Articles by Date : March 01 2003 - March 31 2003

Climbdown over education diktat
Plans to force two London councils to spend budget increases on schools rather than care services have been abandoned. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Government 'using' community groups
Community-based organisations are being "co-opted" by the government, which could reduce their ability to tackle social exclusion, according to a.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Deal reached over residents' relocation
A row over plans by Lancashire Council to close more than 30 care homes as part of a major shake-up of care for older people was resolved at the 11th.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Court rejects appeal over minimum wage
Local government union the GMB has vowed to fight to close the loophole in the national minimum wage legislation after the Court of Appeal rejected a.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Social cost of drugs in London is £2.5bn
Someone in London dies every 30 hours because of drug misuse, according to a new report. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Large providers join push for higher fees
Corporate care providers, including Southern Cross, Westminster Health Care and Four Seasons, have joined smaller private home owners to campaign for.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Welsh government looks again at plans
The Welsh government is being forced to reconsider how it will inspect social services departments in Wales when the current programme of joint.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Partnership boards 'left on sidelines'
Many people with learning difficulties are still being denied the chance to influence decisions about the services provided for them, according to.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Truancy court cases stuck in slow lane
The first ever "fast-track" truancy prosecution hearings were held at Grays Magistrates Court in Thurrock, Essex, last week, and proved to be.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Project shows benefits of multi-skilling
A project in north Derbyshire is improving recruitment and retention of older people's care workers through redefining their role and skills. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Degree will be run by 52 universities
Fiona Waddington, project manager at the Practice Learning Task Force, has announced that 52 universities will be offering the new social work degree.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Ruling 'frustrated' aim of new law
A High Court judge's ruling last month that denying asylum seekers automatic support was a breach of their human rights "plainly frustrated" the.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Frontline staff lured away by new initiatives
New initiatives are to blame for luring qualified social work staff away from the frontline, according to a taskforce set up a year ago to examine.... more
(05 March 2003 17:06)

Records bureau set for overhaul but home care staff remain unchecked
The government has pledged to make "radical" changes to the running of the beleaguered Criminal Records Bureau, but is still to set a date to start.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

MP bars refugees from his surgery
A government minister who last week publicly backed a report on social inclusion has come under fire for allegedly refusing to see asylum seekers in.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Pressure on guardians to represent children in more private law cases
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service is in discussions with the Lord Chancellor's Department over plans to increase its.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Six-month delay for new regulations
The Department of Health's decision to delay the introduction of new support arrangements for adopting parents has been welcomed by adoption groups. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Recession blamed for charity's job cuts
A significant number of people are set to lose their jobs at the deaf people's charity RNID as a result of the downturn in the economy, the charity's.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Staff not satisfied with joint work
Social workers and nurses are not working well together according to more than two-thirds of visitors to Community Care 's website. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

No hiding place
The issue of domestic violence has risen up the political agenda. Anabel Unity Sale looks at the extent of the problem and how agencies can improve.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Victims on the margins
The needs of gay men and lesbians are often overlooked or misunderstood in domestic violence initiatives, but there are groups set up that aim to.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Rethinking Children's Care
Edited by Julia Brannen and Peter Moss. more
(06 March 2003 16:32)

Voices of the voiceless
By Jan Hawkins. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Liberty a priceless gem
After lengthy treatment for schizophrenia Richard Jameson has now embraced the "madhouse" outside. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

McTernan - on Politics
A grim fatalism is taking hold in these uncertain times. Social care skills will be needed. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Donor debate is too polarised
The debate over the right to anonymity in donor-assisted conceptions is somewhat irrelevant, writes Eric Blyth. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

How to stay afloat
Researcher Elinor Nicholas describes how support for carers could be improved even where resources are limited. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Protection down the line
A database that would give professionals access to the records of children at risk might seem an obvious step to improve child protection. But there.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Change for the worse?
Many care home owners are de-registering their properties to create independent tenancies for people with learning difficulties. But does this.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Lost in care - again
The news that only a third of Welsh councils have implemented one of the key recommendations of the Waterhouse report can only shock anyone familiar.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Second time success
Harriet Harman's second spell in office has seen her push domestic violence up the agenda. And it shows, away from the Blair's Babes stereotypes,.... more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Why truancy is not good for anybody
School provides training for life - something that some middle class parents tend to forget. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Merger or takeover?
Battles lines have once again been drawn between the voluntary sector and the government. more
(06 March 2003 00:00)

Church urges government rethink on draft mental health bill
The government was warned to pay attention to hostile opposition to the draft mental health bill from members of the Church of England's synod, .... more
(05 March 2003 11:24)

People with learning difficulties left out of decisions
Many people with learning difficulties are still being prevented from influencing decisions about the services provided for them, according to.... more
(05 March 2003 10:17)

Wednesday 5 March 2003
Scholls could be 'bribed' to take asylum seeking children. more
(05 March 2003 09:54)

Lancashire care homes dispute is resolved
A row over plans by Lancashire council to close more than 30 care homes as part of a major shake-up of care for older people was resolved at the.... more
(04 March 2003 17:24)

Victoria Climbie files left on the street
Filing cabinets labelled "V Climbie" were left unattended on the street during a Haringey social services office move more
(04 March 2003 16:10)

Job losses at RNID
The RNID has announced up to 19 job losses but claimed services will not be affected. more
(04 March 2003 12:04)

New adoption support guidance delayed
The department of health’s decision to delay the introduction of new support arrangements for adopting parents has been welcomed by adoption groups, .... more
(04 March 2003 11:05)

Asylum seekers given right to challenge homes refusal
The court of appeal has granted two asylum seekers leave to appeal against two local authorities that refused to house them. more
(04 March 2003 10:44)

Tuesday 4 March 2003
Social workers given new guidance on how to deal with domestic violence. Asylum case judge told he made errors in law. more
(04 March 2003 09:51)

One in nine missing young people sexually assaulted
One in nine young people who go missing are sexually assaulted while they are away, according to a new report from the National Missing Persons.... more
(03 March 2003 16:55)

Teenage pregnancy rates continue to fall
Teenage pregnancy rates have fallen for the third consecutive year, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. more
(03 March 2003 14:08)

Monday 3 March 2003
New racial commission chairperson targets police stop and search policies. London council defends 46 per cent council tax rise. more
(03 March 2003 09:59)