Articles by Date : February 01 2005 - February 28 2005

Allegations of racial abuse at Feltham ignored, inquiry told
Allegations of racism at the time of Zahid Mubarek’s murder at Feltham Young Offender Institution were ignored because staff were naïve about racial.... more
(23 February 2005 16:32)

Expert underlines mental health fears
There could be more than a thousand prisoners with mental health problems being inappropriately held in prison, an expert told the inquiry into the.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

My Practice
Dementia issues and the law relating to them cause much soul-searching for approved social worker Mark Sloman. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Council chiefs accuse minister of planning cut-price welfare service
Pensions minister Malcolm Wicks was accused last week of trying to deliver an older people's welfare service "on the cheap" by setting up joint local.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Exclusive: Valuing People targets not being met
An extra £41 million funding for learning difficulties services was announced by the government last week, but an investigation by Community Care .... more
(24 February 2005 00:01)

Lead officer reveals data-sharing 'myth'
Older people's consent must be gained before Pensions Service and local authority benefits staff working in joint teams are allowed to share data on.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

'There is an alternative'
Social worker turned prisons minister Paul Goggins is determined to find substitutes for custody. So how does he propose to address the huge number.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Thursday 24 February 2005
Teenage girls stressed by modern life Labour's lead in opinion poll reduced more
(24 February 2005 09:29)

Poverty Rebranded
Since Labour came to office in 1997 local authority anti-poverty strategies have been marginalised by national initiatives. But, says Neil Bateman,.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Nice restraint guidelines do not go far enough, campaigners warn
More mental health patients will die when they are physically restrained because the government has failed to introduce a time limit for its use,.... more
(23 February 2005 09:56)

Private sector to build most extra care housing schemes
Private property developers will build most of extra care housing schemes in the future, community care minister Stephen Ladyman predicted this week,.... more
(23 February 2005 15:49)

The rich get richer
Despite achieving some victories in the battle against child poverty, the government is refusing to tackle the issue that really hurts children:.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Home Office blocks Devon housing bid
The Home Office has prevented a council joining a scheme to resettle refugees in the UK - despite a lack of councils agreeing to take part, it was.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

'She woke up and attacked us!'
When an unknown woman collapsed from a multiple overdose in their Glasgow office, centre staff Jim McBride (left, top) and Paul McGivney were left.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Study reveals route out of homelessness
An approach to housing and support that is tailored to the individual is the key to providing a route out of homelessness, research has found. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Scots probe cost of free personal care
The Scottish executive has promised to examine claims that it has seriously underestimated the cost of free personal care in Scotland. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

An Inspector Calls
Expectations are running high for the new Social Work Inspection Agency in Scotland. Anabel Unity Sale finds out how these expectations will be met. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Scottish executive backs £10m system
The Scottish executive has denied claims that a £10m project to link up electronic social services and NHS records is on the point of being.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Pass the parcel, social care style
The health and social care divide is leading to poor services and treatment for older people, writes Linda Goldsmith. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Who Cares? Trust picks up £1.3m
A national charity that works with young people in care is the largest recipient of money from the £125m Futurebuilders fund. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Zero Compassion
Antisocial behaviour orders are inappropriate for people with learning difficulties, particularly young people. more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

MP to campaign on deaths in custody
Hilton Dawson MP and a group of youth justice campaigners are to lobby parliamentary candidates about child deaths in custody in the run up to the.... more
(24 February 2005 00:00)

Incarcerating drug abusing women is inappropriate, report finds
More than 60 per cent of people thought that sending women with drug problems to prison was an inappropriate way of helping them to overcome their.... more
(23 February 2005 11:43)

Compulsory drug testing could breach human rights legislation
Compulsory drug testing offenders on arrest and measures to enforce intervention orders included in the Drugs Bill may breach European human rights.... more
(23 February 2005 11:00)

Wednesday 23 February 2005
Asylum applications fall 31 stone man to sue more
(23 February 2005 09:44)

Asylum applications to the UK continue to fall
Asylum applications fell by two per cent in the last quarter of 2004, according to the latest Home Office figures published today, writes Clare.... more
(22 February 2005 11:07)

Length of Asbos criticised by Youth Justice Board
The Youth Justice Board has raised concern over the “excessive” length of antisocial behaviour orders imposed on children as young as 13-years-old, .... more
(22 February 2005 16:36)

Exclusive: Councils and government clash over asylum funding
London councils are collectively facing around a ₤10 million gap in government funding for their asylum services provided in 2003-4, it was.... more
(24 February 2005 00:01)

'Teething problems in regulators' work'
Joint working between the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission is proving difficult, particularly in mental health,.... more
(17 February 2005 00:00)

Public will examine main centre's work
The government is to be invited to give evidence to an inquiry into the services and facilities at the main processing centre for asylum.... more
(17 February 2005 00:00)

High-interest credit card sparks outcry
Debt charities have called for a cap on lending rates after the launch of a credit card aimed at low-income families that charges interest at rates.... more
(17 February 2005 00:00)

Forum will deliver with government
Community care minister Stephen Ladyman has announced that a new body will be responsible for reviewing the strategic agreement between the.... more
(17 February 2005 00:00)

Concerns over government's Valuing People team after Scie move fails
Learning difficulties campaigners have expressed their disappointment that the Valuing People support team will no longer be transferred to the.... more
(17 February 2005 00:00)

All Aboard
Disabled people are being employed in London to test the accessibility of buses and taxis. The scheme won the Community Care Awards' disability.... more
(17 February 2005 00:00)

First wave of Futurebuilders funding announced
The Home Office has announced the first wave of £4.2 million funding from Futurebuilders and a national charity that supports young people in care is.... more
(22 February 2005 12:37)

MP urges action over child deaths in custody
Parliamentary candidates face being lobbied by youth justice campaigners over the issue of child deaths in custody in the run-up to the general.... more
(22 February 2005 12:12)

Home Office bans council from refugee scheme
The Home Office has stopped a council from taking part in a scheme to resettle refugees in UK despite only two other local authorities agreeing to.... more
(22 February 2005 11:20)

Tuesday 22 February 2005
Care assistant accused of raping patients 31-stone man detained under Mental Health Act more
(22 February 2005 09:59)

Campaigners slam Nice guidance on restraint as "wishy washy"
More mental health patients will die unless the government issues guidance that says restraint can only be used for a maximum of three minutes,.... more
(23 February 2005 00:01)

Teenage mental health problems have doubled
Mental health problems in teenagers have mushroomed over the past 25 years, according to a study from London’s Institute of Psychiatry. more
(22 February 2005 07:47)

Care risk for severely hyperactive children
Severe hyperactive children are three times more likely to be removed from their families because their parents cannot cope than other children being.... more
(22 February 2005 07:44)

School trips: staff to get protection
The government is to publish new guidance to encourage school staff to take children on more trips. more
(22 February 2005 07:42)

Children and families event a hit
The first ever Community Care Live Children and Families event was voted a tremendous success by visitors and exhibitors. more
(18 February 2005 08:04)

Prison staff at Feltham "wasted" an opportunity
Prison staff “wasted” an opportunity to provide a proper psychiatric assessment of Zahid Mubarek’s killer Robert Stewart, an inquiry has heard, .... more
(18 February 2005 15:50)

Research likely to call for reduction of drug using women in prison
A report due out later this week is expected to call for alternatives to custody for women whose offending is linked to drug use, writes Clare.... more
(21 February 2005 15:43)

Monday 21 February 2005
Just 107 people convicted of asylum offences Demand in cannabis has increased more
(21 February 2005 09:39)

Round-up of the week
Round up of the week beginning Monday 14 February 2005. more
(18 February 2005 16:08)

Funding for learning difficulties services announced
Stephen Ladyman announced yesterday that services for people with learning difficulties are set to receive over £41 million in funding, writes.... more
(18 February 2005 08:57)

Getting ex-offenders back to work
London Action Trust's NewLIFE Project assists ex-offenders in achieving secure employment by tackling the prejudice faced by people with a criminal.... more
(18 February 2005 07:58)

Audit Commission's judgement was wrong, High Court rules
The Audit Commission was wrong to automatically downgrade a council because its social services department received a zero star rating from a.... more
(18 February 2005 15:00)