Articles by Date : February 01 2004 - February 29 2004

One in five decisions wrong, says study
Many Home Office asylum decisions are incorrect which results in asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations, according to a new report. more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Migrants told streets not paved with gold
The government is to launch an advertising campaign to deter citizens from the 10 countries which are joining the European Union in May migrating to.... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Bennett inquiry slams 'years old' racism in mental health services
Mental health services are still failing ethnic minorities, the independent inquiry into the death of David Bennett has concluded. more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Supporting People services set for cuts
Service providers were bracing themselves for cuts in the Supporting People budget as Community Care went to press. more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

'How can care be more child-centred?'
Bureaucracy within the care system must be minimised to create a better balance when working with children, according to the findings of the.... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Job losses threaten work on children bill
Job cuts at the Department for Education and Skills may run into four figures adding to fears that work on the children's bill may be endangered. more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

'Trawling' under fire as man is released
The police use of "trawling" was thrown into further doubt last week when a former care worker jailed for abusing children over 20 years ago had his.... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Social workers to gain prison role
The Youth Justice Board is to fund council social workers to work in young offenders institutions. more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Government move to slash funding for minors alarms local authorities
Councils have warned they will be left hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket thanks to a government decision to refuse to fully fund the care.... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Clouds of uncertainty
The government made it clear with the publication of its children's green paper Every Child Matters last September that preventive services and.... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Stamp out racism in NHS
The inquiry into the death of David Bennett, the African-Caribbean man diagnosed with schizophrenia who died after being restrained by health staff,.... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Councils told to make savings in Supporting People budget
Local authorities are expected to make a 2.5 per cent saving from this year's standstill Supporting People budget of £1.8 billion, the government has.... more
(13 February 2004 10:31)

Friday 13 February 2004
Carr refused early release from prison. Former marine admits abduction and indecency offences with 12-year-old girl. more
(13 February 2004 09:59)

Auditors say CRB has improved but still has problems
The Criminal Records Bureau has improved but it is still not offering the service it planned, according to a report by the National Audit Office, .... more
(12 February 2004 00:00)

Racist mental health services still failing minorities
Mental health services are still failing people from black and minority ethnic communities, the independent inquiry into the death of David Bennett.... more
(12 February 2004 12:00)

Low paid staff forced to pay for criminal checks
Low paid social care staff are being asked to pay the cost of their own Criminal Records Bureau checks, writes Sally Gillen. more
(12 February 2004 14:45)

Thursday 12 February 2004
Sex offenders may wait 21 years before striking again, government study finds. more
(12 February 2004 10:05)

Supporting People cuts expected
Supported housing providers are bracing themselves for cuts in the Supporting People budget, writes Natasha Salari. more
(10 February 2004 15:53)

Projects pay price for Children's Fund cuts
Offering children a present and then taking it away when it’s within arm’s reach is a pretty mean thing to do. But that is precisely what the.... more
(10 February 2004 12:19)

Welsh council appeals for help to stabilise social services
In the first move of its kind in Wales, Blaenau Gwent Council has requested help from an improvement board to help ‘stabilise and re-direct’ social.... more
(11 February 2004 14:19)

Scotland selects first children's commissioner
Scotland's first commissioner for children and young people has been announced, writes Maggie Wood. more
(11 February 2004 13:06)

Wednesday 11 February 2004
Patricia Amos faces jail again Children's Fund faces budget cuts more
(11 February 2004 09:55)

Female chief executives buck the gender gap in pay
A salary survey of local authority chief executives reveals that women are earning more than their men. more
(05 February 2004 18:24)

Recruitment easing in voluntary sector
Pay is increasing in the voluntary sector at twice the national level rate, according to research published last December. more
(05 February 2004 18:19)

Council staff put in new wage claim
Local government unions in England and Wales and Northern Ireland have submitted their pay claim for 2004. more
(05 February 2004 18:01)

Debate on whether service users are consulted too much
We asked people whether service users are consulted too much or whether consultations should be more selective. more
(09 February 2004 12:09)

Job losses at DfES likely to top a thousand
Job cuts at the Department for Education and Skills may run into four figures increasing fears that work on the children’s bill may be endangered,.... more
(10 February 2004 14:17)

Many asylum seekers returned to danger in home country
Many Home Office asylum decisions are incorrect resulting in asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations in their own countries, according.... more
(10 February 2004 10:10)

Tuesday 10 February 2004
Father and son arrested in search for gangmasters. Population timebomb theory disputed. more
(10 February 2004 10:03)

Learning mentors “succeeding” says Ofsted
Learning mentors are helping to raise standards and promote educational inclusion, according to Ofsted. more
(09 February 2004 17:56)

Lottery of child cancer after-care
Cancer charities have called for better long term care for children who survive cancer. more
(09 February 2004 17:54)

Bid to slow rocketing sexual infections rate
A campaign aimed at educating young people about the risks of sexually transmitted diseases was launched yesterday by the government to coincide with.... more
(09 February 2004 17:53)

Exclusive: Official figures for child asylum seekers missing from care in doubt
Government figures on unaccompanied asylum seeker children who go missing from care have been thrown into doubt, writes Amy Taylor . more
(09 February 2004 17:51)

Every care home in Scotland to receive fire safety check
Every Scottish care home for older people is to be visited by the fire service in the wake of the Uddingston fire which killed 14 residents in a.... more
(06 February 2004 12:13)

Monday 9 February 2004
Under-18s to get £3 minimum wage New campaign targeting migrants more
(09 February 2004 10:37)

Training materials
Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health Work and Positive Goals: Intervention for People with Learning Disabilities whose Behaviour Challenges. more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Aggressive? more likely frightened
People who work in the field of dementia should use language that promotes dignity and respect, says Joy Johnson. more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Can fiction succeed where facts haven’t?
An award-winning novel has turned the spotlight on people who have Asperger’s syndrome. more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

What cost survival?
Bob Holman urges action to reform the Social Fund and make loan sharks an endangered species as people trapped by poverty are increasingly forced.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Do experts know best?
Professionals give their views on whether Munchausen's syndrome by proxy exists, the reliance on expert knowledge and the implications for child.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

A breath of fresh air
Once again the health service ombudsman has shone a light to help service users and their carers who are forced to fumble their way through the.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Missing amid inaction
A child alone in a foreign country having fled their home is surely in one of the most vulnerable situations of all. But at least if they are placed.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Chance for Scotland’s hearing system to rediscover its founding principles
Most of the referrals to the system that deals with young offenders in Scotland are on non-offence grounds - which was not the original intention..... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Pulled in all - directions
Intermediate care co-ordinators face a huge challenge to meet the expectations of the NHS Plan and national service frameworks. Consultant nurse Liz.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Expert witnesses in the dock
Questions are being asked about the weight experts' evidence carries in court cases that decide whether to remove children from their parents. Sally.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Taming the sharks
For people on low incomes obtaining a loan can mean three-figure interest rates. But there are organisations that are helping to provide credit at.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Chastisement excuse 'a gross anomaly'
The Welsh children's commissioner repeated calls last week for the removal of the defence of reasonable chastisement. more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Social care and NHS relations 'unhelpful'
Lack of joint working between health and social services departments continues to hamper the effectiveness of care for long-term conditions,.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Advocacy service for parents launched
The Family Rights Group charity officially launched its advocacy service for parents involved in child protection proceedings this week. more
(05 February 2004 00:00)

Increase in overseas social workers poses ethical questions for councils
Developing countries might be a source of staff for social services departments. But is this is a realistic or desirable answer to the recruitment.... more
(05 February 2004 00:00)