Children harmed by long delays in family courts, charity finds
Family courts are now taking up to 65 weeks to rule if it is safe for children to stay with their parents, according to research by Barnardo's.
09 August 2010
Family justice system to 'implode', warns top judge
The family justice system could “implode”, the judge in charge of it has warned, amid expectations nearly half of family legal aid law firms will lose their contract.
06 August 2010
Thousands die alone without support, council report finds
Thousands of people are dying alone without friends or family support, a report by the Local Government Association has found.
09 August 2010
Reuniting siblings living separately in the care system
Some siblings in the care system can grow up as virtual strangers. Siblings Together aims to reunite them in sympathetic surroundings. Camilla Pemberton reports
06 August 2010
The misguided notion that child abuse is pervasive in society
Some paediatricians have promoted the notion that abuse is pervasive in society. We are now suffering the consequences, writes Michael Fitzpatrick
06 August 2010
Better access to advocates urged for adult placement users
Greater access to independent advocates for adult placement users has been urged to prevent "deplorable" decisions such as the one in which Manchester Council removed a teenager from his family.
Picture: Rex Features
06 August 2010
Doctors' roles in child protection under spotlight
Doctors' roles and responsibilities in child protection work are to be examined by the General Medical Council, which is asking for submissions of evidence about the issue.
06 August 2010
ContactPoint switched off today
The government has today switched off ContactPoint, the £235m information-sharing database, as children's minister Tim Loughton (pictured) labelled it a "surrogate ID card" scheme.
06 August 2010
Progress at Worcestershire children's services 'limited'
Worcestershire Council has made insufficient progress in addressing high caseloads and low staff capacity in its children's services department, according to Ofsted's latest unannounced inspection report.
05 August 2010
Care system close to collapse, says Fostering Network
The care system will collapse if children's services budgets are slashed and unless more foster carers are recruited, the Fostering Network has warned.
05 August 2010
Ministers discussed £400m cash shift from NHS to social care
Following a call from Association of Directors of Adult Social Services president Richard Jones (left) for NHS funding to be shunted into adult social care a report today suggests ministers have considered shifting £400m to protect adult social care from harmful cuts.
05 August 2010
Allowing user-led groups to flourish
User-led organisations can promote choice and control and provide a vital link between commissioners and the community. But they must be supported to develop, as the Social Care Institute for Excellence explains
05 August 2010
BASW rubbishes Unison call for social worker pairings
The pairing up of social workers on child protection home visits may not make the job easier, the British Association of Social Workers has claimed.
05 August 2010
Four in 10 councils miss personalisation target
Four in ten councils have missed a key target for the roll-out of personalisation, a survey has revealed.
05 August 2010
Health regulator: social workers have nothing to fear
Social work has nothing to fear from the Health Professions Council, the body's chief executive, Marc Seale (pictured), has insisted, as it takes over responsibility for regulating the profession.
04 August 2010
Social services had tried to help mum and daughter found dead
A mother and her disabled daughter found dead in their house at the weekend had refused help from social services, it has emerged.
03 August 2010
Abused runaway case sparks call for 'safety net'
The case of a 14-year-old girl from Manchester who was forced into prostitution has sparked calls for a UK-wide network of emergency accommodation for young runaways.
04 August 2010
Older tenants need better incentives to move, finds report
Older people living in under-occupied social housing must be given attractive alternatives if they are to make way for families in overcrowded accommodation or on waiting lists, a key report has said.
04 August 2010
Social worker with two jobs receives caution
A social worker who took on a second job without informing either employer has been cautioned by the General Social Care Council.
04 August 2010
Are social care functions safe in a health body?
Leading social care figures ponder the pros and cons of the transfer of GSCC functions to the Health Professions Council
03 August 2010
