Articles by Date : November 01 2002 - November 30 2002

Charities welcome proposed sex offences to curb exploitation
New sex offences have been put forward by the government to protect children and vulnerable adults. Katie Leason finds professionals generally.... more
(28 November 2002 00:00)

Children in Scotland are not being protected, says executive report
Half of all children in Scotland at risk of abuse and neglect are not receiving adequate protection, according to a report published earlier this.... more
(28 November 2002 00:00)

Government introduces new measures to help runaways
A new package of measures to help young runaways was unveiled in a report by the government's social exclusion unit, writes Amy Taylor. more
(29 November 2002 17:17)

Children in prison to be protected by act
Children held in prison custody are to be protected by the Children Act 1989, the high court ruled on Friday, writes Clare Jerrom. more
(29 November 2002 14:56)

Scots hospital gets multi-agency team
A specialist child protection unit is planned for the new children's hospital in Aberdeen, which is to open in 2003. more
(28 November 2002 00:00)

Re-read the labels
Categorising people with special needs is a bureaucratic exercise that does little to help service users - especially when the system pushes them.... more
(28 November 2002 00:00)

Research into practice
Bernard Moss looks at the important role personal development planning has to play in the new social work degree. more
(28 November 2002 00:00)

Illegal contribution
It is unlawful to charge looked-after young people when they reach 16, writes Gary Vaux. more
(28 November 2002 00:00)

Councils given new cash to reduce delayed discharges
Social services are set to receive £300 million over the next three years to tackle delayed discharges, writes Katie Leason. more
(29 November 2002 13:24)

Friday 29 November 2002
Parents banned from taking pictures of children in nativity play, and new money granted to prevent runaways turning to drug abuse and prostitution. more
(29 November 2002 10:05)

‘What’s the point?’
By setting out to involve young people in projects and decision-making, agencies have set themselves a tough task: how to overcome young people’s.... more
(28 November 2002 17:25)

Different class
Nurseries and schools can be ideal places for parents to gain skills, and children to get extra support. Sarah Wellard looks at initiatives where.... more
(28 November 2002 17:20)

My life
A 17-year-old boy describes a crime in which the desire to protect his family stripped him of any means of protecting himself. more
(28 November 2002 17:17)

Question of taste?
Children’s voices have been largely absent from the diet and obesity debate yet, as Alison Miller reports, children have a lot to say on the.... more
(28 November 2002 17:15)

Attitude problem?
We need to know more about the reasons why young people offend, say Brian Hall and Deborah Hall, who report on a study of young offenders and.... more
(28 November 2002 17:12)

Arresting figures
The Youth Justice Board claims that in areas where youth inclusion programmes are in operation, crime has fallen significantly. Mark Hunter looks at.... more
(28 November 2002 17:02)

Court considers use of split hearings in care proceedings
In Re O and N (Care: Preliminary Hearing) [2002] Family Law 790, the court of appeal considered the use of split hearings in care proceedings. more
(28 November 2002 15:49)

Campaigners warn that mental health services are driven by fear
The dramatic increase in the number of people being detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 shows that mental health services “are driven by fear”,.... more
(28 November 2002 15:32)

European court awards compensation to four people social workers failed to protect
The European court of human rights has ordered that three Scottish sisters and their brother receive a payout totalling £57,000 following neglect by.... more
(28 November 2002 15:21)

Dismissal of social worker whistleblower was 'fair'
The social worker at the centre of a controversy over whistleblowing has lost his case for unfair dismissal, writes Alex Dobson. more
(28 November 2002 15:08)

Commissioner calls for action on child poverty in Wales
The children’s commissioner for Wales told the Welsh Assembly that child poverty in the principality is a national disgrace, writes Alex Dobson. more
(28 November 2002 14:39)

Thursday 28 November 2002
Lords to warn home secretary asylum policies create underclass of illegal workers, and Chancellor aims to raise skills level among young people. more
(28 November 2002 10:02)

Chancellor gives boost to people on low incomes and older people
Chancellor Gordon Brown announced an increase in benefits for people on low incomes and pensions in his pre-Budget statement. more
(27 November 2002 17:23)

Council challenges government over preserved rights costs
Liverpool council is to challenge the government in the courts over its funding of those already in care who had previously been funded by the.... more
(27 November 2002 15:50)

Bonding agents
Sure Start programmes provide an ideal platform for therapeutic approaches to helping troubled parents bond with their young children, writes Robin.... more
(27 November 2002 14:44)

'How are you feeling?'
Postnatal depression in mothers takes several forms and does not affect all children in the same way. This makes its diagnosis and treatment a.... more
(27 November 2002 14:36)

New Labour serves up a curate's egg
Some social care professionals are savouring the government's legislation menu in this session. Others anticipate a bad case of indigestion. Lauren.... more
(21 November 2002 00:00)

Do new star ratings reflect system faults rather than service changes?
Last week saw the release of updated star ratings for social services. But questions have been raised about the system's measurements and.... more
(21 November 2002 00:00)

Home office defends custodial policy
The government has denied that high rates of custody for young people are the result of its policies on youth justice. more
(27 November 2002 12:32)

Alcohol strategy emerges
A national alcohol harm reduction plan for England has been drawn up by the Prime Minister’s strategy unit. more
(27 November 2002 12:30)

Bid to help teenage parents
A new child care support scheme is being piloted in schools and sixth form colleges across England to help teenage parents stay in education. more
(27 November 2002 11:28)

Ofsted hit by checks mountain
Severe delays in the registration process are preventing thousands of new childminders from starting work, according to an Ofsted report. more
(27 November 2002 11:26)

Early years overhaul
The government’s strategy for the future of child care, first outlined in July’s comprehensive spending review, has been published by the Prime.... more
(27 November 2002 12:15)

Watchdog criticises Connexions
Key partners in the delivery of Connexions are inadequately represented on partnership boards and on local management committees, according to a.... more
(27 November 2002 12:14)

New government prevention plans on the table next year
Measures to reduce levels of educational under-achievement, offending, antisocial behaviour, teenage pregnancy and ill-health are to be set out in a.... more
(27 November 2002 11:23)

Wednesday 27 November 2002
Three brothers become first people to be given lifetime anti-social behaviour orders, and number of depressed young people doubles. more
(27 November 2002 10:00)

Freeing orders set to go under new act
Freeing orders are for the chop in the new Adoption and Children Act, but they are likely to remain in use for a while yet. more
(26 November 2002 17:43)

Charities warn police will fail to detect abuse
Children’s charities have criticised the lack of priority given to child protection in the first national policing plan, warning that that it will.... more
(26 November 2002 17:06)

Registration fee for social workers is set
Qualified social workers will be required to pay an annual registration fee of £30, the General Social Care Council has announced. more
(26 November 2002 15:03)

Tuesday 26 November 2002
Law lords strip home secretary of power to set minimum terms for murderers, and council chief who stole money from a charity given three-year prison.... more
(26 November 2002 09:47)

Shortage of guardians 'puts children's lives at risk'
Children’s lives are being put at risk by a chronic shortage of court-appointed guardians a leading children’s advocate has warned, writes Derren.... more
(25 November 2002 18:05)

Inspectorate head in Scotland cleared of bullying allegations
The head of the Social Work Services Inspecorate has been cleared of bullying allegations contained in an anonymous letter to the Scottish executive,.... more
(25 November 2002 15:49)

London set to be hit by strike
Unison members in London are to go on strike on Tuesday as part of their ongoing campaign for a £4,000 London weighting allowance. more
(25 November 2002 15:35)

Children at risk in Scotland not given protection
Half of all children at risk of abuse and neglect are not receiving adequate protection, according to a report from the Scottish executive, writes.... more
(25 November 2002 15:15)

Should special schools close?
An education think-tank has urged the government to close special schools and ensure disabled children are taught in mainstream schools. Clare.... more
(25 November 2002 11:24)

Monday 25 November 2002
Two Soham police officers face new charges, and RNIB could cut staff in cash crisis. more
(25 November 2002 10:00)

Degree should be longer former president says
The new social work degree to be introduced next September should be more than three years in length according to former directors president Mike.... more
(22 November 2002 17:40)

Friday 22 November 2002
MP who tops ballot wants children's commissioner for England, and poor children to receive scholarships to work in NHS. more
(22 November 2002 09:20)

Child protection unit to be based at hospital
A specialist child protection unit is planned for a new children’s hospital in Aberdeen after it opens next year, writes Nicola Barry. more
(22 November 2002 00:00)

Welsh foster care shortfalls prompt commissioner to intervene
The children’s commissioner for Wales Peter Clarke has called on the assembly to investigate how many English children are being fostered in Wales,.... more
(21 November 2002 15:11)