Articles by Date : November 01 2004 - November 30 2004

Sex education lessons fail to engage pupils
Young people are “highly critical” of the sex and relationships education they receive in school, according to a new report. more
(24 November 2004 00:00)

Slow progress towards better safeguards
Protection from abuse for children living away from home has improved over the past 10 years. But help for children who have been sexually abused has.... more
(24 November 2004 00:00)

Ladyman hints adult social services may get new director
The forthcoming green paper on adult services could include details of a new director of adult social services post, community care minister Stephen.... more
(24 November 2004 14:49)

Board reviews custody policies
The Youth Justice Board is consulting on its strategy for secure accommodation for young offenders. more
(24 November 2004 00:00)

Bid to improve playground safety
More than 38,000 children have to go to hospital each year because of accidents on playgrounds, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of.... more
(24 November 2004 00:00)

It’s the people who matter
The Children Bill is now an Act, and it will eventually affect everyone working with children and young people. Structural and management changes,.... more
(24 November 2004 00:00)

Service held back by spending patterns
Uncertainty about how money is being spent is hindering plans to help people with learning difficulties achieve full citizenship, says a government.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

A Healthy Dose of Partnership
One integrated health and social care community in the Midlands is showing how real joined-up services could work. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

My Practice
Mark Sloman set up a support group for young carers who have parents with a mental health problem more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Less than half call for lottery boycott
A slight minority of 48 per cent of visitors to Community Care’s website thought social workers should boycott the National Lottery after concerns.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Allowances to be fairer in two years
The government has pledged to work with local authorities for fairer national allowances for foster carers by the end of 2006. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Suffolk shops around for carers
Unwitting shoppers could soon be accosted by eager recruiters from Suffolk Council in a drive to find more home carers. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Now hostels are hit by ‘bed blocking’
Targets are to be set for moving homeless people from hostels into permanent accommodation to alleviate a "bed-blocking" crisis, the London Housing.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Experts plead for financial backing to build on Children Act’s potential
The Children Bill became law this week as experts warned the government to throw its full financial weight behind the measures contained in it. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Onus on councils in public health drive
Local authorities and their relationship with primary care trusts are central to the delivery of the public health agenda, according to the.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Wales in grip of children’s staff crisis
The shortage of social workers in children’s services has become an "emergency" in Wales, Peter Clarke warned this week. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

‘Gladiator fights’ at Feltham alleged
A public inquiry into the murder of an Asian young offender by his racist cellmate will investigate claims that prison officers set up.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Performance action teams make only minimal impact on star ratings
Just two out of 10 social services departments in England that have had performance action teams working with them this year have improved their star.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Thwarted Ambitions
The ability of as many people with learning difficulties as possible to live independently has long been a measure of success in social care. But.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Failure is not an option
Never has the phrase "the devil is in the detail" been more appropriate or more terrifying. Although the Children Act 2004 finally made its way onto.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Government updates adoption register procedure
The government has confirmed a change in the adoption register’s operator and referral system, writes Shirley Kumar. more
(24 November 2004 11:31)

Wednesday 24 November 2004
Blunkett to set out security measures Government to rethink role of voluntary sector more
(24 November 2004 11:06)

Care commission plans overhaul of social care rules and inspection
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will overhaul social care regulation and inspection, according to plans published this week, .... more
(23 November 2004 15:54)

Thousands of social workers yet to register as deadline looms
Almost a third of English social workers have not applied for registration with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) - with only one week to go.... more
(23 November 2004 15:47)

Government launches register for refugee children
A national register of unaccompanied asylum seeking children is being launched by the government this week, writes Shirley Kumar. more
(23 November 2004 15:34)

Government puts tackling crime top of the agenda
Prime Minister Tony Blair has put tackling crime at the centre of his plans for the next parliamentary session, in the Queen’s speech today, writes.... more
(23 November 2004 13:08)

High profile for Anti-Bullying Week
The first ever Anti-Bullying Week of Action was launched this week by schools minister Stephen Twigg, and has successfully recruited national.... more
(23 November 2004 10:53)

White Paper boosts school nursing service
Every school will have access to a school nurse by 2010, the government has announced. more
(23 November 2004 10:50)

New search powers for head teachers
New powers for head teachers to search pupils suspected of carrying knives have been proposed by the government. more
(23 November 2004 10:47)

Tuesday 23 November 2004
Government ignored jail warnings, hears racist murder inquiry Care of three boys costs council £500,000 a year more
(23 November 2004 10:07)

Parents of bullies suffer stress, says charity survey
A charity's survey of parents of bullies found 80 per cent of 900 parents suffered high levels of stress and feared they were losing control of their.... more
(22 November 2004 15:30)

Government demands local authorities cut sickness levels
Social services departments are to come under pressure to cut sickness absence rates with a proposed performance indicator designed to measure.... more
(22 November 2004 12:38)

Inquiry begins into treatment of children in custody
Poor treatment of children in custody is “the greatest scandal of our time,” says Labour MP Hilton Dawson, writes Maria Ahmed. more
(22 November 2004 12:17)

Monday 22 November 2004
Islamophobia makes British Muslims feel increasingly ‘isolated’ Wristband launched in attempt to curb bullying more
(22 November 2004 11:14)

Local authorities passing the buck on people with learning difficulties, say critics
People with learning difficulties are being put into independent sector hospitals rather than being cared for in the community because commissioners.... more
(19 November 2004 16:39)

Are children safer?
The policies are in place but are they being used properly? Marian Stuart asks whether looked-after children are any safer 10 years after Sir William.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Someone watching over us
A new BBC documentary series is challenging the image of social workers portrayed in some sections of the media. Anabel Unity Sale finds out how the.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Three-year wait for more NHS money
Alcohol treatment services will have to wait until at least 2008 for NHS funding, a conference on alcohol misuse was told. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

A clean break at last
Half of James Simpson's 26 years have been dominated by drugs. Now in jail, he says the habit is kicked. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

If you ask me...
Owen Gray, whose son has autism, is a volunteer for the National Autistic Society's Parent to Parent scheme. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Critical Thinking
Social workers undertaking a post-qualifying award are required to switch from a practice-driven mindset to an academic one. How can this switch be.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Byfield social workers to keep jobs
Two social workers criticised in the Toni-Ann Byfield case will not lose their jobs, writes Natalie Valios. more
(19 November 2004 13:20)

Government to examine disabled parents' finance
The government is set to look at ways to address the financial difficulties faced by disabled parents, delegates heard last week, writes Amy Taylor.... more
(19 November 2004 13:10)

Debate on impact of star ratings on social services in England
We asked:- Do you think star ratings have helped make social services across England better? more
(19 November 2004 12:31)

Hearts and minds reluctantly follow as bill finally completes passage.
The Children Bill has received royal assent, but doubts persist over whether the English commissioner can be a true champion for children. Even Lord.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Greater support for parents urged.
Parents of children with Asperger's syndrome do not receive sufficient support, learning difficulty campaigners have said. more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

'Abused children still not getting justice'.
Little progress has been made in bringing sex abusers to justice or providing help for children who have been abused, according to a study released.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Council sorry for 'blacking up' photo.
A local authority has apologised for an advert to promote adoption in which a white woman and child's faces were doctored so that they appeared.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Call for green paper to define adulthood.
A leading figure in youth welfare has called for the youth green paper to define when young people acquire the rights and responsibilities of an.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)

Team Players
The Supporting People programme can make a difference - but only if local partners put aside individual priorities. Kate Wareing tells Graham Hopkins.... more
(18 November 2004 00:00)