March 2009 Archives

by Simon Stevens

By Margaret Hueting

Children's services directors require skills and experiences that are common to a wide variety of sectors, writes Angela Slaven.

The discussion about whether a director of children's services with an educational background is able to lead children's social care services continues, following last week's Laming report.

Having lived in foster care and on the streets, Hope, 17, wants to work but the benefits system and debt prevent her doing so.

I was taken away from my mum by social services when I was younger. I moved about, living with relatives and also in foster homes. When I was 14 I was on the streets for about a month. Then I did sofa-surfing until I moved into my hostel, where I live at the moment.

by Dave Prentis

Social work has been too passive when it comes to its treatment by the press. This is why Community Care's campaign is so timely

Community Care's campaign for more support for social work is vitally important. There is a huge challenge to help the public and politicians to understand the demanding nature of the work and the vital difference it makes. Only then will it be possible for public outrage to be mobilised against the right targets.

by Steve Rogowski

by Simon Heng


Just when the need for a clear statement of what social care should provide becomes acute, one more comes along.

A few months ago, I wrote about my hopes and fears for the adult social care green paper: "We'd like a system which is more straightforward, more transparent, easier to challenge... and which didn't leave us poverty trapped."