Articles by Date : November 01 2003 - November 30 2003

Voice box
People with learning difficulties have often been seen as unreliable witnesses in court. The introduction of trained intermediaries to help them.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Research into practice
Older refugees' needs vary across ethnic communities but all suffer from a lack of knowledge of available services, reports Jill Manthorpe. more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Fines could be levied for delayed discharge of mental health patients
The system of fining local authorities for the delayed discharge of older people from hospital could be applied to mental health and community.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Hospital closures plan in doubt
Only one out of 21 long-stay hospitals has stopped providing accommodation for people with learning difficulties in the past 12 months despite a.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Poor at greater risk of being disabled
Adults living on low incomes are more likely to become disabled, new research reveals. more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Disabled children in need of protection
Disabled children are nearly four times more likely to be abused than other children but the government is failing to protect them, according to a.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Staff strike over jobs reorganisation
Staff working at a centre for adults with learning difficulties in north London went on strike for two days this week to protest against having to.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Children's groups demand review
A coalition of children's charities and pressure groups has called for a high-profile, child-focused review of the youth justice system in England.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Switch from homes to secure training centres condemned as 'outrageous'
The Youth Justice Board's decision to reduce the number of places in council secure children's homes (LASCHs) is "disgraceful, outrageous and.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Draft bill could trigger huge skills shortfall in mental health services
The proposals set out in the draft mental health bill could significantly increase the workload of mental health professionals and lead to a.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Draft bill needs revamp
The beleaguered draft mental health bill has suffered another body blow with warnings from the NHS Confederation that it could lead to a workforce.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Milburn is back with a strategy. oh dear
The former health secretary's child care ideas are welcome but fail the quality test... again. more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Behind the headlines
Our regular panel comments on a topic in the news. more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Learn to listen, minister
Should Margaret Hodge have resigned? It would have been easy for us to have jumped on to the media bandwagon and called for the children's minister.... more
(20 November 2003 00:00)

Thursday 20 November 2003
Michael Jackson to 'turn himself in'. Blair's hospital bill could be lost after Commons vote. more
(20 November 2003 09:56)

Extra cash but extra responsibility, directors say
Social services directors have warned that a 4.7 per cent increase in funding for social services has to be set against the increased pressures.... more
(19 November 2003 17:21)

Horses for courses
There’s nothing on the hoof about the advantages of riding therapy for service users. In our latest web exclusive practice feature, Sarah Bartlett,.... more
(19 November 2003 17:01)

Mental health workload would double under draft bill
The proposals set out in the draft mental health bill could double the mental health workload for professionals and lead to a workforce crisis, a.... more
(19 November 2003 00:00)

Hodge apologises in high court
Children's minister Margaret Hodge has apologised in the high court to a government adviser, who was abused as a child, for remarks she made doubting.... more
(18 November 2003 09:41)

Website reporter wins national award
Clare Jerrom, who is a senior reporter with communitycare.co.uk and Community Care magazine, has won national recognition as new online journalist of.... more
(19 November 2003 08:00)

People moves
The latest news on new appointments and retirements in the social care sector. more
(10 November 2003 15:06)

Wednesday 19 November 2003
Disabled woman who nurses refused to lift from her wheelchair to sleep in her own bed for first time in 17 months. more
(19 November 2003 09:47)

Review of youth justice system urgently needed
A substantial, high profile review of the youth justice system in England and Wales is urgently needed, with a distinct focus on children, according.... more
(19 November 2003 00:00)

Delayed discharge fines could be extended
The system of fining councils for the delayed discharge of older people from hospital could be applied to mental health and community settings, the.... more
(18 November 2003 16:01)

Government to ban B&B use for families over six weeks
A ban on placing homeless families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks will come into force next year, writes.... more
(18 November 2003 13:16)

A common touch
A new common assessment for children was proposed in the green paper to make access to services more efficient. At least that’s the theory, reports.... more
(18 November 2003 11:14)

Local Children’s Fund turns spotlight on prevention
The Children’s Fund has raised the profile of preventive work and stimulated an important debate among agencies about what prevention means,.... more
(17 November 2003 17:46)

YOTs to run parenting programmes on anti-social behaviour
Youth Offending teams are to receive extra money to develop parenting programmes, the government said last week. more
(17 November 2003 17:32)

Tuesday 18 November 2003
Hodge to apologise publicly for child abuse slur. Legal aid lawyers may lose their jobs. more
(18 November 2003 10:01)

Teenage motherhood “has no impact on educational achievement” – new study
Having a baby as a teenager does not affect women’s educational and employment achievements later in life, but it does increase their chances of.... more
(17 November 2003 17:52)

Deadline delay for children tracking pilots
The government's 10 identification, referral and tracking pilot projects have been delayed by six months after legal concerns led to the suspension.... more
(17 November 2003 17:25)

Youth Justice Board puts focus on community penalties
The Youth Justice Board is set to reduce the number of beds it commissions from both prison service accommodation and local authority secure.... more
(17 November 2003 17:21)

Adopters to be given more detail about children
New government proposals will give prospective adopters more information about children they plan to adopt and allow them to challenge decisions on.... more
(17 November 2003 17:19)

Antisocial behaviour measures to be used against prostitutes
Antisocial behaviour orders are to be introduced for the first time in Scotland to remove prostitutes from residential areas, writes Maggie Wood. more
(17 November 2003 11:12)

Monday 17 November 2003
Abuse victim accepts apology but still wants minister to resign. Summer camp places to be offered to all children. more
(17 November 2003 10:06)

Need to lure back ex-social care staff
Training consultant Seamus Jennings warned that the green paper would be difficult to deliver unless local authorities could attract back experienced.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Singleton questions independence of commissioner in call for more freedom
Barnardo's chief executive Roger Singleton warned the voluntary sector that the battle for an effective children's commissioner for England had yet.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Shake-up in laws to prevent child killers getting away with murder
The laws on child killers are to be tightened, Home Office minister Paul Goggins has promised. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Crisis in Cardiff deepens as minister and council fall out
A highly critical inspection report has sparked a furious row between the largest council in Wales and the Welsh Assembly, writes Alex Dobson. more
(14 November 2003 11:51)

Friday 14 November 2003
Children's minister Margaret Hodge is hanging on despite pressure to resign. more
(14 November 2003 10:05)

Trailblazing system to track children revived
A 'trailblazer' pilot to track children has revived plans to create a database using NHS information that was suspended due to legal concerns, .... more
(13 November 2003 17:42)

Star ratings show overall improvement
Hard work and a greater awareness of performance management in social services departments and councils has resulted in a "significant overall.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Thursday 13 November 2003
Children's minister faces fresh call to resign over 'smear'. Huntley comforted Holly's father, court told. more
(13 November 2003 09:54)

Glasgow relieves managers of desk duty and sends them to front line
As Scottish local authorities continue to haemorrhage social care staff, one council is set to increase the client contact of its most experienced.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Is flagship service for young people suffering from loose connections?
Connexions is being accused of focusing too much attention on young people not in education, employment or training at the expense of other groups..... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Children's services chiefs raise fears over speed of green paper changes
Leaders of children's services in the public and voluntary sector have raised concerns about the scope and implementation of the government's.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Children's trusts lose the Welsh vote
Children's trusts are inappropriate for Wales due to its "separate and distinctive" approach to services for children and young people, the Welsh.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Staff to strike over London weighting
Local government workers were set to strike this week in some London boroughs as they seek a flat rate London weighting of £4,000. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Parenting initiatives awarded cash boost
The antisocial behaviour unit is allocating £1.5m this year to fund programmes for the parents of children liable to antisocial behaviour. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Best councils to keep freedoms
"Excellent" councils will retain their freedoms and flexibilities for up to one year even if recategorised as "good" under the comprehensive.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)