Articles by Date : November 01 2003 - November 30 2003

Tracking pilots given extra time
Identification, referral and tracking pilot projects have welcomed the government's decision to extend their deadline for improving.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Ceremonies for new citizens announced
Graduation-style ceremonies for new British citizens are to be piloted in eight regions from January and rolled out across the country from April. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Funding shortfall delays services
The budget for mental health services has increased by just 1.6 per cent this year compared with 5 per cent for the NHS as a whole, according to a.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Humans not hardware
Some disabled people find state-of-the art IT gadgets to be of great benefit in their daily routines. But there is danger in the idea that technology.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Legal aid limit to be applied 'flexibly'
The government has done a u-turn on its proposal to introduce a limit of five hours of legal aid for asylum seekers. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

MP calls for pay and praise campaign to cut national shortage of carers
Pay for foster carers has not been properly addressed in the children's green paper, Labour MP and former social worker Hilton Dawson said last week. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Care staff to gain sector skills council
The social care sector has received a boost with the approval of its own sector skills council. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

New directorate to oversee services
The Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU) has been replaced by the Children and Young People's Directorate and will be controlled by the former.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Most say medical model will rule
Three out of four visitors to Community Care 's website believe the medical model will dominate the sectioning process if health trusts are allowed.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Would-be adopters win more rights in attempt to shift balance of power
Prospective adopters will be given more information about children who are to be placed with them if government proposals go ahead. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Hodge in row over comments to BBC
An independent consultant who works as an adviser to the government on its New Deal for Communities projects said he was "gobsmacked" by comments.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

New ratings reveal rise in standards
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)

Fully engaged
How do service users feel about being involved in the provision of social care and health services and are their experiences, on balance, positive?.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Breaking news
Researcher Pauline Heslop on a recent study of how short-break services can prioritise children's views and give their families respite from caring. .... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Show us the money
Radical reforms do not come cheap, but the government seems reluctant to disclose how the key recommendations in Every Child Matters will be.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Where's the pot?
The government's funding for supported housing policy, Supporting People, has run into trouble. Costs have spiralled and now a review has been.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Misunderstood, misdiagnosed
Professionals in mental health services have too little awareness of ethnic and cultural diversity, writes Claire Felix. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

McTernan on politics
More tolerance of the young is called for as the generation gap widens. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Why it makes sense to lower the voting age
The Tories have bold ideas about involving young people in politics. Why doesn't Labour? more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Scotland probation plans must improve
A report by Audit Scotland urges the Scottish executive to set a national standard detailing how often young offenders on probation should have.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

Board looks to cut use of custody
The Youth Justice Board is set to reduce the number of beds it commissions from both prison service accommodation and local authority secure.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

A question of support
Direct payments have given Colin Gear his independence, enabling him to better manage his own life. more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

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

Star performers
Whatever uncertainties social care faces, there is both statistical and anecdotal evidence this week of significant improvements in services, and.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

A cohesive identity
Social care workforce training was given a significant boost last week when it emerged that the organisation responsible for it, the Topss UK.... more
(13 November 2003 00:00)

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
(11 November 2003 17:52)

Government adviser "gobsmacked" by Hodge comments
An independent consultant, who works as an adviser on the government’s New Deal for Communities projects, said he is “gobsmacked” by comments made.... more
(11 November 2003 17:06)

Wednesday 12 November 2003
Children's minister Margaret Hodge makes the headlines again. Directors discuss whether star ratings work. more
(12 November 2003 10:19)

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
(11 November 2003 17:25)

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
(11 November 2003 14:56)

Does e-mail help or hinder social care offices?
Social care has caught up with the IT revolution with guidelines, instructions and policies communicated by websites and e-mail. But, in a.... more
(11 November 2003 11:10)

Tuesday 11 November 2003
Soham jurors retract girls' steps. Youth Justice Board to cut use of secure children's homes. more
(11 November 2003 09:59)

Tories change health and education line-up
New Conservative Party leader Michael Howard has reshuffled the shadow cabinet appointing Tim Yeo as the shadow health and education secretary. more
(10 November 2003 19:30)

Childcare struggle for disadvantaged families
Parents in poverty still face an uphill struggle to find suitable care for their children, a new report suggests. more
(10 November 2003 18:08)

Teenagers singled out for fireworks ban
Police will be able to arrest children and young people for possessing fireworks in public places, under new legislation planned by the government. more
(10 November 2003 18:04)

Life expectancy gap persists
Life expectancy in Manchester is lower for both boys and girls than anywhere else in England or Wales, according to the latest government statistics. more
(10 November 2003 17:59)

Unit for children replaced in government shake-up
The Children and Young People’s Unit (CYPU) has been replaced by the Children and Young People’s Directorate and will be controlled by the former.... more
(10 November 2003 17:54)

Green paper could lead to financial crisis, government warned
Children’s services leaders have warned that reforms proposed under the green paper on children could lead to a financial crisis, writes Derren.... more
(10 November 2003 17:51)

Child killers targeted as legal loophole is closed
The government will introduce legislation to tighten up the laws on child killers, home office minister Paul Goggins has promised, writes Sally.... more
(10 November 2003 17:42)

Workers in London set to strike again
Local government workers are set to strike again this week in selective London boroughs to call for a flat rate London weighting of £4,000, writes.... more
(10 November 2003 14:47)

Monday 10 November 2003
Soham girls probably suffocated. Beggar faces jail if he breaks nationwide ban. more
(10 November 2003 09:54)

Job swaps to South Africa
Social workers will be able to arrange job swaps with their South African counterparts under a new agreement signed last week. more
(07 November 2003 14:05)

Survey highlights recruitment initiatives
Vacancy rates are falling and employers are pursuing a host of initiatives to improve recruitment and retention of social workers, according to the.... more
(07 November 2003 14:11)

Government shake-up to social care posts
The Department of Health is to create a post of director of social care for England. more
(07 November 2003 14:01)

The workforce of the future
The development of the social care workforce was discussed at this year’s National Social Services Conference, held in Brighton last month. Several.... more
(07 November 2003 14:07)

Unit for children replaced in government shake-up
The Children and Young People’s Unit (CYPU) has been replaced by the Children and Young People’s Directorate and will be controlled by the former.... more
(07 November 2003 16:18)

There is still a long way to go: Community Care's campaign comes to an end
As the Right to Refuge campaign closes, we look at its highlights and achievements. Janet Snell and Natalie Valios talk to four refugees about.... more
(07 November 2003 15:45)

Welsh students fall behind English counterparts
Student social workers in Wales claim they are missing out on vital funding needed to help pay for their studies, writes Alex Dobson. more
(07 November 2003 15:07)

Community Care Awards 2003
Community Care is proud to announce the winners of the Community Care Awards 2003. more
(06 November 2003 15:36)

Concerns over abuse are cue for MPs to investigate measures to tackle it
There are fears that inadequate inspections and a lack of training and supervision for social care staff are contributing to the abuse of older.... more
(06 November 2003 00:00)