Articles by Date : June 01 2003 - June 30 2003

Falls biggest accident risk to children
Falls are the biggest single cause of emergency hospital admissions among children in Scotland, new figures show. In Child Safety Week, the report.... more
(23 June 2003 17:20)

MPs renew pressure for a children's commissioner
An influential group of MPs has responded to Lord Laming’s inquiry report by calling for a children’s commissioner in England, writes David.... more
(24 June 2003 00:00)

New stand-in chair for Youth Justice Board
Sir Charles Pollard will be acting chair of the Youth Justice Board following Lord Warner’s appointment as a Department of Health minister in the.... more
(23 June 2003 17:22)

Friday 20 June 2003
Connexions criticised by college lecturers for neglecting middle class children. Schizophrenic man who killed woman sent to psychiatric hospital.... more
(20 June 2003 09:52)

Monday 23 June 2003
Eight children 'destined for sex trade in Africa' taken into care. Care home evicts woman of 102. more
(23 June 2003 10:05)

Professionals support bereaved service families
The war in Iraq and the threat of further conflicts has put the spotlight on bereavement services. Clive Langmead , of the Navy’s personal and.... more
(20 June 2003 15:29)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news. more
(19 June 2003 12:22)

McTernan on Politics
The future for children’s services is looking brighter after the Cabinet reshuffle. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

‘I’m no longer a victim’
Four years of psychotherapy has given Andrea Phillips a new confidence about herself and her abilities. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Accountability is key to protection
Local councillors should be given more say in the running of children’s services, write Alison King and Gillian Morgan. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Signs of hope come too late for Johnny
Sorrow is simply not enough after a 16-year-old gypsy was beaten to death near his home. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

All nurses should be given child protection training
Nurses from all specialisms should receive basic child protection training, according to new guidelines published by the Royal College of Nursing, .... more
(21 June 2003 00:00)

On the way to work
The government says it is committed to tackling barriers to work for people with mental health problems. Peter Beresford says this must include an.... more
(19 June 2003 17:37)

Debate on a conscience opt out clause for social workers
We asked whether social workers should be allowed to opt out of some cases on the basis of religious beliefs or conscience. more
(19 June 2003 17:10)

Court seeks review of adoption rules
Top judges warned Cornwall Council last week to improve its adoption procedures or risk being challenged under human rights legislation. more
(19 June 2003 17:31)

Opposition calls to save Welsh grant
Welsh health minister Jane Hutt has fended off calls for the annual £5.6m special grant for carers to continue to be ring-fenced rather than absorbed.... more
(19 June 2003 17:30)

Confidentiality fears ‘lead doctors to minimise child protection role’
Child death inquiries that have criticised professionals have left many paediatricians wanting to play a minimal role in child abuse issues. more
(19 June 2003 17:29)

Mencap chief calls lack of children’s mental health services a ‘scandal’
The lack of emphasis given to children’s mental health services has been branded a "national scandal" by a member of a working group of the National.... more
(19 June 2003 17:26)

Ladyman is confirmed as new social care minister
Stephen Ladyman has been confirmed as the new social care minister following last week's ministerial reshuffle. more
(19 June 2003 15:33)

Integrate or isolate
As the government prepares another refugee integration strategy, Anabel Unity Sale looks at how the integration of new arrivals could be smoothed by.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Hard climb ahead
Moves are afoot to tackle the exclusion of people with mental health problems from employment. But, as Katie Leason reports, there is a long way to.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Back to nurture
A new workforce initiative has been set up by the Scottish government and social work directors. Terry Philpot looks at how it will support the front.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

One eye on health
Social services departments now have the right to scrutinise services provided by the NHS. Researcher Anna Coleman discusses how this is working in.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Victims of complacency?
A number of Labour initiatives have aimed to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. But does the postponement of criminal checks on staff in adult.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

news analysis of claims that carers of people with learning difficulties lack support
While critics point to the patchy progress made in the learning difficulties field, councils say they need more resources to fulfil the strategy's.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Staff skills must be developed, says Platt
Chief inspector of social services Denise Platt has called for greater investment in developing social workers' skills. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Cherie Booth calls for commissioner
A children's commissioner ought to be an integral part of the government's green paper on children, barrister Cherie Booth told delegates. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Social workers' role in treating trauma in Northern Ireland should be recognised
A trauma expert has called on the government to recognise the important role social workers play in helping to rehabilitate victims of Northern.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Laming says child protection committees too weak
Lord Laming, chairperson of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, has attacked the role of area child protection committees. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Worker backed at inquiry into death
Gloucestershire Council has denied allegations that a social worker responsible for a pensioner who died five days after being moved from her nursing.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

'Well-being' power to benefit services
An underused local government power could help social services and councils streamline and develop care services. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Guidance warning on depression drug
Medical professionals, charities, and politicians have raised concerns about services for children and young adults with depression after the.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Charities applaud move to introduce enhanced checks for home care staff
Charities working with vulnerable adults have welcomed the introduction of criminal records checks for all home care workers, announced by the.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Leadership 'crucial' to ratings success
Strong local political leadership is crucial to improving councils' comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) ratings, James Strachan, Audit.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

'Mystery shoppers' put services to test
A social services department in south Wales is recruiting local people to become "mystery shoppers" to ensure their services are accessible and.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Plans to let NHS bill employers delayed
Plans to allow the NHS to charge employers for the health and social care provided to workers hurt in accidents have been delayed. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Judge rejects youth benefits bias claim
The Court of Appeal has rejected claims that young people are being forced below the poverty line because social security rules discriminate against.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Psychiatrist fires detention warning
A psychiatrist has raised fears about proposals in the Mental Health Bill to detain people deemed untreatable, warning that in 90 per cent of cases.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Huge opposition to bureau's fees hike
Nine out of 10 visitors to Community Care 's website say it is not reasonable for the Criminal Records Bureau to raise fees for security checks. more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Amendment eases workers' anxieties
Young people's charities last week welcomed the government's decision to amend the Sexual Offences Bill to ensure those giving emotional advice on.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Unison to campaign against incentives
Public sector union Unison will draw up a strategy aimed at dissuading social services departments from offering financial incentives to attract.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Mixed reception for department moves
The Department of Health was given a makeover last week following the shock resignation of health secretary Alan Milburn and the sideways move to the.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Community Care tells Duncan Smith to apologise for 'hysteria' on asylum
Community Care has written to Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith urging him to apologise publicly for the "pejorative" language used by his MPs.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

A better position
The warm welcome from the social care field for Margaret Hodge's appointment as minister for children isn't just because, despite widespread.... more
(19 June 2003 00:00)

Thursday 19 June 2003
Inland Revenue admits serious backlog in claims for tax credits. Calls for Selina Scott to resign over 'racist' remarks. more
(19 June 2003 10:02)

Councils scrutinised over deportation decisions
The recent case of M v LB of Islington (5 June 2003) is further case which highlights the care that a council must take when it proposes that it is.... more
(18 June 2003 17:02)

Reid replaces Milburn as health secretary
John Reid has been appointed health secretary following Alan Milburn's shock resignation on Thursday morning. more
(12 June 2003 11:43)

Community Care calls on Tory leader to apologise for "inflammatory" language on asylum
Community Care has written to Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith urging him to apologise publicly for the “pejorative” language used by his MPs.... more
(18 June 2003 15:29)

Junior minister set to take social care brief
Stephen Ladyman could take over the social care brief at the department of health following the departure of Jacqui Smith in last week's reshuffle. more
(18 June 2003 12:02)

Wednesday 18 June 2003
Hodge to take on children's court support service. MPs warn action against anti-social behaviour may breach human rights. more
(18 June 2003 10:22)