We wrote hundreds of social care news stories, analysis pieces, features and good practice guides in 2011. But which stories proved most popular, in terms of hits, on our website? Here is the top 10, in reverse order:
10. Councils withdrawing social workers from mental health teams
Councils across the country were reviewing partnership agreements with mental health trusts, we reported in August. Financial difficulties were the driver, said Steve Shrubb (left) director of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network.
9. Take pay cut or face the sack, council tells staff
Staff at Shropshire Council were told in July they must accept a 5.4% salary cut and changes to sick pay or face the sack.
8. Actor Corden's sister investigated over TV social work role
Back in January, a Channel 4 documentary decided to stop describing the sister of Gavin and Stacey star James Corden as a social worker as it emerged her name was not at the time on the GSCC's social work register. The social work graduate was giving advice to teenagers about sex.
7. Social workers failed to monitor direct payment user murdered by son
A serious case review in November found that social workers had failed to monitor the circumstances of a direct payments user who was murdered by his son. Mark Alexander was convicted of his father Samuel's murder in September 2010.
6. Social workers 'collapsing' under workplace stress
Three in five social workers to contact the British Association of Social Workers' advice and representation team were suffering from work-related stress, we reported in August.
5. The state of personalisation in 2011
Our guide to the year's key developments in personalisation, including our exclusive research conducted in association with Unison, proved a big hit with readers.
4. Biggest shake-up in adult care law in 60 years proposed
In May, the government signalled the biggest reform of adult care law in 60 years after a three-year review proposed sweeping changes to adult safeguarding and carers' rights, and the extension of direct payments to residential care.
3. Adult social care in crisis?
The Winterbourne View scandal, the collapse of Southern Cross, falling support for personalisation among professionals and uncertainty over future funding brought concerns about social care to a head last summer.
2. Mother who killed son with bleach intimidated social workers
Social workers were repeatedly intimidated by a mother who killed her 12-year-old learning-disabled son by forcing him to drink bleach. However, they could not have predicted his death, a serious case review concluded in July.
1. Special report on the Munro Report into child protection
In summer 2011, the government published its formal response to Eileen Munro's review of child protection, commissioned the previous year. The popularity of our special report shows how important social workers believe Munro's review will be to the future of the profession.