Social workers may pay twice to register next year
Social workers expressed their indignation at Community Care Children & Families Live 2011 after the prospect of having to pay twice to keep their place on the social work register was raised.
18 November 2011
Most social workers threatened in past six months
Nearly two-thirds of children's social workers have been threatened by hostile or intimidating parents in the past six months, a survey by Community Care and children's services consultancy Reconstruct of more than 600 workers has found. Many had received multiple threats.
16 November 2011
Social workers find new child protection assessments 'scary'
Many social workers find moving away from a tick box approach to child protection assessments “scary”, according to one of the first councils to answer the Munro Review's call for less bureaucracy and centralisation.
16 November 2011
Social workers urged to forge closer links with Sure Start
Children’s social workers need to work closer with Sure Start children's centres for parenting support to have a significant impact on child protection, according to a sector expert.
16 November 2011
Community Care Live to host its first Twitter meet up
Social care Twitter users to meet up Community Care event
15 November 2011
Councils fail to keep figures on missing children in care
Councils across the country are flouting their legal duties by failing to keep accurate records of children missing from care, a Community Care investigation has revealed.
15 November 2011
Fees cap deters independent social workers as expert witnesses
Independent social workers have been refusing to appear as expert witnesses in family court cases since the Legal Services Commission capped their fees, Community Care has learned. Alison Paddle (pictured), an independent social worker and former chair of Nagalro which represents guardians and ISWs, said the new fees made it "scarcely affordable" for them to provide the advice.
19 May 2011
ADCS: All expert witnesses should be accredited
Experts giving evidence in family court cases should be accredited and registered on a central database, according to the Association of Directors of Children's Services.
20 May 2011
Historic agreement for single UK college of social work
The College of Social Work and their counterparts at BASW - the College of Social Work have agreed to work together to merge into a single, UK-wide organisation.
Fran Fuller, chair of BASW, (pictured) said the agreement was in the "best interests of the profession".
20 May 2011
Privately fostered children face increased risk of sexual exploitation
Children in care or who are being privately fostered face an increased risk of being sexually exploited, according to child protection experts.
19 May 2011
Council chief moots national parenting support scheme
Children’s social services should develop a national policy framework for parent support, according to the chief executive of Newham Council.
19 May 2011
CC Live: Burstow gets tough with PCTs over social care cash
Care services minister Paul Burstow has delivered an ultimatum to primary care trusts that are hogging money intended for social care.
18 May 2011
CC Live: Labour 'will not play politics' with Dilnot findings
Labour will not "play politics" with the debate on the long-term funding of adult social care, shadow care services minister Emily Thornberry said yesterday.
19 May 2011
CC Live: Social workers threaten to quit over red tape
Social workers are considering leaving the profession because of the burden of bureaucracy.
18 May 2011
'Lack of funding and training' blighting person-centred care
The social care system is failing to deliver person-centred care because of inadequate funding, training and practice, a major study warns today.
18 May 2011
Adult safeguarding boards to be put on statutory footing
Adult safeguarding boards will be made compulsory for councils and their partners by being put on a statutory footing, care services minister Paul Burstow (left) announced today.
16 May 2011
College launches media guide for social workers
Social workers are being urged to tackle the profession's negative public image by speaking up about their role in public and media debates.
18 May 2011
Dilnot Commission told to reduce means-testing in care system
The Dilnot Commission on care funding has heard an unequivocal call to reduce means-testing by increasing the £23,250 savings threshold before people have to start paying for care in England. Commission chair Andrew Dilnot (pictured) described the opposition to the threshold as "overwhelming".
18 May 2011
Poll of social workers reveals alarm at caseloads and stress
A Community Care poll of 275 practitioners, conducted in partnership with The College of Social Work, suggested that teams were struggling to cope with a shrinking workforce and rising demand for services. College co-chairs Maurice Bates and Corinne May-Chahal (pictured) said the findings highlighted "significant hurdles in front of the profession".
18 May 2011
Social Worker of the Year 2011 launched
Practitioners throughout the UK will be able to celebrate their achievements by entering the revamped Social Worker of the Year Awards, to be launched at Community Care Live today.
18 May 2011
