Articles by Date : April 01 2007 - April 30 2007

Will adults' services be taken seriously by the government, asks Simon Heng
A government minister has decided to take adult social care seriously, but will it get the same funding priority as the NHS? more
(19 April 2007 00:59)

Children's Workforce Development Council's Mike Leadbetter tells Amy Taylor of his plans to raise staff profile
Ex-England rugby player Mike Leadbetter is aiming to raise the professional profile of the children's workforce. Amy Taylor reports more
(19 April 2007 00:59)

This life: Peaceful co-existence
Mark Ellerby, who has schizophrenia, has been hearing voices for 15 years but is now used to them more
(19 April 2007 00:58)

If you ask me...Lionel Bernstein
Lionel Bernstein, aged 63, lives in semi-independent residential accommodation owned by the charity Norwood more
(19 April 2007 00:50)

Social worker who did not declare criminal convictions faces conduct hearing
A registered social worker from Barrow-in-Furness who allegedly failed to declare previous criminal convictions and a police caution when registering.... more
(18 April 2007 00:01)

Healthcare Commission cuts fees for private mental health providers
The Healthcare Commission will cut regulation fees for independent sector mental health providers this year, though poorer performers may incur.... more
(17 April 2007 16:12)

Human Rights Act successfully used out of court to improve quality of care services
An increasing number of social workers, carers and charity groups are using the Human Rights Act 1998 outside of the courts to challenge unacceptable.... more
(17 April 2007 16:05)

Government determined to ignore Mental Health Bill changes
The government yesterday restated its intention to reverse many of the changes made by peers as the Mental Health Bill was debated for the first time.... more
(17 April 2007 15:59)

Southampton Council care staff settle pay dispute
Southampton Council care workers have settled their longstanding dispute with the authority over cuts to unsocial hour enhancements. more
(17 April 2007 13:58)

Beverley Hughes to announce white paper on looked-after children
Children’s minister Beverley Hughes is expected to announce a white paper on looked-after children today. more
(17 April 2007 12:54)

Rise in severe child abuse images online, the Internet Watch Foundation warns
Images of child abuse on the internet are on the increase, with a four-fold rise in images depicting the most severe abuse including penetrative and.... more
(17 April 2007 10:15)

Worst child abuse images quadruple online in three years, says watchdog
Click on the above headline for more social care related stories from today's papers. more
(17 April 2007 09:56)

Health visitor cuts will lead to child abuse rise, claims Amicus/ Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association
There will be an increase in the level of child abuse cases due to cuts in the number of health visitors, it was warned yesterday. more
(16 April 2007 14:22)

Can your clients help with a new Community Care survey?
Community Care is launching a campaign aimed at making the lives of people with learning disabilities better. more
(16 April 2007 11:44)

Social worker awaits General Social Care Council conduct committee verdict
A social worker who allegedly formed inappropriate relationships with service users will find out this week if he is guilty of misconduct. more
(16 April 2007 11:19)

Rainer warns it could drop backing for Offender Management Bill
Children’s charity Rainer is to withdraw its support for controversial legislation on offender management unless the government drops a measure to.... more
(17 April 2007 00:01)

Scientists to unlock genes behind common serious illnesses
Click on the above headline for more social care related stories from the Monday and weekend papers. more
(16 April 2007 10:02)

Leeds prison murder: inquest starts amid race claims
An inquest into the death of an Asian prisoner who was murdered by his cellmate at Leeds prison is due to begin today. more
(16 April 2007 00:01)

Quarriers staff vote to strike after Unison ballot on pay
Unison members at Quarriers, one of Scotland’s biggest social care charities have voted to strike in their dispute over pay. more
(13 April 2007 15:53)

Southampton care staff vote on bid to end contracts row
Unions are balloting care workers on Southampton Council’s proposals to end their long-running dispute over the removal of enhancements for unsocial.... more
(13 April 2007 15:39)

Lancaster Farm YOI: young people spend too long locked in cells, reports Anne Owers, chief inspector of prisons
Young people are spending too long in their cells without any purposeful activity at Lancaster Farms young offender institution, a report today by.... more
(13 April 2007 14:41)

Row erupts over claim service users have little control of national forum
A campaign group has claimed that a national forum set up to give people with learning difficulties a say in government policy is not user-led. more
(13 April 2007 14:39)

Your views on roles and tasks
We asked Community Care readers and website users to have their say on the GSCC consultation on the roles and tasks of social workers. more
(13 April 2007 12:38)

NHS cash crisis takes toll on mental health care
Mental health inpatient and day care are among the services hit by the “devastating” effects of the NHS financial crisis, the Royal College of.... more
(15 April 2007 00:01)

Citizens Advice launches tax credit survey
Charity Citizens Advice is running an online survey this month to give people their say on tax credit overpayment problems. more
(13 April 2007 10:57)

Public sector workers priced out of housing market, says Halifax survey
House prices in seven out of 10 towns in Britain are beyond the salaries of public sector workers, according to a Halifax survey published today. more
(13 April 2007 10:50)

Public sector workers can't afford to buy homes
Click on the above headline for more social care related news from today's papers. more
(13 April 2007 09:29)

Mental health leads trio of social care bills in parliament
Three important pieces of legislation affecting social care will be debated next week when parliament reconvenes. more
(14 April 2007 00:01)

Uncertainty over ‘Megan’s Law’ pilot in Somerset
North East Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset police have today been unable to confirm whether they are due to pilot a Home Office Megan’s.... more
(13 April 2007 07:45)

CSCI gets tough with poor providers
The Commission for Social Care Inspection is cracking down on poor providers through new enforcement teams in its seven regions, it announced.... more
(13 April 2007 00:01)

Practitioners have their say on local government pay offer
Trade unions and council bosses met last week for more negotiations over this year’s pay settlement. more
(12 April 2007 12:03)

Scheme for 1,500 antisocial families a year
Click on the above headline for more social care related news from today's papers. more
(12 April 2007 09:53)

Confusion surrounds new 'Megan's law'
Parents may still be given the right to know if sex offenders live locally, a Home Office spokeswoman said today. more
(12 April 2007 09:48)

Questions from community Care issue dated 12-18 April
Click on the headline to go through to the questions more
(12 April 2007 09:37)

Louise Casey unveils plan to tackle the most antisocial families
Antisocial families will be allocated dedicated workers in 53 intervention projects announced by Louise Casey, the Home Office’s Respect tsar,.... more
(12 April 2007 09:35)

Question from Community Care: Dealing with violent service users. Jim Wild on how a national strategy is needed
Click on the headline to go through to the full article more
(12 April 2007 09:35)

Question from Community Care: The Department of Health wants a radical shake-up of commissioning health and social care services. Barbara Allen and Elizabeth Wade assess the potential of its new framework
Click on the headline to go through to the full article more
(12 April 2007 09:32)

Move to address education shortfalls
Reforms to education for 10- to 17-year-olds in the youth justice system in England are being considered by the government. more
(12 April 2007 09:23)

Questions from Community Care - issue dated 5 - 11 April
Click on the headline to go through to this weeks questions more
(12 April 2007 09:18)

March
Questions for PRTL from March more
(12 April 2007 09:17)

Questions from Community Care issue dated 29 March - 4 April
Click on the headlines to go through to the questions more
(12 April 2007 09:14)

Questions from Community Care issue dated 22-28 March
Click on the headline to go through to the questions more
(12 April 2007 09:13)

Questions from Community Care issue dated 15-21 March
Click on the headline to go through to the questions more
(12 April 2007 09:13)

Questions from Community Care issue dated 8 - 14 March
Click on the headline to go through to the questions more
(12 April 2007 09:12)

Questions from Community Care issue dated 1-7 March
Click on the headline to go through to the questions more
(12 April 2007 09:12)

Specialist parent court to be piloted
The first specialist court for parents with drug and alcohol problems in the UK is to be piloted by Camden Council in London, in the hope of reducing.... more
(12 April 2007 09:08)

The moral and ethical debate over the voluntary sector's acceptance of public money for services. Mark Ivory guides
Large charities are undoubtedly the winners as the government pushes for more voluntary sector involvement in public service delivery. But for.... more
(12 April 2007 08:51)

Dealing with violent service users. Jim Wild on how a national strategy is needed
The use of real life scenarios in training would help social workers regain some measure of control with intimidating service users. A national.... more
(12 April 2007 08:44)

Opinion: Service users do not want care navigators
The sixties song Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood could have been written with social work in mind. The message from research has been that.... more
(12 April 2007 08:17)

Staff tell us their contrasting tales of working in the voluntary sector viz a viz the statutory sector
As voluntary providers expand and offer more job opportunities for social workers, Sally Gillen speaks to three who have experienced life in both the.... more
(12 April 2007 08:12)