Articles by Date : April 01 2004 - April 30 2004

Connexions on track despite funding problems
Connexions partnerships are making good progress helping young people into work and education and are improving their advice and guidance services,.... more
(06 April 2004 00:00)

Four out 10 benefit appeals are successful
Appeals against incapacity and disability benefit decisions are successful in over 40 per cent of cases, according to a report from the House of.... more
(06 April 2004 11:50)

Care homes duped in data protection scam
Care homes are being targeted by bogus companies into paying more than £100 to register under the Data Protection Act 1998, writes Katie Leason and.... more
(05 April 2004 14:51)

Free nursery education for two-year-olds to be piloted
Two-year-olds in disadvantaged areas will be offered free nursery places under a pilot scheme the government has confirmed. more
(05 April 2004 17:59)

Government claims on B&B are misleading, says Barnardo’s
Thousands of homeless children will continue to live in bed and breakfast accommodation despite the government's pledge to end long-term B&B for.... more
(05 April 2004 18:03)

Concern over poor facilities for young people with mental illness
A shortage of specialist beds means young people with mental health problems have been admitted to hospital wards that fail to meet their needs, a.... more
(05 April 2004 18:08)

Tuesday 6 April 2004
Ministers consider 'daddy month' for new fathers. Psychiatrist used paedophile website. more
(06 April 2004 10:06)

Nature of the beast
The UK's social care councils have been up and running for a year. Anabel Unity Sale gauges the opinions of social care professionals about their.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

What’s wrong with a broad education?
Schools are so locked in to the national curriculum, they risk neglecting some pupils’ skills. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Despite progress many homes still not meeting minimum standards
More than half of children's homes do not meet the national minimum standard on child protection procedures and training, new figures reveal. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Blunkett announces revamp of vetting procedures
Changes to the system of vetting all people who work with children will be introduced in light of the Bichard Inquiry findings, home secretary David.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Government throws weight behind carers bill
The government has announced its support for the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill, writes Natasha Salari. more
(05 April 2004 12:11)

Monday 5 April 2004
Courts to become last resort for disputing parents. US marine who abducted girl sent to jail. more
(05 April 2004 10:05)

Finding the missing pieces
By focusing on service users' skills and interests, crises can be avoided and lives enriched. Trainer Jan Little describes an approach to social work.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Your future in their hands
Misconduct investigations are about to become part of social workers' lives for the first time. Ruth Winchester visits a Nursing and Midwifery.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news: this week, the government's older people strategy. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Sector registers approval
Ruth Winchester assesses the exclusive findings of a Community Care survey into how staff feel about the major changes affecting the social care.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

The 10-year plan
The head of the General Social Care Council watchdog outlines the challenge ahead to Natalie Valios. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Is justice taking a beating?
Hate crimes against people with disabilities are now recognised in law. But the police and courts are dragging their feet in putting the law into.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Doctors' doubts on baby 'abuse' proof
Medical experts have cast further doubt on the diagnosis of "shaken baby syndrome", which is often cited as evidence of child abuse. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Low-key start to new commission heralds a big inspection shake up
Three inspection regimes merge into one this month. But it will be a year before the staff and systems are fully streamlined. Sally Gillen looks at.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Campaign to save family centre fails
Staff and service users at a family centre run by the Children's Society in Brighton have raised concerns about the gap in services the centre's.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Rate of increase in council tax slows
Council tax payments will rise by an average 5.9 per cent in the coming financial year, the government has confirmed. It is less than half last.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Pooled fund set up for young people
Government departments have pooled budgets to create a £50m fund to help young people with substance misuse problems. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Fears over barriers to plan's success
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has warned that professional barriers must not get in the way of protecting children, after new measures.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

MPs slam Olympic bid lottery 'raid'
MPs and voluntary organisations have condemned plans to "raid" the national lottery fund of £1.5bn to support London's Olympic bid. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

'Housing plans must cover autism'
Plans for housing and support of people with learning difficulties must include people with autism, a National Autistic Society report has.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Recruitment crisis for outreach teams
Crisis resolution and assertive outreach teams are finding it difficult to recruit social workers, a report from the Sainsbury Centre for Mental.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Regions 'should take over Connexions'
England's proposed regional assemblies should take over responsibility for the Connexions service for 14 to 19 year olds, says a report by a local.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Random testing for first state school
The Abbey School in Kent is set to become the first state school to introduce random drug testing, it emerged this week. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Mother returns to jail over truancy
A mother who was jailed in May 2002 for allowing her two daughters to truant is back in prison. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Specialist courts offer better support
Specialist domestic violence courts provide better support for victims and more effective ways of dealing with domestic violence and should be.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Home Office withstands a barrage of criticism to stick by asylum proposal
The government has announced that it will not be commissioning an independent review into section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Report praises most service provision
A report on how care services are responsive to the needs, and promote the rights, of service users has concluded that most services meet clients'.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Ring-fencing could be removed in Supporting People funding shake-up
The ring-fencing of money for the Supporting People programme could be abolished under new government plans, a senior official at the Office of the.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Offenders need love if they are to care
A leading children's campaigner has called on youth offending policy makers to change tack and look at the importance of sustained caring.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Groups go to court over council cuts
Voluntary groups in Leicester have won the right to challenge the council's decision to cut funding due to budgetary constraints. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Key worker scheme does not impress
Three out of four visitors to Community Care 's website believe the government's new programme to help key workers afford homes in expensive areas.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

More staff needed to change light bulb
The number of social care workers needed to change a light bulb was called into question this week - despite the ability of a home care worker to.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Cozens calls for statutory duty on councils to develop communities
Social care must place more emphasis on communities rather than the individual, the president of the Association of Directors of Social Services said.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Government seeks to dispel 'myths' about use of the Data Protection Act
The Department of Constitutional Affairs and the information commissioner have expressed concerns that public bodies are being over-cautious in their.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Silence remains golden for Lords
A new legal clause which would have allowed a person to be convicted of murder or manslaughter on the basis of their silence has been defeated in the.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Guidance issued on forced marriages
Social workers should consider that issues associated with forced marriage could lie behind truancy, self-harm and depression in some cases, states.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Workers support registration but have doubts over implementation
One in seven qualified social workers won't register with the General Social Care Council "until forced to", exclusive Community Care research has.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Public wants to see more inspections
Nearly 40 per cent of the public believes that social care services should be inspected monthly and almost three-quarters think that inspectors.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Report links care and drug abuse
One in five drug users has been in care during childhood and over half have been excluded or suspended from school, a survey from charity Addaction.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Charity warns over Bill's weaknesses
Measures contained in the Children Bill may not be enough to improve the protection of vulnerable children in the future, children's charity.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

More cash to build affordable homes
The deputy prime minister has allocated £3.5bn to the Housing Corporation to build 67,000 affordable homes over the next two years. more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Fencing must stay up
Only two months ago the government published an independent review of its housing and social care initiative Supporting People which suggested that.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)

Happy to be registered
You, our readers, have once again impressed us with your optimism. With just 12 months left to go before registration for some groups becomes a legal.... more
(01 April 2004 00:00)