Articles by Date : April 01 2000 - April 30 2000

Managers put cost issues before duty to back children's rights, report says
Basic human rights of children in care are being neglected because of the drive for cost savings, a damning report from the Joseph Rowntree.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Charity wants regulator of homes to halt 'business-asset' approach to care
The residential care home industry urgently needs a regulator to ensure that older people are not being treated as business assets by local.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Funding problems loom for charities
One in 10 charities is finding it increasingly difficult to generate funds, warns a report analysing the size and scope of the UK voluntary sector. more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

NHS faces biggest test on care of older people
Caring for older people will become the critical issue for the NHS as the percentage of the population above retirement age increases, MPs were.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

MPs urge tough new pro-adoption laws
Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing increased pressure from an all-party group of MPs and peers to introduce tough legislation compelling social.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Fees discourage private care home investment
Private investment in the UK care home market came to a halt in the past year, according to the latest statistics from care analyst Laing &.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Oxfam attacks 'penny-pinching' Jack Straw
Home secretary Jack Straw has been criticised by Oxfam about the launch of the government's voucher scheme for asylum seekers this week. more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Warning sounded on vetting costs
Voluntary groups worry that services could suffer as the result of more checks, as Nick Huber discovers Voluntary organisations are warning that.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Time for a service overhaul
The government's attention is turning to the provision of equipment for disabled people, says Patrick McCurry Disability equipment provision has.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Sector's welcome for protection laws overlooks staff rights issue
In the aftermath of a series of high-profile scandals, the government could be forgiven for being a little overzealous in its attempts to protect.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

In brief
News in brief: A Mother jailed for two-and-a-half years after being convicted of child neglect had her appeal for a more lenient sentence.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Ombudsman backs council's care strategy
Owners of a private older people's home in Cumbria had their complaint that the council diverted residents into its own home rejected by the local.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Councils face legal risk through bad contractors
Social services directors have been warned that they face an increasing risk of legal action prompted by poor standards in the private care sector. more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Government to act over poor equipment services
Groups representing disabled people have welcomed the government's pledge last week to improve equipment services in the wake of a damning report.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Study reveals ignorance of Human Rights Act
Many private care homes and voluntary sector organisations are woefully unprepared for the new Human Rights Act 1988, which comes into force in.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Scots think-tank favours jail alternatives for young people
Money should be freed from the prison service and invested in community initiatives, says a think-tank of the leading social work organisations in.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Think tank fends off care standards critics
The Centre for Policy on Ageing has hit back at criticisms that its proposals for national care standards for residential and nursing homes focus.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Connexions will weaken standards says union
The government's proposed youth support service will weaken standards by forcing careers advisers to take on welfare responsibilities normally.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Worcester projects face the axe
More than 20 community projects in Worcestershire hang in the balance following a decision by the health authority to pull the plug on joint.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Hard pressed
hard pressed March featured two particularly bizarre swipes at social workers in the newspapers but elsewhere the media was doing good work.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

I just can't take it any more
Viewpoint Moira Ledingham wishes to announce with great regret that it's time to leave the social work stage This month my locum contract expires. more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Voluntary value added
A local authority and voluntary organisation have joined forces to provide a unique respite service for children with learning or physical.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Cutting Loose?
How far have Scotland and Wales gone in pursuing social care policies distinct from those of Westminster? Maggie Mellon and Lynda Bransbury.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

A Quality start
Frances Rickford finds that the first year of Quality Protects has been welcomed by professionals working in children's services while, on page.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

The devolution blues
Devolution could perform a vital role as a policy laboratory where regions learn from each other, argues Matthew Taylor. more
(11 April 2000 00:00)

Bizarre but sadly true
Normally we would have let something as eccentric as this week's launch of an all-party group of MPs and peers, who want social workers to be.... more
(07 April 2000 00:00)

Beware populism
The implementation of the Human Rights Act in October has immense implications for social services and the people who use them. more
(10 April 2000 00:00)

Care worker charged with attacks on older people at nursing home
A care worker has been charged with nine attacks on vulnerable elderly residents at a nursing home on Tyneside. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Parents of teenagers call helpline
Parents with difficult teenage children were the most common callers to a confidential helpline. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

A house less ordinary
Natalie Valios visits a pioneering project in north London that offers long-term specialist help to black men with mental health and drugs.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Charging blunders on the rise
Welfare Rights Confusion over the law has led local authorities to charge clients for services that should be free, saysGary Vaux, who warns that.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Give children a chance
It's always a good idea to give children and young people with experience of being in care a voice, but it's not always easy to do. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Book review
Chris Hanvey considers siblings and the fostering system; Felicity Collier recommends a book looking at fostering and kinship worldwide; and Rachel.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Update
Research update: Standards for local carer support services have received government approval and can be found on the Department of.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Research
Ray Hampford looks at risk assessment among practitioners and people with learning difficulties, and Annabella Scott examines a study of young.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Lawyers move to help jailed care worker
Lawyers have pledged to investigate the case of a Glasgow care worker who was jailed for six years in Venezuela for attempting to smuggle cocaine.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

News in brief
Community Care's executive editor Rachel Downey has won the Reed Business Information section head of the year award. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Inspectors condemn sector bias
A Social Services Inspectorate report into Cumbria Council's services for older people has described a "strained relationship" between independent.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Council's failures led to continued abuse
Bridgend Council has been strongly criticised by the local government ombudsman for its failure to halt the sexual abuse of a girl by her.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Stirling merges services
Stirling Council is to implement plans that will make it the first authority in Scotland to dissolve its social work department. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Skills body to press on with training payment targets
The national social care training organisation TOPSS England has decided to press ahead with controversial targets in its five-year training.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Union accuses Harrow of scapegoating staff
Unison has complained that two senior social workers are being used as scapegoats after a 13-year-old girl died from a drugs overdose. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Older people win free nursing care
The government has promised to finance free nursing care for thousands of older people in residential care in its belated response to.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Disabled parents are poorly served, inspectors conclude
Local authorities are failing to provide disabled parents with the support they need and many service users see flexible services as a pipe dream,.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Children value the role of guardians ad litem
The Children's Society has published a new report into the importance of children's views being heard during family court proceedings. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Child protection guidance released
The government has unveiled new guidance to help social care staff protect vulnerable children. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Boost for departments as five exit special measures list
Five more social services departments have improved their performance enough to be removed from the Department of Health's special measures list. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Knee jerks make bad law
Social workers are all too aware of the children of those who are not adequate parents. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Shame, not blame
There can be no doubt that this week's adoption statistics shame local authorities. For any child awaiting adoption to have no social worker,.... more
(13 April 2000 00:00)

Time to make the media hear the message
New research suggests that social work should develop a more positive relationship with the media. more
(13 April 2000 00:00)