Articles by Date : July 01 2004 - July 31 2004

Sam’s Bill could help stop carers from slipping into isolation
As Sam’s Bill receives royal assent, Lindsay Clark examines at how it can help the UK’s six million careers. more
(23 July 2004 17:01)

Police name change aims to recruit staff
The Metropolitan Police is changing the name of its child abuse unit because it is struggling to recruit good quality staff, it was alleged last.... more
(23 July 2004 16:52)

Desperate asylum seeker cuts himself because of extended custody
An asylum seeker who has been detained in a prison for over a year and a half after his criminal sentence finished has seriously cut him self in.... more
(23 July 2004 16:38)

Social services to get more help in identifying child trafficking
Social workers will receive more information on child trafficking included in a booklet to help them if they are worried that a child is being.... more
(23 July 2004 14:47)

Friday 23 July 2004
Carr’s mother jailed for intimidation Travellers ‘must have rights’ more
(23 July 2004 10:15)

Cafcass to write fewer reports and focus on clearing case backlog
The nation’s most needy children are likely to benefit under new proposals to shake-up the family justice system in England and Wales, writes.... more
(23 July 2004 13:01)

Public order drive condemned as a drain on crime prevention schemes
The government’s focus on antisocial behaviour in its five-year law and order strategy has caused alarm among penal reformers. more
(22 July 2004 10:11)

Barred from entry?
This week, vulnerable adults gain the same sort of protection from abuse that children in education settings have. Anabel Unity Sale reports on how a.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

The big question
Is the government's spending review good news for social care? more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Long-time companions
The myth that same-sex relationships don't exist among older people is still alive and kicking. Nichola Lavin explains the issues facing older.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Road to damascus
Glasgow community worker Bob Holman met Iain Duncan Smith during his visits to the Easterhouse estate two years ago. The former Conservative Party.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Looking for common ground
The common assessment framework aims to help provide multidisciplinary services for children and is a key measure in the Children Bill. Jan Horwath.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Supporting People cuts could force closure of small hostels and refuges
Government cuts in the Supporting People budget could force the closure of services for vulnerable people, service providers have warned, writes.... more
(22 July 2004 17:12)

Councils struggle with 'fair pay' deal
A deal between unions and councils to end low pay was signed in 1997 but few have found the money to implement it. And some have used the regrading.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Battered - and boozed
Women fleeing domestic violence often find the door to a refuge slammed shut if their drink or drug habit comes to light. Joanna Pearl reports on.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Merger mystery
The Home Office plans to plough much of the additional money it has received from the Spending Review into the new National Offender Management.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

If you ask me...
Eve Rank is a project worker for learning difficulties charity Voice UK. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Why I prefer reality
Richard Jameson's mental health problems did not make him depressed but life is better without them. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

The Simon Heng Column
I've been able to spot potential difficulties and deal with them before they have become serious problems, and catch infections before they become.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Racism is alive and well in 2004
In-your-face racism is out of fashion but the government still uses racism to sell its asylum policies, says Dawn Summers. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Back to the streets
The all-consuming Westminster world has detached politicians from the concerns of most people. Which makes Iain Duncan Smith's recent activities all.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Child care's sorted. Now for carers...
Carers still do not feature on politicians' radar despite the sea change in child care policy. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Echoes of past as departments try to balance savings and delivery
Regional procurement is the "new" big idea for service delivery. But, having been tried and dropped 20 years ago, will it be any better this time.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Supporting People cuts could force closure of small hostels and refuges
Government cuts in the Supporting People budget could force the closure of services for vulnerable people, service providers have warned. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Mental health monitor axed by health department saving drive
The Mental Health Act Commission, the body responsible for monitoring patients detained under the act, is to be abolished by the Department of Health.... more
(22 July 2004 15:50)

'Don't get too cosy with government'
Voluntary and community schemes are in danger of being "colonised" by the government if the links between them become too close, delegates at the.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Hodge calms fears
Children's minister Margaret Hodge has written to chief executives and directors of social services stating there is no contradiction between the.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Schools 'should spearhead welfare' to be eligible for funding guarantee
Schools' three-year funding guarantee should be conditional on them taking responsibility for the overall welfare of children and young people in.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Health 'keeps losing invitation' to be part of joined-up children's services
The chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection has warned that health is failing to engage in the new children's services agenda and called.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Appeal Court finds sentence too harsh
A man who threatened to kill a social worker has had a four-year jail sentence halved by the Court of Appeal, which ruled that it was "manifestly.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Dropped abuse case is cue for probe
Western Isles Council has invited the Social Work Services Inspectorate to look into the authority's involvement with a child abuse case that was.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Watchdog lambasts 'slow' government
Inadequate support by the government contributed to the lengthy delays in assessing compensation claims for people wrongly charged by the NHS for.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Cash boost for Isle of Man carers
Foster carers on the Isle of Man are set to receive up to £475 per week after the island transferred its fostering service to the private sector. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Treasury's notion of quality of life dismissed by older people's charities
The Treasury's service targets are too narrow to improve overall quality of life for vulnerable older people, leading charities have warned. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Scottish executive defies plan's critics
Social services groups in Scotland have hit out at Scottish executive plans to push ahead with a single agency incorporating the prison service and.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Councils urged to reform care fees
A coalition of older people's charities and pressure groups have called for all councils to develop funding models that better reflect the cost of.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Small charities are being squeezed out
Small charities are facing an uncertain future because the sector is perceived by the public to consist of "an emerging pack" of large charity brands. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Welsh councils fail vulnerable children
Welsh councils are not meeting the needs of vulnerable children, an audit by the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales has revealed. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Coroner demands admissions review
A coroner has called on a mental health trust to rewrite its admissions policy following the suicide of a man who was being assessed for possible.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Peers fail to amend Children Bill to make schools work with agencies
Further attempts to place a duty on individual schools to co-operate with other agencies to improve their pupils' well-being failed last week as the.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Misconduct charges levelled at officers
Six Metropolitan Police officers are to face formal misconduct charges in relation to the care of Victoria Climbie. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Religious hatred 'should be a crime'
Two-thirds of visitors to Community Care 's website think home secretary David Blunkett should make incitement to religious hatred a criminal.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Police chiefs hail prostitution debate
Senior police officers have welcomed last week's launch of a consultation paper on prostitution. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

New provisos for grant aid rejected
The government has rejected recommendations to force community and voluntary organisations to work across cultural divides as a condition of grant.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Ex-prisoners to be given rent benefit
The Department for Work and Pensions is planning to change housing benefit regulations from October to help prisoners in their resettlement. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Unison still advising against registration
Unison will continue to advise its members against registering with the General Social Care Council, after talks to get employers to agree to pay the.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Concern over trusts' poor performance
Star ratings released by the Healthcare Commission this week show that the performance of mental health trusts "remains a cause for concern". more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Police name change aims to recruit staff
The Metropolitan Police is changing the name of its child abuse unit because it is struggling to recruit staff of sufficient quality, it was alleged.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Green paper aims to join up services
A green paper on youth is planned for the autumn, the Department for Education and Skills has revealed. more
(22 July 2004 00:00)

Government to widen remit of act
More people diagnosed with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis will be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 under new plans announced by.... more
(22 July 2004 00:00)