Articles by Date : February 01 2002 - February 28 2002

Charity warns government about flaws in child poverty 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
(21 February 2002 15:50)

Mental health services for older people patchy, report finds
Older people's charities have welcomed a report criticising mental health services for older people but called for further steps to be taken,.... more
(21 February 2002 16:11)

Housing associations evict more tenants than councils
Housing associations in Scotland are now evicting at twice the rate of local authorities, according to Shelter Scotland. more
(21 February 2002 16:50)

First minister gives Glasgow transfer the go ahead
First minister Jack McConnell has given formal permission for Glasgow council to ballot tenants on the controversial proposal to transfer the its.... more
(21 February 2002 16:55)

New support offered to children with special needs
Children with special needs and their families are set to benefit from a new integrated approach to support services and assessment of their needs.... more
(21 February 2002 16:57)

A summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(22 February 2002 09:33)

Open to the public
How far will the Freedom of Information Act open up local authorities and other bodies to public scrutiny? Human rights solicitor Bernadette.... more
(21 February 2002 12:51)

Research into practice
Gaynor Wingham looks at recent research in Scotland that offers fresh insight into the violent behaviour of some teenage girls. more
(21 February 2002 13:00)

Forging a new identity
Maxine Vernon reports on how the winner of the Community Care Awards 2001 disability category is encouraging disabled people to acquire new skills.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Contact in Adoption
Catholic Children's Society, contact 7 Colwick Road, Nottingham, NG2 5FR; 0115 955 8811; e-mail project@ccsnotts.co.uk ; £65 plus p&p. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(21 February 2002 09:44)

analysis of the 12 missed opportunities in Victoria Climbie's case
Neil Garnham QC highlighted 12 missed opportunities to protect Victoria Climbie in his closing evidence to the Laming inquiry this week. more
(21 February 2002 15:02)

Professions need to work together
Catherine Watkins hopes that the Laming inquiry will give a balanced view on the involvement of all professionals The inquiry into the death.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

No evidence on restraint
As someone who moved into the private sector after being employed by a local authority in residential child care for 25 years, I am surprised at.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

This week's writer is a part-time activities organiser in a local authority residential home.
Sunday   The fact that a gorgeous actor from Neighbours stars in the leading role of our local pantomime means there is no shortage of helpers for.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

All are responsible
For Melissa Benn responsibility for the death of children who have suffered abuse should be shared more widely as we cannot expect professionals in.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Memories kept on file
Growing up in care means childhood memories are kept on files - and are difficult to obtain, writes Anna Young. So now we have a Freedom of.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Narrow, restrictive and reactive
In the first of a series of articles on the future of child protection, Nigel Parton argues that the child protection system needs to incorporate a.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

An epidemic of crude propaganda
Yvonne Roberts says government information on the MMR vaccine has been "partial in the extreme". more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Appeal for help in Thames torso case
Police are appealing to social care professionals for any information relating to the murder of a young boy whose torso was found in the River.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Government to spend £15m more on training of social care staff
The government has announced an extra £15m for the training and development of 26,500 social care staff as part of a drive to help the sector.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Fire fails to change deportation policy
The Home Office is to press ahead with plans to deport 2,500 failed asylum seekers per month by next March despite last week's fire and riot at its.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Misjudgements to blame, says Brent
Underspending on children's services in Brent did not contribute specifically to the failures in the handling of Victoria's case, according to the.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Baptiste's solicitor says blame doctors
Failures by doctors, who treated Victoria, to pass on key information to social services led team manager Carole Baptiste to send the.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Standards will lead to cuts, says council
Lancashire Council is proposing to cut its residential care homes from 48 to 13 because it cannot afford to implement the new care standards. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Scottish research to break new ground
The first study of its kind into forced marriages and domestic abuse among ethnic minority groups is to be carried out in Glasgow. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Farmers offer to cure bed-blocking
Shropshire social services has rejected a proposal that bed and breakfast accommodation on farms could be used to ease bed-blocking. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

MPs criticise charity for Welsh closures
The Children's Society's reasons for withdrawing from Wales are "unpersuasive in the extreme", according to a report by the Welsh Affairs Select.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Victoria's parents consider legal action as Haringey lawyer attacks inquiry
The parents of Victoria Climbie are considering legal action against individuals and agencies involved in Victoria's care, their solicitor Imran.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Budgets threatened by increased spending on looked-after children
A "remorseless" rise in the number of looked-after children is threatening social services budgets, it was claimed this week. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Route to inclusion
To alleviate social exclusion, support services need to be developed to help draw refugees into work and the use of mainstream services. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Slow progress
Services for frail older people are patchy and disjointed according to a report by district auditors Fred Andrews, Paul Burdon and Kevin Huggins.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Was race an issue?
Overt racism in the handling of Victoria Climbie's case was ruled out at the beginning of the inquiry. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Solicitor points to unrealistic demands
Solicitor points to unrealistic demands Lisa Arthurworrey's legal representative warned the inquiry that the recruitment and retention.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Does inquiry show need for agency?
This week's question asks: In light of the evidence from the Victoria Climbie inquiry do you think a new child protection agency should be.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Plea for more cash for court service
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service needs a "significant increase" in resources to ensure the efficient operation of the.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

One in eight over-75s in acute beds could be 'more appropriately' placed
Social services chief inspector Denise Platt admitted last week that one in eight of people aged over-75 in hospital should not be there. more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

Mencap greets MP's bid to end detention
Learning difficulties charity Mencap welcomed a 10-minute rule bill introduced in the House of Commons by Helen Clark, Labour MP for Peterborough,.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg Mckay and Alex Dobson. more
(19 February 2002 09:48)

Man charged with killing two teenagers in care
A man has been charged with killing two teenagers in care on the Isle of Man. more
(19 February 2002 10:41)

Failures by doctors led to Baptiste decision, Climbie inquiry told
Failures by doctors who treated Victoria Climbie to pass on key information to social services led team manager Carole Baptiste to send the.... more
(19 February 2002 14:20)

Other agencies tried to `shield behind` Arthurworrey
Lisa Arthurworrey's solicitor said other agencies tried to `shield behind her back` as the Victoria Climbie inquiry investigated the mishandling of.... more
(19 February 2002 15:50)

Physical health of people with mental health problems needs more attention
The physical health of people with mental health problems needs to be given more attention, according to a report from the National Schizophrenia.... more
(20 February 2002 17:10)

Victoria Climbie`s parents consider legal action
The parents of Victoria Climbie are considering legal action against individuals and agencies who were involved in the eight-year-old's care, their.... more
(19 February 2002 17:12)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(20 February 2002 09:47)

Police officer denies delays led to Victoria Climbie`s death
The child protection police officer at the centre of the Victoria Climbie inquiry was right not to order a second medical examination of Victoria.... more
(20 February 2002 10:14)

Laming blames late evidence for inquiry delays
Chairperson of the Victoria Climbie inquiry Lord Laming said the inquiry had ``reached a milestone`` in the work it had been charged with, writes.... more
(20 February 2002 10:37)

Have your say
Responsibility for the errors made by professionals in handling the Victoria Climbie case is the subject of this week's Have your say. more
(20 February 2002 15:21)

Victoria's legacy
Countless inquiry reports - to the eternal shame of all child protection agencies - have exhorted social services, police, the NHS and the.... more
(21 February 2002 00:00)

MSPs press for children`s commissioner in Scotland
An independent children’s commissioner for Scotland has moved a step closer after an inquiry carried out by an influential committee of the.... more
(15 February 2002 17:08)