Articles by Date : April 01 2002 - April 30 2002

This week's diary is by the deputy director of a charity campaigning on behalf of older people
Sunday I try not to work on a Sunday, but a visit to an elderly friend in a local hospital highlights many of the issues we have been trying to.... more
(25 April 2002 12:32)

Councils claim care funding shortfall
Local authorities have reported a shortfall in funding following the transfer to them from this month of responsibility for care home residents.... more
(25 April 2002 10:48)

MPs call for better agency co-ordination
Vulnerable people are being badly let down because public agencies fail to co-ordinate their activities properly, the chairperson of the House of.... more
(25 April 2002 10:55)

Law Commission seeks to protect councils from libel challenges
The Law Commission is proposing that councils receive immunity from being sued for libel by individuals named in internal inquiry reports. more
(25 April 2002 10:59)

Social focus for regional agencies
The government has underlined its commitment to funding social regeneration projects, promising they will feature prominently in regional.... more
(25 April 2002 11:05)

Directors consider national protocols
The Association of Directors of Social Services is carrying out a survey of area child protection committees to see how they deal with unexplained.... more
(25 April 2002 11:09)

Child protection staff need support
Social work is losing child protection workers because staff are not being supported in carrying out emotionally and intellectually demanding work,.... more
(25 April 2002 11:08)

Call for national standards body to monitor child protection services
A national standards-setting body to monitor the performance of child protection services was proposed last week at the fourth seminar of phase two.... more
(25 April 2002 11:16)

Directors cite lack of funds for failure
The widespread failure of councils to provide new services for carers has been blamed on a shortage of funds. more
(25 April 2002 11:37)

Court rules disabled asylum seekers are entitled to residential care
The high court has ruled that councils must provide accommodation and care to disabled asylum seekers - even when they would not be obliged to do.... more
(25 April 2002 11:39)

Three-year funding sought in Scotland
Scottish councils should be made to commit to a standard minimum of three-year funding of voluntary sector organisations, according to the Scottish.... more
(25 April 2002 11:40)

Warning over race riots in Bradford
Little progress has been made in tackling race relations issues in Bradford, according to the former chairperson of the Commission for Racial.... more
(25 April 2002 11:45)

Tasty morsels to tempt job hunters
Cumbria Council has hit upon an unusual way of attracting potential new employees to work in its social services department. more
(25 April 2002 11:47)

Opinion divided on value of star ratings
Opinions were evenly divided among visitors to Community Care's website about whether the new star ratings system for local authorities will lead.... more
(25 April 2002 11:49)

Budget highlights for social care
Social services have for "too long been neglected" and spending will rise by 6 per cent per year in real terms, the Chancellor announced today,.... more
(17 April 2002 16:38)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(26 April 2002 09:44)

Delay for 'consent to treatment' bill
A bill intended to provide protection for people with a mental disorder who are unable to consent to being treated in hospital has been delayed.... more
(25 April 2002 10:17)

Assessment must back good practice
Tools used to implement the single assessment process must support good practice not replace it, a Department of Health's spokesperson said last.... more
(26 April 2002 10:23)

Call to extend law to young prisoners
The Howard League for Penal Reform has lodged a claim for a judicial review in the high court calling for the Children Act 1989 to apply to.... more
(25 April 2002 10:25)

Police launch murder inquiry after death of care worker (updated report)
A 14-year-old girl has been released on bail following the death of a care worker at a residential home for young people in Bristol. more
(25 April 2002 11:31)

Multi-agency rules in place after death
Wiltshire's area child protection committee has revised its admission and discharge procedures for situations where there has been a previous.... more
(25 April 2002 10:26)

Concern grows over penalties for delayed discharges from hospital
The social care sector has welcomed the Budget's 6 per cent increase in spending but is increasingly concerned about proposals for penalties for.... more
(25 April 2002 10:29)

Academic success eludes students
Social work students have worse academic qualifications than either nurses or teaches, according to a new study from Manchester Metropolitan.... more
(25 April 2002 10:31)

New care standards body to be axed in favour of merged inspectorate
Plans for a single inspectorate for social services have been greeted with a mixture of shock, concern and support. more
(25 April 2002 10:32)

Church of Scotland to close care units
The Church of Scotland has blamed insufficient funding by local authorities for the closure of nine care units. more
(25 April 2002 10:40)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(25 April 2002 09:47)

New online initiative for children in care
Funding of £1 million has been dedicated to develop an 'online community' for children in care, health minister Jacqui Smith and schools.... more
(25 April 2002 11:07)

Europe's largesse
The European Union has proved a valuable source of finance and inspiration for social care in the UK, lecturer in international social care Brian.... more
(25 April 2002 12:34)

We can't do it alone
Child protection can only work if professionals from every agency involved take far greater responsibility, argues director of social services.... more
(25 April 2002 14:08)

news analysis of child poverty figures
Although the number of children living in poverty has fallen since 1997, anti-poverty campaigners warn that more must be done to meet targets..... more
(25 April 2002 14:10)

Have your say
This week's Have your say debate centres on adoption targets set by the government for local authorities. more
(25 April 2002 17:49)

Union calls for strike action in London
Unison members in London are being urged to vote for strike action in a ballot over the refusal of local authorities to meet their claim for.... more
(23 April 2002 15:51)

Children given direct access to social workers in schools
Children from the age of three up to school leavers are to have direct access to social work services in a radical development to be pursued by.... more
(23 April 2002 16:36)

One in 10 children run away from home, new research shows
Over 10 per cent of all Scottish children run away from home before the age of 16 years, according to startling new research by Aberlour Child Care.... more
(23 April 2002 16:51)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson. more
(24 April 2002 09:45)

Local authorities call for national body to monitor child protection services
A national standards-setting body to monitor the performance of child protection services was proposed at the fourth seminar of phase two of the.... more
(24 April 2002 11:02)

Directors to assess child protection committees
The Association of Directors of Social Services is to carry out a survey of area child protection committees to see how they deal with unexplained.... more
(24 April 2002 11:29)

Victoria Climbie inquiry may re-open
The first phase of the Victoria Climbie inquiry may be reopened following the inquiry team’s decision to call for the original source.... more
(24 April 2002 12:01)

Harassment on mixed sex wards in psychiatric hospitals continues
Sexual harassment on mixed sex wards in psychiatric hospitals continues to be a major problem, according to a survey by mental health charity Mind. more
(24 April 2002 12:17)

Charity welcomes benefit help for parents of disabled children
Learning difficulty charity Mencap has welcomed the extension of eligibility rights for the childcare tax credit to parents of disabled children,.... more
(24 April 2002 12:28)

Milburn tells nurses social care is no longer `poor relation`
Social services is no longer the "poor relation" of health services, and the government is now relying on social care to put its extra Budget cash.... more
(24 April 2002 14:37)

Rescue scheme for children`s projects in Wales boosted by grant
Work with vulnerable children in Wales will be safeguarded following the announcement of a £200,000 grant from the Welsh assembly. more
(19 April 2002 15:02)

Workers at major centre for homeless people threaten strike action
Workers at one of Scotland’s largest centres for homeless people have threatened all out strike over a row on pay and conditions with.... more
(19 April 2002 15:31)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
Councils claim Budget will fail to ease bed blocking Figures on social care spending have been repackaged by ministers to give the impression.... more
(22 April 2002 09:32)

news analysis of the Budget and the implications for social care
When the Chancellor opened his budget briefcase there were cheers from the social care sector as he announced a 6 per cent real terms growth in.... more
(22 April 2002 11:27)

A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers
By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson. more
(23 April 2002 09:41)

Budget reaction from social care sector
The social care sector has welcomed a 6 per cent increase in spending announced in the Budget, but is concerned about proposals for penalties for.... more
(23 April 2002 11:30)

Lack of cash blamed for failure to support carers
The widespread failure of local authorities to fulfil their obligations to provide new services for careers has been blamed on a shortage of funds,.... more
(23 April 2002 14:37)

Race issues in Bradford still to be addressed, Ouseley says
Little progress has been made in tackling race relation issues in Bradford, according to a former chairperson of the Commission for Racial.... more
(23 April 2002 15:24)

Charity to campaign on drugs deaths
Drugs charity DrugScope has launched a public awareness campaign to tackle drug related deaths in the UK. Britain has the highest number of.... more
(23 April 2002 15:35)