Articles by Date : May 01 2004 - May 31 2004

Workplace training for secondary school pupils
From September fourteen to sixteen year olds will be able to spend up to two days a week out of the classroom, learning a trade in a workplace. more
(10 May 2004 17:40)

“UK’s low breastfeeding rates due to mothers’ mistaken beliefs”
Serious misunderstandings may be stopping young women from breastfeeding, according the Department of Health. more
(10 May 2004 17:38)

Heads’ leader blames parents for problems at school
Parents have been blamed by the leader of the head teachers’ union for failing their children by not sending them to school with the right social.... more
(10 May 2004 17:37)

Parent support fund launched
A £15 million fund to provide support to parents has been launched by the government. more
(10 May 2004 17:36)

Lords debate Children Bill changes
The government has insisted the proposed children's commissioner will be independent enough, and rejected Lords' amendments to change the reporting.... more
(05 May 2004 15:17)

Monday 10 May 2004
Social workers to be based in police stations Pay deal for council workers more
(10 May 2004 09:57)

Debate on hot-desking
We asked:- Would you be happy to work for an organisation that operated a hot-desking policy? more
(10 May 2004 09:12)

Connexions makes joint working breakthrough
Improved joint working has been cited in a new survey as one of the main achievements of Connexions partnerships since they were set up, writes Amy.... more
(07 May 2004 12:32)

Now you see it...
As we move into year two of the tax credits scheme to help low-income families, welfare rights officer Rochelle Wilson urges the government to.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Time of their lives
Keeping accurate records of cases can alert professionals to recurrent behaviours of looked-after children and improve the provision of care, writes.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

We are the champions...
...but what are we for? Academic Jill Manthorpe looks at research into how older people's champions feel about their role and how effective they are..... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

An epic journey
In the first of our series on last year's winners of the Isabel Schwarz travel fellowship, project manager Aurelie Freeman tells Natalie Valios about.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Is help easily at hand?
Direct payments were brought in to empower service users, but have they really made the recipients more independent? Certainly, a recent report has.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Gunn on politics
The blaming of social workers displays our misplaced sense of responsibility. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news: this week, the closure of the Disabled People's parliament. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Consumed by worry
Anxiety sufferer Alex Williams feels as if she is on a hamster wheel - scrambling frantically but with no exit. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

We should do as the scandinavians do
Why is it that people with caring responsibilities in the UK are accorded such low status? more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

My regional bias
Bob Holman is very much in favour of bringing policy-makers closer to the people whom they serve, as long as "ugly nationalism" is not the motive..... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Who is going to give their time?
Volunteering is in sharp decline - a trend for which there is no simple solution, writes Mark Lever. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Accession nation refugees win last gasp housing and benefits reprieve
On 1 May the EU gained 10 new members. More than 2,500 existing asylum seekers from these countries can now work legally but lose benefits as a.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Promise to tackle access to banks
The government has pledged to improve access to financial services for people with learning difficulties. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Friday 7 May 2004
'Hopelessly naive' plan for Carr's release dropped. Milburn recommends Labour passes running of some public services to charities. more
(07 May 2004 09:43)

Social services urged to pre-empt government on regional purchasing
Social services directors have been told they should join together to develop regional delivery contracts with the voluntary sector. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Workers fear that Edinburgh merger will deflect attention from reforms
Child protection reforms will be thrown off track by plans to merge Edinburgh's children's social services and education services, public sector.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Unknown extent of suicide risk in cells
The Home Office does not know how many of the children it places in special cells or segregation are deemed to be at risk of suicide, officials have.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

'Poverty measure will focus policies'
Changes to the way the government measures deprivation were released last week. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Capped councils in dilemmas over cuts
Herefordshire Council fears that older people's services may need to be cut if it is forced by the government to slash its overall budget by.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Home opened for trafficked children
Specialist foster carers have been recruited and trained to look after trafficked children in the south of England. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Minister backs body to stamp out racism
The government has confirmed it will ensure all mental health staff will receive training about race issues, following a recommendation in the report.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Professionals failed to adequately assess Toni-Ann's carers, says review
A court-appointed children's guardian and a social worker have been severely criticised for failing to protect a seven-year-old girl who was shot.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Coroner calls for inquiry into death
The coroner who conducted the inquest into the death of Joseph Scholes has called for a public inquiry after the appalling conditions the 16 year old.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Road pricing 'would take toll on health'
Proposed new road tolls in Edinburgh could lead to more hospital admissions, the chief executive of primary care services for NHS Lothian has warned.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

High court considers ‘fit person’ test under Care Standards Act
On 21 April 2004 the high court gave judgement in an appeal by the National Care Standards Commission against a decision of the Care Standards.... more
(06 May 2004 18:09)

Four in five want new national union
More than 80 per cent of visitors to Community Care 's website believe there should be a new trade union for social workers covering the entire UK. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Peers set to force concessions on proposals for information-sharing
Provisions in the Children Bill should specifically cover care leavers, refugee and asylum-seeking children, young offenders and people with learning.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Council concern at funding admission
The belief that the government is to change the way local authorities are financed has been thrown into doubt by a senior civil servant. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Housing scheme attracts criticism
Tower Hamlets Council has hit back at critics of its decision to target a new extra care housing scheme at the Islamic community. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Policy reversal averts support crisis
No asylum seekers from the 10 EU accession countries supported by the National Asylum Support Service were made homeless over the weekend after a.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

New route for side effect complaints
Patients with side effects from drugs will be able to report them directly to the medicine watchdog under new government plans. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Local authorities fear extra burdens
Councils around London are concerned that initiatives to get adults out of residential care and increase their independence could place extra burdens.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Labour moots vast extension of charity provision of social services
Huge parts of key social care services could be provided by charities in future under plans being drawn up for the Labour Party manifesto. more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Share and share alike
As the Children Bill reached the committee stage of the House of Lords this week, there were two burning issues on their Lordships' agenda. First,.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Mayday for asylum
The government stands accused of causing a crisis for local authorities through its decision to deny support to asylum seekers from the new EU.... more
(06 May 2004 00:00)

Push for regional assemblies stalls
Referendums are to be held on regional assemblies. But what would such bodies do and what relationship would they have with local councils and.... more
(06 May 2004 15:24)

Thursday 6 May 2004
Only five child murder cases sent to appeal. Police doctor raped drugged girls, jury told. more
(06 May 2004 10:10)

Wednesday 5 May 2004
Refugees win right for legal appeal. Child porn 'threat' of internet mobiles. more
(05 May 2004 10:06)

Government rethink gives asylum seekers temporary reprieve
No asylum seekers from the 10 EU accession countries supported by the National Asylum Support Service have been made homeless over the weekend after.... more
(04 May 2004 17:59)

Council defends new home for older Muslims
Tower Hamlets Council has hit back at critics of its decision to target a new extra care housing scheme at the Islamic community, claiming it was.... more
(04 May 2004 17:09)

Connexions improves joint working
Improved joint working is considered to be one of the main achievements of Connexions Partnerships, according to a report launched last week. more
(04 May 2004 15:58)

Tougher penalties for sex offenders
New laws governing sex offences came into force on May 1. more
(04 May 2004 15:56)