By Clare Jerrom, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.
Secret plan for flexible public pay
The government is considering plans to introduce geographical bands for public sector pay to help bring salaries in London more into line with the private sector.
A Treasury report recommends action to address pay problems, which affect public sector workers in the south east, who are paid similar wages to their counterparts in other parts of the country.
Public sector managers in the south east are paid an average of £530 per week in comparison to managers in the public sector earning £780.
Retail companies such as Next and Safeway operate pay bands to reflect local market demands on pay. Government research shows that property rentals in London are 54 per cent higher than the rest of the country.
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 13 March pages 1 and 13
One in five children has behavioural or mental problem
Up to one in five of the world's children suffer mental or behavioural problems, a United Nations report reveals.
The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) said that rates of depression, suicide and self harm among young people had increased alarmingly.
Source:- The Independent Wednesday 13 March page 11
Guardian Society
Prevention of homelessness a priority
A way back in
The government's homelessness directorate is expected to announce a new approach with the emphasis on prevention.
Page 4
Two share council of the year award
Quality streets
Blackburn with Darwen and Camden councils have been jointly named council of the year.
Page 4
Recruitment methods for charity trustees lack transparency
It's what you know
One in three charities is failing to carry out adequate checks on potential trustees, a Charity Commission survey shows.
Page 4
Survey shows negative attitude towards employing disabled
Wasted opportunities
Three out of four employers which have not employed a disabled person say they have not had the opportunity to do so, a survey by Jobability.com shows.
Page 4
Tracy Beaker is the central character in a ground-breaking children's BBC series that portrays the life of a child in care.
Home truths
Page 6
New hybrid organisations with a business-like approach to selling services are being championed by the government. Roger Cowe on how profit fuels social provision.
Page 10
Profile: Peter Sweatman, founder of online charity raffle
Page 11
A new approach to tackling homelessness is expected to focus on the root causes, reports Saba Salman.
Page 12
Getting older people to talk about death can help them face difficult decisions in the future.
Page 104-105
Inspections highlight worrying flaws in foster care services
Page 105
Poor housing a cause of ill-health among Londoners
Sick home syndrome
Page 105
Scottish newspapers
Glasgow’s housing stock vote that could change Scotland
A feature arguing that if tenants vote to transfer ownership of Glasgow council’s housing stock to the independent Glasgow Housing Association, the impact will be felt in every other Scottish council.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 13 March
Talks on secure hospital
Health officials, local authorities and community representatives in East Kilbride yesterday started talks on finding the location for a new medium secure unit in the West of Scotland to take patients currently in the State Hospital Carstairs.
The discussions follow revelations earlier this year that 36 patients were languishing in the top secure Carstairs in spite of being deemed to be a significantly reduced risk to the public as well as themselves.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 13 March page 8
Welsh newspapers
Strike Threat
Thousands of council workers in Cardiff look set to take industrial action over the dismissal of an experienced social worker.
Unison members have voted to support Charles Faber who was sacked say the union, after voicing his fears about children's services in Cardiff. The union's next move depends on the outcome of Faber's appeal hearing which is currently being heard.
Unison will not take further action if Faber is reinstated in his post as head of the emergency duty team, but if the appeal fails then union members could take industrial action.
Source:- South Wales Echo Tuesday March 12 page 1 and 5
Care homes head for meltdown
Care homes are heading towards a crisis that could damage the NHS in Wales, it was claimed yesterday.
Owners of nursing and residential homes can no longer afford to stay open because funding in Wales is so poor, and the situation has been made worse by new legislation that is driving up costs, says owner's organisation Care Forum Wales.
The loss of thousands of beds in the private sector is likely to have serious implications for the NHS, where bed blocking by elderly patients is seen as contributing to waiting lists and cancelled operations.
Barry Latham, chief executive of the North Wales nursing and residential homes organisation, said that some homes in Wales had already threatened to end their contracts with local authorities.
Source:- Western Mail Wednesday March 13 page 1
