called for a full and immediate inquiry into allegations made against the head of the.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Commission staff to take new test
Inspectors for the National Care Standards Commission and the Care Standards Inspectorate of Wales will be required to undertake a newly-developed.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Authorities fail to help with uniforms
Nearly a third of local education authorities do not help families on low incomes with the costs of buying school uniforms, according to the Family.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Service users deterred by long waiting times and poor procedures
Drug misusers face numerous problems accessing treatment services and getting the help they need, claims a new report by the Audit Commission. more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Tribunal rules woman with disabled son should receive child care benefits
A woman who was told she could not receive child care benefit to help care for her disabled son has won her discrimination claim, writes Katie.... more
(27 February 2002 11:13)

New business code on access to services for disabled people
The Disability Rights Commission has launched a new code of practice to outline the duties providers of goods, facilities and services have to the.... more
(27 February 2002 11:27)

Voucher scheme to be scrapped early, home secretary announces
Home secretary David Blunkett has brought forward plans to abolish the asylum seeker voucher scheme from the autumn to April 8. more
(27 February 2002 11:42)

Needs of people with learning difficulties from ethnic minorities not recognised
Government initiatives are failing to recognise the needs of people with learning difficulties from ethnic minorities, according to Robina Shah,.... more
(27 February 2002 11:59)

Playing to the gallery
Juvenile justice has always been a political football. Politicians love to play fast and loose with the futures of young people who become involved.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

In whom we trust
Primary care trusts bring out mixed emotions in social care professionals: some fear it will mean a health service takeover, others believe they.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Acute alternative
The Mental Health Foundation is asking the government to help set up more community-based crisis intervention services as there is wide recognition.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Opportunity to change
Sara Kulay, author of a new Audit Commission report on services for drug misusers, outlines how the pieces are in place to improve co-ordination.... more
(28 February 2002 00:00)

Care homes fees dispute in Scotland could be over
The dispute over private care home fees could finally be over after local authorities found funds to add to a proposed increase by the Scottish.... more
(25 February 2002 12:23)

Care home staff fail to understand new standards
Care home staff may be focusing too much on the physical regulations of the new care standards at the expense of other aspects of care, according.... more
(25 February 2002 14:17)

Foster carers miss out on pensions
Foster care charity the Fostering Network is urging the government to end discrimination in the pension system, which leaves many foster carers.... more
(25 February 2002 15:22)

Telford social services head quits
The head of Telford and Wrekin social services has quit his post after an independent investigation into the department. more
(25 February 2002 16:44)

Citizen`s advice service takes strain of asylum seeker dispersal
Citizens advice bureaux claim they are providing services to asylum seekers that should be provided by the National Asylum Support Service, writes.... more
(26 February 2002 12:31)

Young people to be tagged, home secretary announces
Juveniles on bail awaiting trial will be electronically tagged, home secretary David Blunkett has announced, writes Jonathan Pearce. more
(26 February 2002 14:14)

New offer tabled to resolve Cafcass dispute
Self-employed children's guardians have been offered both employed and self-employed contracts by the Children and Family Court Advisory Service,.... more
(26 February 2002 14:33)

Care homes in Wales issue ultimatum over fees
A number of private care home owners in Wales have rejected fee increases proposed by local authorities, and have issued notices withdrawing from.... more
(26 February 2002 14:49)

Social inclusion schemes receive most of executive investment
Scotland’s 48 social inclusion partnerships are to receive most of a £120 million package from the Scottish executive to tackle poverty. more
(26 February 2002 15:23)

Early intervention prevents youth crime, conference told
Early intervention is essential to addressing the problem of youth crime, a leading police officer told delegates at a conference in London, writes.... more
(26 February 2002 15:30)

Charity warns 6,000 older people will lose out despite rule change
Age Concern claims around 6,000 older people will still lose out despite a change to benefits rules allowing people to claim benefits for the first.... more
(26 February 2002 16:03)

Mind campaign calls for more help from GPs
Mental health charity Mind has launched a new campaign aimed at increasing the level of choice available to mental health service users at primary.... more
(27 February 2002 10:40)

Work in progress
London can be a great place to live and work but there are many challenges and difficulties to overcome, says Anthony Douglas. more
(21 February 2002 09:14)

No quick fix
London has 25 per cent of the UK’s problematic drug users despite having 15 per cent of the nation’s population. more
(21 February 2002 09:17)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
Including headlines from Saturday and Sunday. By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(25 February 2002 09:29)

Fighting funds
HIV prevalence rose by 17 per cent last year in London, while services to help people with the virus are under threat. Natalie Valios reports. more
(21 February 2002 09:28)

Welcome to the London Focus
London has its share of problems, it’s true. more
(21 February 2002 09:34)

Situations vacant
The recruitment crisis shows no sign of abating, with many councils frequently battling vacancy rates of 50 per cent in some areas. more
(21 February 2002 09:36)

Alone and not home
Government needs to wake up to the fact that London bears the brunt of caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Anabel Unity Sale reports. more
(21 February 2002 09:47)

Children win right to free legal representation
Children now have the right to state-funded legal representation at children’s hearings following a change in the law. more
(25 February 2002 12:10)

Where does the buck stop?
Are senior figures appearing before the inquiry right in denying responsibility and pointing the finger at staff on or closer to the front line?.... more
(21 February 2002 15:58)

Social services budgets threatened by `remorseless` rise in looked after children
A ``remorseless`` rise in the numbers of looked after children is threatening to blow a hole in social services budgets it was claimed, writes.... more
(19 February 2002 16:28)

Cardiff staff consider industrial action
Unison in Cardiff is balloting members over industrial action following the sacking of a senior social worker, writes Alex Dobson. more
(22 February 2002 16:35)

Court of appeal overturns care order
Judges should not be constrained in their actions by the views of the local authority, according to the court of appeal on 14 January 2002. more
(22 February 2002 12:35)

Coalition presses government for free personal care for older people
A coalition of more than 20 national organisations has pressed the government to listen to the public and make personal care for older people free,.... more
(22 February 2002 16:54)

Delay in new system for criminal records checks hinders staff registration
The Criminal Records Bureau is due to ``go live``, but the delay since its planned launch last July has already impacted on the operation of the.... more
(22 February 2002 17:03)

Edinburgh threatens to pull out of asylum seeker dispersal scheme
Edinburgh council is threatening to withdraw from the national dispersal of asylum seekers programme claiming it has not been consulted by the home.... more
(22 February 2002 17:17)

Directors call for inquiry into allegations against inspectorate head
There should be an immediate and full inquiry into allegations made against the head of the Social Work Services Inspectorate, according to the.... more
(22 February 2002 17:23)

Solicitor points to unrealistic demands
Lisa Arthurworrey's legal representative warned the inquiry that the recruitment and retention problems blighting social services departments.... more
(21 February 2002 12:58)

NSPCC apologises for delay in referral
NSPCC chief executive Mary Marsh said the charity had never attempted to alter records or deceive the Climbie inquiry. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Communication and the Care of People with Dementia
By John Killick and Kate Allan. Open University Press £19. more
(21 February 2002 14:28)

Mixed Feelings: The Complex Lives of Mixed-Race Britons
By Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. A Women's Press £11. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

analysis of how chaos in local authority offices contributed to mishandling of Victoria Climbie`s case
The inquiry has revealed chaotic, busy and unsettling offices in Haringey, Ealing and Brent. But how much did this affect the handling of.... more
(21 February 2002 15:22)

analysis of how professions failed to communicate in Victoria Climbie case
As phase one of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry ended this week, a picture was emerging of professions that simply do not understand each other..... more
(21 February 2002 15:31)