Articles by Date : September 01 2006 - September 30 2006

Sentencing policy: Community sentences fail to convince magistrates
Campaigners claim that magistrates are failing to use community sentences because they are unsure of their effectiveness. Anabel Unity Sale reports.... more
(14 September 2006 00:06)

Star ratings for care homes: what are the drawbacks?
A rating system for care homes comes into force next year.But despite the approval of most providers, there remain doubts about consistencyand.... more
(14 September 2006 00:23)

PHSE demands rejected in updated teenage pregnancy strategy
The government has pledged to improve the quality of personal, social and health education in schools – but again rejected demands to make the.... more
(12 September 2006 17:42)

Northamptonshire Council slammed by Mencap for reducing respite services
Mencap has blasted Northamptonshire Council’s plans to tighten social care eligibility criteria and reduce respite services for people with learning.... more
(12 September 2006 00:00)

A social worker's guide to handling the media
Believe it or not, the media can be your friend, especially if you are trying to promote a new partnership project or community-based initiative,.... more
(12 September 2006 14:10)

Homeless figures down
New homelessness cases are at their lowest level in England since the early 1980s, according to quarterly government figures published yesterday. more
(12 September 2006 11:13)

More domestic violence courts on way
Click on the headline above for more social care related news from today's papers. more
(12 September 2006 09:58)

Care Trusts: On the way back
Care trusts were set to turn the social services world on its head back in 2002. Mark Hunter asks why things didn't quite turn out like that more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Regional Focus: The South West
The recent revelations of the abuse of adults with learning difficulties carried out at group homes and institutions in Cornwall are a blight on the.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Star quality
David Johnstone, director of social services at Devon Council describes the issues faced by care services in the South West: more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Concessions on legal aid fees anticipated as lawyers claim reforms would hit needy
Fears that government reforms of legal aid would slash solicitor numbers has led to a rethink, says Mithran Samuel more
(11 September 2006 18:19)

Attitudes and practice set to change after UN agrees rights convention
By adopting a convention on disability rights, the UN has thrown down a challenge to the UK government. Simeon Brody reports more
(07 September 2006 18:10)

Party conferences
Community Care and the Barrow Cadbury Trust are staging a series of fringe meetings during the party conference season to lobby for more support for.... more
(06 September 2006 00:00)

Jane Campbell to chair new independent living panel
The government today announced the membership of an expert panel to steer its review of independent living more
(11 September 2006 00:00)

£7m to test health-led parenting support plan
The government has pledged £7m to fund 10 pilot projects to test out plans to increase parenting support to all families with children under the age.... more
(11 September 2006 16:34)

Young Minds warns of potential dangers of mentoring
Mentoring can unwittingly harm the young people it is trying to support, according to a mental health charity. more
(11 September 2006 00:00)

Reaction to the social exclusion strategy
Reaction to the social exclusion strategy more
(11 September 2006 00:00)

Target to cut drugs deaths missed
The government has missed its target to cut drug-related deaths in England and Wales by a fifth from 1999 to 2004, according to figures published.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Social workers must act on suspicions
Social workers who believe children have been trafficked into the UK have been warned not to wait for their suspicions to be confirmed before acting,.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

No action against accused prison staff
No disciplinary action will be taken against prison staff accused of failing to prevent the murder of Zahid Mubarek due to "insufficient evidence",.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Kent trust adds in community health
Kent Council is set to include children's community health services in its forthcoming children's trust and has created a new post to head up the.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Editorial comment: Haringey reverses gains
The reputation of social workers looks set to take another knock this week with claims that a small child was forcibly removed from his foster mother.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Obituary: Jo Campling, lecturer and editor
Jo Campling, one of the foremost figures in social care publishing, has died of cancer. more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Carstairs patients seek lower security
The Scottish executive has confirmed that more than 30 patients at the high security Carstairs psychiatric hospital have applied to be transferred to.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Councils fail to pass on support funding
Scotland's councils are failing to pass on funds earmarked for training the providers and recipients of direct payment services to voluntary sector.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Howard League in post-custody blast
An independent inquiry should be set up to examine problems faced by children leaving custody, the Howard League for Penal Reform has urged. more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Essex forced to review foster rates
Essex Council is likely to review its allowances for kinship foster carers after agreeing an out-of-court settlement this week with a couple who had.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Bradford councillors urged to veto cuts
Bradford councillors will be urged next week to reject their leaders' proposals to restrict eligibility criteria for adult care to people with.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

The Big Question
Will the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities make any difference for disabled people? more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Respite care rationing by local authorities leaves families in crisis
Seven out of 10 families caring for children and adults with learning difficulties are in "physical and emotional crisis" because of a lack of short.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Councils' dual role distorts market and acts against need of children
The role of local authorities as commissioners and providers may be preventing them from procuring the best value services for children, according to.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Glasgow pay review could hit pockets
Union chiefs warned this week that some care staff at Glasgow Council's social work department will lose money as part of a pay and benefits review. more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Open Forum: Prison overcrowding
The "prison works" argument is only fuelling ever increasing overcrowding, writes David Ramsbotham more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Collaberation project: Single assessment process
Partly due to its geography and economies of scale, south west local authorities have a history of working collaboratively. Julie Griffiths looks at.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Disaster recovery
The South West is no stranger to gales and deluges, and has had to face several emergencies brought about by the elements. Derren Hayes finds out how.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Evaluation finds better services
Drug treatment services are improving, according to a new report, with the numbers in treatment almost doubling since 1999 and a sharp fall in.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Commissioning children's services - special report
Last week’s government-commissioned study on the market for children’s services called into question councils’ dual role as commissioner and.... more
(08 September 2006 00:00)

Effect of Turnbull judgement on adults with learning difficulties - special report
The decision by a local authority to make drastic cuts to the housing benefit of 19 people with learning difficulties looks to be the first knock-on.... more
(08 September 2006 00:00)

Editorial comment: Early warning systems
As well as a plan to appear on Blue Peter and Songs of Praise before he hands over the reigns at Number 10, Tony Blair revealed a further item on his.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Guardians decision 'led by cost-cutting'
Family courts leaders have accused the government of having a cost-cutting agenda after it decided against granting separate representation rights to.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Byers calls for open debate on funding
Former cabinet minister Stephen Byers has called for the government to have a public debate on reforming the funding system for social care. more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Opinion - Nigel Leaney on A Pet Subject - Canine Rebellion
Nigel Leaney is a firm advocate of rehabilitation but the only answer to his dog's misbehaviour might be an Asbo more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Heng: Disability and the media
"playing a cripple is the surest way to an Oscar nomination" more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

East European influx stretches services
More than one in seven people using front-line homelessness services in London are from the A8 eastern European countries, according to research. more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

If you ask me...Mark Richmond
Mark Richmond is a buddy for a volunteer centre and is a former substance misuser more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Scots fail to quell food charge row
The Scottish executive's response last week to the free personal care inquiry has failed to address two key issues undermining the policy, campaign.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

Highest priority in school admissions should be given to looked-after children
Looked-after children must be given the highest priority in school admissions from February 2007, under a government code issued for consultation.... more
(08 September 2006 00:00)

John Stoker: Compact commissioner
'I won't shirk criticism but I will make it in a positive way' more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

The plight of older prisoners
Over-60s are the fastest growing group of prisoners. But their mental, social and physical well-being can suffer, even after release, as the needs of.... more
(07 September 2006 00:00)

JP's cannabis fears
Click on the headline to find social care stories from the weekend's newspapers plus today's stories. more
(11 September 2006 00:00)