Articles by Date : April 01 2004 - April 30 2004

Shake-up in older people's services prompts ultimatum from Ladyman
Older people's services are to be overhauled, culminating with the publication of a new vision for adult social care in the summer. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Vacancies warning after pay talks stall
Public sector union Unison has warned of a looming crisis in the residential care sector unless local government employers increase their "pathetic".... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Commissioners face joint work problems
The four UK children's commissioners will find it difficult to work together because of the role envisaged for the one in England, it is feared. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Schools 'should cope with special needs'
Six out of 10 visitors to Community Care 's website believe schools should be able to cope with children with special needs despite education.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Benefits farce of New Deal exposed
More than 160,000 jobseekers on two government employment schemes have been moved on to other benefits instead. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Justice board on defensive despite tragedy of boy restrained at centre
The Youth Justice Board has defended its use of secure training centres for young offenders even though a 15 year old died last week after being.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Majority of carers give services free
More than half of all foster carers are paid nothing for their services and a further 20 per cent receive less than £100 a week, a survey by the.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Refugee Council issues warning
More than 2,500 asylum seekers from the 10 EU accession countries could be made homeless overnight next week, the Refugee Council has warned. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Scottish workers may ditch Unison
The Scottish branch of the British Association of Social Workers will be asked to vote at its annual general meeting at Community Care Live in.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Drugs firms under fire over 'secrecy'
Mental charity Mind has described as "outrageous" the revelation that drugs trials which showed that antidepressants for children were ineffective or.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Parliament on the verge of folding
A funding crisis has this week left the future of the Disabled People's Parliament hanging in the balance. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Departments can't afford new staff
Social services departments are being forced to leave social worker posts unfilled because they can't afford to invest in new staff. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Social workers in Northern Ireland warned off registering with council
A union that represents around 90 per cent of Northern Ireland's social workers is advising members against registering with the country's social.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Tragedy and custody
It could hardly have come at a worse time for Rod Morgan, the new chair of the Youth Justice Board. Just as the YJB has been increasing the number of.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Farcical forum
It appears the UK Disabled People's Parliament is under threat; but does anybody care? more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Erase the images to end the shame
Leaving pictures of child sex abuse circulating on the internet prolong the victims' ordeal, says Susan Creighton. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Home work horror
Many office-bound staff view working from home as highly desirable. But Peter White's experience of it left him feeling unstimulated...and.... more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Gunn on politics
Politicians can help people stretch their horizons and grasp opportunities. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

New love, old pain
Charlotte McCarthy thought she'd never be a victim of domestic violence again after she stopped dating men. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news: this week, schooling for children with special needs. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Friday 30 April 2004
Failings of agencies over death of Toni-Ann Byfield Charities should run public services more
(30 April 2004 09:42)

Will the Children Bill make a difference?
Penny Thompson and John Coughlan of the Association of Directors of Social Services assess the effect the Children Bill will have on services and the.... more
(29 April 2004 15:11)

Posts left vacant by cash-strapped social services
Social services departments are leaving social worker posts unfilled because they can’t afford to invest in new staff, writes Derren Hayes. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Thursday 29 April 2004
Mother calls for public inquiry into murder of her daughter. Government set to announce public inquiry into race killing of teenager. more
(29 April 2004 09:57)

People with learning difficulties to be given more help to open bank accounts
The government has pledged to improve access to financial services for people with learning difficulties, writes Clare Jerrom. more
(28 April 2004 18:02)

Social workers in Northern Ireland advised not to register
A union that represents around 90 per cent of Northern Ireland’s social workers is advising members against registering with the country’s social.... more
(30 April 2004 00:00)

Exclusive: Social work students left without course by university bombshell
The University of Liverpool has scrapped its new undergraduate social work degree course because of a lack of funds, writes Derren Hayes. more
(29 April 2004 00:00)

Good practice highlighted in pioneer children's department
Good practice in family placement, court and duty work in one of England's first integrated children, families and schools departments were.... more
(28 April 2004 12:41)

Scots may set up new union for social workers
The Scottish branch of the British Association of Social Workers could sever links with public sector union Unison and create a separate union, .... more
(28 April 2004 12:08)

Parliament for disabled people under threat
The future of the Disabled People’s Parliament hangs in the balance as it faces a funding crisis, writes Derren Hayes. more
(28 April 2004 12:23)

‘No cash for shift to supported housing’
Fears that residential care could be replaced by very supported housing were allayed this week after it was calculated such a move would cost between.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news: this week, help for birth parents whose children were adopted. more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Trust betrayed
Sometimes the very professionals entrusted to help vulnerable people can end up abusing their clients. Katie Leason reports on this shocking.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Forcing the issue
The wide variation across various children's services in the policy and practice of physical restraint highlights the urgent need for a review of its.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

No room for nuisance
The government's crackdown on antisocial behaviour has left social landlords keen to wash their hands of problem tenants - and left social workers.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Art Works in Mental Health
Art review. more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Gunn on politics
June's local and European elections may be low key but they do matter. more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

I seem fine...but I'm not
Are mental health needs so difficult that even professionals do not understand them, asks Amanda Wells. more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Time to step up alcohol action
The government's strategy is all very well but more urgent action on alcoholism is needed, writes Eric Appleby. more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Wednesday 28 April 2004
Social services criticised by inquiry report into shooting of seven-year-old girl. more
(28 April 2004 10:03)

Low earners miss out on flexibility
We need to do more to make flexible working available to the people who need it most. more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Welsh children’s commissioner’s concerned about English commissioner’s powers
Welsh children’s commissioner Peter Clarke has told MPs he is worried that his English counterpart could complicate his work, according to the BBC. more
(27 April 2004 19:05)

Youth agency dismayed by decision on voting age
The national youth agency has reacted with dismay to the Electoral Commission’s recommendation that the minimum age for voting should remain at.... more
(27 April 2004 18:27)

Urgent need for better understanding of baby killings
Much stronger research evidence is urgently needed to help identify suspicious sudden infant deaths, say doctors. more
(27 April 2004 18:24)

New prison units for girls to avoid detention in adult prisons
A network of new prison units for girls is to be built by the Home Office in a bid to end the practice of holding children in women’s prisons, David.... more
(20 April 2004 17:35)

Teenager dies after being restrained at secure training centre
A 15-year-old boy serving a detention and training order at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre died this week following an incident in which he lost.... more
(23 April 2004 20:40)

A wider safety net
Although the blame for abuse by professionals rests with the individuals involved, the General Social Care Council should work with service users to.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Shelter demands more action over poor living conditions for children
Poor housing has adverse effects on children's health and education. But professionals believe the issue has slipped down successive governments'.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

Social services directors fear merged services will compromise child safety
Many social service directors may quit if forced to relinquish lead responsibility for children's services to education professionals, suggests a new.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)

New call for centre to probe web porn
Children's charity Barnardo's has again urged a national centre staffed by child care workers and police to be set up to identify children who have.... more
(22 April 2004 00:00)