Articles by Date : March 01 2006 - March 31 2006

African children to be sent back home
Unaccompanied minors from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo whose asylum claims have failed could be returned to their home countries under.... more
(16 March 2006 09:29)

Owners call for cash to improve meals
More funding for dietary advice in care homes for older people is needed to improve meals, residential care providers have said. more
(16 March 2006 09:24)

'NHS must tackle health inequalities'
NHS bodies will face a closer examination of their performance in tackling health inequalities from this year, the Healthcare Commission said this.... more
(16 March 2006 09:23)

Electronic tagging to be rolled out
Adults who claim asylum at immigration screening units will be electronically tagged. more
(16 March 2006 09:21)

Review to reject guardians' overhaul
The role of children's guardians will not face radical reform under the government's care proceedings review, according to the head of England's.... more
(16 March 2006 09:20)

N Ireland claimants face being isolated
Asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers in Northern Ireland could lose contact with lawyers and their support networks, it is feared. more
(16 March 2006 09:15)

Earlier intervention sought by assembly
Welsh social services will engage vulnerable children at an earlier stage under plans being drawn up by the Welsh assembly government. more
(16 March 2006 09:04)

Joint health posts mooted in Wales
Pooled budgets and joint posts between health and social services bodies look set to be recommended by a Welsh public sector review. more
(16 March 2006 09:02)

Missed poverty targets blamed on government failure to link policies
Inadequate support for vulnerable people and a lack of policy co-ordination across departments have been blamed for the government's failure to meet.... more
(16 March 2006 09:00)

Families may help to cut re-offending
The Home Office is developing a strategy to look at how prison and probation services will carry out their statutory duty to safeguard and promote.... more
(16 March 2006 08:58)

Councils 'failing on human rights'
Councils may face legal challenges because they could be violating carers' human rights, a report published this week warns. more
(16 March 2006 08:57)

Fears for learning difficulties services
Councils are being urged not to cut learning difficulties services to alleviate spending pressures. more
(16 March 2006 08:54)

Living fund increase too small for some
A rise in Independent Living Fund payments for disabled people announced last week will be too little to pay highly skilled personal assistants,.... more
(16 March 2006 08:49)

Single people fears mar 20-year low
Homelessness has fallen to its lowest level since 1985 but councils have been urged not to forget the plight of single people. more
(16 March 2006 08:48)

Duty teams a dying breed
As social care prepares for a radical shake-up, it may be time to axe generic emergency duty teams and adapt existing services to do their work in.... more
(16 March 2006 08:38)

Unique walk-in clinic set to close
A 24-hour emergency mental health unit, thought to be the only walk-in clinic of its kind in England, has been earmarked for closure. more
(16 March 2006 08:26)

Huge rise in women seeking support
The number of women using domestic violence services has risen by 60 per cent over the past three years, a new report claims. more
(16 March 2006 08:24)

Women's asylum claims may be wrongly dismissed
Women’s asylum claims may be being wrongly dismissed due to the Home Office failing to follow its own guidance on gender issues that should be taken.... more
(15 March 2006 00:00)

Special report on older people's poverty
The majority of government support for older people over recent years is through the means-tested benefits system, rather than significant increases.... more
(10 March 2006 13:42)

Fears grow that prison law changes will lead to 'contamination' of young adults
The fate of young adult offenders once they lose the right to be separated from adult prisoners has alarmed prison chief inspector  Anne Owers.... more
(16 March 2006 15:47)

Campaigners fail in bid for judicial review
Campaigners have failed to get a judicial review of Northamptonshire Council’s plans to cut 13 services for people with learning difficulties and.... more
(15 March 2006 00:00)

Bid to drive down costs with online auctions may put quality at risk
Edinburgh Council has pioneered an online auction for providers. But critics are worried that auctions will have a detrimental effect on service.... more
(16 March 2006 14:41)

Pension plans are cue for strike action
Local government staff were this week set to vote in favour of striking in protest at the government's pension reforms. more
(16 March 2006 14:21)

Councils to escape Youth Matters costs
The new statutory duty to provide positive activities for young people under the Youth Matters reforms will not cost councils extra money, the.... more
(16 March 2006 14:18)

Eureka moment proves a winner
Service users in Kent are helping student practitioners deepen their understanding of mental health problems. Anabel Unity Sale reports on the Buddy.... more
(16 March 2006 14:14)

Paralysed around culture
Anabel Unity Sale reports on the issues and inhibitions that confront practitioners when dealing with child protection in faith communities more
(16 March 2006 14:09)

The longest journey
Just walking to her local shops can give Lauren Ambler palpitations. But now she faces a trip to Canada more
(16 March 2006 14:04)

The Simon Heng Column
A service user's view of social care more
(16 March 2006 14:01)

The Big Question
Should people who provide services to direct payment recipients be vetted under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill? more
(16 March 2006 13:58)

If you ask me...Thomas E Kendall
Thomas E Kendall volunteers for Rethink, the mental health charity more
(15 March 2006 13:55)

Nottingham meeting gladdens the heart
For some time it has seemed that social care is not so much the policy that dare not speak its name, as the one whose name senior politicians just.... more
(16 March 2006 13:51)

Frontlines - the social effects of dog owing
One of our team of practitioner columnists gives her take on the social effects of dog ownership more
(16 March 2006 13:42)

Open Forum
Having autonomy over their workload gives social workers a sense of ownership over their time, writes Paul Lloyd more
(16 March 2006 13:37)

Childline finds sharp rise in calls for help from suicidal children
There has been a sharp rise in the number of suicidal children seeking help to the 24-hour helpline run by Childline, according to figures published.... more
(15 March 2006 00:00)

Charity warns that councils are failing to protect carers' rights
Councils could face a growing number of legal challenges for failing to protect carers’ rights, a report out today warns. more
(15 March 2006 00:00)

Council workers to strike over pension scheme
Around 1.5 million council workers have voted to strike on 28 March to defend their pension rights, it was announced today. more
(15 March 2006 00:00)

Public Accounts Committee calls for asylum crackdown
The Refugee Council has expressed concern at the Public Accounts Committee's report calling for a crackdown on asylum seekers saying: “If crackdowns.... more
(14 March 2006 00:00)

Opinion section
Each week we ask a variety of people to comment on certain social care issues of the day. Opinion - One of our panelists give their opinion on.... more
(14 March 2006 14:00)

Opinion - 2005
Opinion articles from 2005 more
(14 March 2006 13:50)

Frontlines - 2005
Frontline articles from 2005 more
(14 March 2006 13:46)

Open Forum - 2005
Open Forum articles from 2005 more
(14 March 2006 13:43)

This Life - 2005
This Life articles from 2005 more
(14 March 2006 13:38)

The Simon Heng Column - 2005
Articles from last years Simon Heng column more
(14 March 2006 13:31)

The Big Question - 2005
Answers to the big questions in 2005 more
(14 March 2006 13:26)

Government urged to invest more to meet poverty targets
Investment in tax credits and benefits needs to increase dramatically if the government is to succeed in its pledge to eradicate child poverty,.... more
(14 March 2006 10:50)

More family homes pledged to tackle overcrowding
Children and families living in “Dickensian” overcrowded conditions have been promised more help in the form of new social housing schemes with a.... more
(14 March 2006 10:54)

If you ask me...2005
If you ask me from last year more
(14 March 2006 12:10)

High Court judge warns parents over school-time holidays
Parents were given a wake up call last week about the consequences of taking their children on holiday during term time after a High Court judge said.... more
(14 March 2006 10:42)

Learning difficulties project in funding crisis
The biggest national learning difficulties project for improving services for black and minority ethnic communities faces an uncertain future if new.... more
(13 March 2006 00:00)

Vicky Pollard-style mums
Latest tabloid clanger more
(14 March 2006 09:01)