Articles by Date : December 01 2005 - December 31 2005

Sure Start could be more able to reach disadvantaged
Sure Start's ability to reach the most disadvantaged families could improve when it comes under local authority control, it was claimed this week. more
(06 December 2005 00:00)

Longest serving director retires
The longest serving director of social work is moving on from local government, it was announced today. more
(06 December 2005 00:00)

Charity slams social workers for failing in their duties
Thousands of children and young people in young offender institutions do not have enough money to buy essentials such as soap because professionals.... more
(05 December 2005 00:00)

TUESDAY 6 DECEMBER
School troubleshooters to tackle unruly behaviour in classrooms more
(06 December 2005 09:42)

Inspectors criticise management of sex offenders
Management of sex offenders in the community by probation staff and police needs “considerable improvement” including a more integrated approach, a.... more
(06 December 2005 00:00)

Figures confirm postcode lottery for youth services
There is a huge disparity in spending on youth services between different local authorities, figures collated by the Community and Youth Workers.... more
(05 December 2005 17:22)

Top judge slams use of prison for women
The criminal justice system should ask itself whether it is unjust towards women, a senior judge warned tonight. more
(05 December 2005 00:00)

Special report: young offenders to be placed in open settings
You could almost predict the ‘back to borstals’ type tabloid headlines generated by the Youth Justice Board’s announcement that it will be looking at.... more
(02 December 2005 00:00)

UNISON to mount legal challenge over pension amends
UNISON is to mount a legal challenge against the changes made to the Local Government Pension Scheme announced by the government today. more
(02 December 2005 00:00)

Voluntary sector may provide more youth justice services
More youth justice services could be provided by the voluntary and community sector under guidance shortly being rolled out by the government. more
(05 December 2005 00:00)

Record number of Asbos issued in Scotland
A record number of 210 antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Scotland last year according to research. more
(05 December 2005 00:00)

Fears for inmates voiced
Overcrowding could lead to a rise in the number of deaths in youth custody, a conference in London has heard. more
(05 December 2005 00:00)

ILF to review funding policy
The Independent Living Fund is considering whether to make people who have been in long-stay hospitals eligible for funding. more
(05 December 2005 00:00)

Carers losing out on benefits
Carers are missing out on an estimated £746 million in unclaimed benefits, according to Carers UK today. more
(02 December 2005 00:00)

MONDAY 5 DECEMBER 2005
Secrecy in family courts to be lifted more
(05 December 2005 10:11)

UNISON to mount challenge over pension scheme amends
UNISON is to mount a legal challenge against the changes made to the Local Government Pension Scheme announced by the government today. more
(02 December 2005 00:00)

Report urges councils to receive cash to commission advice
Local authorities should be given ring-fenced funding to commission advice on children’s services if and when they need it, a leading think-tank will.... more
(02 December 2005 00:00)

Social services star ratings published
One in four councils in England has a one or no star rating for social services, new figures from the Commission for Social Care Inspection show. more
(01 December 2005 10:24)

Why I love my job
Jacquie Bell is a social worker at Liberton hospital for older people in Edinburgh. Her job involves setting up care placements and care at home.... more
(01 December 2005 10:41)

Special report on Star Ratings
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(02 December 2005 10:32)

Winners and Losers
more
(02 December 2005 10:03)

Friday 2 December 2005
Anthony Walkers's murderers slammed as racist thugs more
(02 December 2005 00:00)

Improve advocacy for people with learning difficulties, says government
More money and support is needed for advocacy for people with learning difficulties, according to the government’s annual report on learning.... more
(01 December 2005 16:26)

Focus on Adoption and Fostering
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(01 December 2005 15:41)

Questions from Community Care - Different Class
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(01 December 2005 00:00)

Questions from Community Care - Grounds for Optimism
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(01 December 2005 15:10)

Open Forum with Ray Jones
This is the week that the annual social services star ratings are announced. We have all been challenged by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Sure Start fails the most vulnerable
The introduction of Sure Start in deprived areas has not resulted in local families using more services and has had a negative impact on the most.... more
(01 December 2005 13:17)

'Modify Asbos when behaviour improves'
More antisocial behaviour orders issued to young people should be discharged or conditions varied if their behaviour improves, a government report.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Scottish GPs could block data-sharing
Health professionals could obstruct Scottish executive plans to enable agencies to share their records on children. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Services shake-up in N Ireland welcomed
Northern Ireland's social services face a major overhaul under plans unveiled last week. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Charity seeks funds for 'young old' care
A London homelessness charity is planning a project for clients whose chronic alcohol consumption has caused premature ageing. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Laming inquiry policeman charged
A senior police officer who was one of Lord Laming's advisers during the Victoria Climbi Inquiry has been charged with two offences of common.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

An enlightened move
In a positive development, the Youth Justice Board has suggested more children and young people in custody should be held in "open" settings. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Good news wins out
The press statement on the new round of star ratings, issued by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, was headed "Good and bad news for council.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Action teams see the fruits of their labours
Seven out of nine social services departments that had a performance action team working with them last year, but failed then to improve their.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Adults' services still improving faster
Children's services continue to lag behind councils' adult social care in improving performance, this year's star ratings reveal. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Guidance on dealing with abuse allegations in schools aims to cut false accusations
...but has its proposals for speedier investigation opened up the possibilities of rushed inquiries more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

'Councils should get central advice cash'
Councils should be given ring-fenced funding to commission advice and expertise on children's services if and when they need it, a leading think-tank.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Different class
Parents are an untapped resource for their children's learning. Phillip Cooper says school-based courses can boost the skills of the whole family more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Failure to notify cues fresh demands for private fostering registration
Campaigners have repeated calls for compulsory registration of private fostering after government figures revealed just 730 notified arrangements in.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Social care input on orders urged
Social care staff must work with enforcement agencies to prevent young people with disabilities being unfairly handed antisocial behaviour orders, a.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Scottish councils fear for preventive services in wake of spending round
Social work leaders in Scotland claim some services will be cut or rationed and preventive work put at risk because of a shortage in funding. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Asbo drive leaves Ladyman in a spin
Former community care minister Stephen Ladyman had a close encounter with an Asbo last weekend. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Lack of duty acts as barrier to social care support for homeless people
Social services are not helping people outside statutory client groups, claim charities. Simeon Brody reports more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Hutton to review benefit reforms
Work and pensions secretary John Hutton is to re-examine the government's proposed housing benefit reforms. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Spot checks mooted for local authorities
Councils could be subject to unannounced inspections or investigations triggered by dissatisfied users or partners. more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

It's all lies
Although foster carers are part of the children's workforce, they have none of the rights of conventional employees - something they miss when.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Joint children's gradings positive
Most councils achieved one of the top two grades for children's services in the first annual performance assessment covering children's social care.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)

Unit shut after child protection worries
The Healthcare Commission has closed a privately run unit for adolescents with learning difficulties after Norfolk Council raised child protection.... more
(01 December 2005 00:00)