Articles by Date : March 01 2003 - March 31 2003

Foster carers argue for more freedom to switch agencies
A group of foster carers are calling on the Fostering Network to ballot its members on whether to withdraw from an agreement that restricts their.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

'Too few' targets to help the vulnerable
The Homelessness Act 2002 does not set enough targets to ensure local authorities help vulnerable people, the head of a homelessness charity warned.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Judge slams social worker on adoption
An independent social worker who compiled reports to help the adoption of a US baby by an English couple may have criminal proceedings brought.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Late recruitment drive for assessors
The General Social Care Council, the body responsible for registering social care professionals in England, has launched a recruitment campaign for.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

New medical centre for asylum seekers
Nearly 400 refugees and asylum seekers living in and around Birmingham have registered with the first health centre dedicated to their needs just two.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Good housing is a lottery, says report
Londoners with severe mental health problems are missing out on housing because of a postcode lottery, according to new research. more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Bureau has failed the speed test
Most visitors to Community Care 's website say the Criminal Records Bureau has failed to speed up the process for issuing checks. more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Lords challenge bed-blocking bill in bid to strengthen patients' rights
Peers in the House of Lords this week voted in favour of two amendments to the Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Bill that, if upheld, would reduce.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

More targets for police, please
A senior policeman this week urged the government to introduce performance indicator targets for police child protection work to raise its priority. more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Charity claims long assessment delays
Older people in Scotland are being forced to wait up to a year to be assessed for free personal care, according to new research by older people's.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Ban on begging to go into white paper
The government is expected to publish its white paper on antisocial behaviour this week, with a strong pledge to tackle street beggars and prevent.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Court defers ruling on human rights
The Court of Appeal reserved judgement last week on the home secretary's bid to overturn a High Court ruling that new asylum laws breached asylum.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Staff shortages cause court delays
Nearly 2,000 children involved in private and public law care proceedings have had their cases delayed because of an acute shortage of staff. more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Bid to combat discrimination inservices for ethnic minorities
All staff working in mental health services should receive compulsory training in "cultural awareness" in a bid to eradicate the institutional racism.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

People in capital with mental health problems not receiving housing services
Londoners with severe mental health problems are missing out on housing due to a damaging postcode lottery of services, according to new research, .... more
(13 March 2003 10:57)

How to hold court
Courts can be frightening places with archaic rules and intimidating procedures. Social work academic Jonathan Dickens offers advice to social.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

A dignified exit?
Publicity given to recent assisted suicide cases has highlighted the ethical dilemmas for carers of severely disabled people. Sally Gillen examines.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Return tickets required
A diagnosis of mental illness can feel like a one-way ticket out of "normal" life. Getting a job, finding a home - endemic prejudice is a powerful.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

No right to write off
A hospital's recommendation that life-saving treatment should be denied to a patient because he has learning difficulties is symptomatic of the way.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Catholic trends for care homes
Social policy writer Terry Philpot describes research into how Catholic residential homes are facing up to the harsh economic climate throughout.... more
(13 March 2003 00:00)

Thursday 13 March 2003
New fines to tackle yob culture. Government gives lifeline to special schools. more
(13 March 2003 10:05)

Analysis of ombudsman report on long term care
The health service ombudsman said many people have been wrongly refused funding for long term care from the NHS. more
(12 March 2003 16:32)

Parents to be punished for anti-social children
The government has announced a crackdown on anti-social behaviour including stiffer measures to punish parents of children who disrupt communities. more
(12 March 2003 14:43)

A third of disabled children not treated fairly at school
One in three disabled children are still being treated unfairly in the education system despite recent laws to prevent discrimination, according to.... more
(12 March 2003 12:23)

Police chief warns that child protection is not a priority
A senior policeman urged the government to introduce performance indicator targets for police child protection work to raise its priority, writes.... more
(12 March 2003 11:29)

Wednesday 12 March 2003
Young tearaways may be taken from parents. Judge brands jailing of truant's mother as "pointless". more
(12 March 2003 10:04)

Lords vote to exclude mental health patients from delayed discharge fines
Peers in the House of Lords passed an amendment to the Community Care (Delayed Discharge) Bill excluding mental health patients from the.... more
(11 March 2003 16:52)

Children's hearing referrals hit record high
The number of young people in Scotland referred to the children's hearing system has risen to the highest level since it was set up more than 30.... more
(10 March 2003 13:16)

Staff need more cultural awareness to avoid racism in mental health services
All staff working in mental health services should receive compulsory training in "cultural awareness" in a bid to eradicate the institutional racism.... more
(11 March 2003 16:24)

Court rules people with learning difficulties must be given equal treatment
Learning difficulties charities have heralded a landmark ruling by the high court that people with learning difficulties should receive the same.... more
(11 March 2003 15:36)

Special report: The failure of Welsh local authorities to appoint a children's complaints officer
The children's commissioner in Wales has found that most Welsh local authorities have failed to implement a key recommendation of the Waterhouse.... more
(11 March 2003 12:39)

Children's commissioner to be appointed in Northern Ireland
The post of commissioner for children and young people for Northern Ireland is to be advertised this month, with an announcement expected by mid-June. more
(11 March 2003 10:45)

Tuesday 11 March 2003
Media's 'reckless accusations' blamed for allowing paedophiles to go free. Police have nearly finished interviewing most serious suspects in.... more
(11 March 2003 09:59)

Inspectors find poor prospects for council's child protection services
Blackpool council’s child protection services are overstretched and understaffed, according to a joint review report, writes Anabel Unity Sale. more
(10 March 2003 11:46)

Monday 10 March 2003
Judge calls for end in 'evil' adoption trade in babies. Home office may have to pay compensation to 'depressed' asylum seeker. more
(10 March 2003 09:52)

Shotgun wedding of funding boards leads charities to seek guarantees
Plans to merge the two lottery funding distributors have been confirmed, leaving charities fearing more government control over their activities..... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Budget cuts deflate enthusiasm for new supported housing scheme
The brave new world of Supporting People is looking somewhat less rosy as forced savings put some of the system's projects at risk. Mark Hunter.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Every homeless person in Scotland to be offered housing
The Scottish parliament passed the Homelessness (Scotland) Bill, committing itself to ending homelessness in Scotland within a decade. more
(06 March 2003 10:24)

Older people 'waiting up to a year' for free personal care in Scotland
Older people are being forced to wait up to a year to be assessed for free personal care, Age Concern has claimed. more
(07 March 2003 11:09)

Friday 7 March 2003
Cardinal faces new priest sex abuse scandal. Mother is questioned over death of eight babies. more
(07 March 2003 09:53)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Director urges councils to join up efforts to reduce staff shortages
Jenny Goodall, director of social services at Brent Council, has called on local authorities to adopt a more co-ordinated approach to tackling the.... more
(06 March 2003 10:57)

Thursday 6 March 2003
Paedophiles to be banned from making 'sex tourism' trips. Woman demands bigger home before taking children back. more
(06 March 2003 09:52)

'Seamless services are unattainable'
Health and social care professionals should stop aiming for a perfect "seamless service", a London conference heard last week. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Government rules on intervention
The government has no intention of intervening in poorly performing councils on a long-term basis, according to new guidelines. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Welsh councils fail to implement Waterhouse proposals in full
There are still "worrying inadequacies" in Welsh social services departments' systems for safeguarding vulnerable children, children's commissioner.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Worries over practice teacher grant cuts cast shadow over degree course
Practice teachers fear that the new social work degree will be undermined if grants used to train social workers for teaching are not renewed. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Surveys to gather evidence on low pay
Public sector union Unison is to conduct a series of surveys in a bid to collate evidence about pay and conditions at councils to submit to the Local.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Runaways at risk of sexual abuse
Almost one in nine young people who go missing are sexually assaulted while they are away, according to a new report by the National Missing Persons.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Care home owners set to refuse referrals as they reject 'final offer'
Care home owners in Scotland have rejected an offer on fees from the Scottish executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities by six votes.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)