http://www.communitycare.co.uken-gbMon, 12 May 2008 15:27:00 GMThttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/12/108164/gordon-brown-adult-social-care-funding-needs-fundamental-reform.htmlhttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/12/108164/gordon-brown-adult-social-care-funding-needs-fundamental-reform.htmlGordon Brown today admitted the current adult social care system needs "fundamental reform" as he launched the long-awaited consultation on future funding.Mon, 12 May 2008 15:27:00 GMThttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/08/108148/personalisation-and-self-directed-support-in-control-findings.htmlhttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/08/108148/personalisation-and-self-directed-support-in-control-findings.htmlIn Control service users have reported improved quality of life, writes Melanie Henwood, who goes on to question the confusing use of terminology in this field Thu, 08 May 2008 14:24:00 GMThttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/07/108107/early-risers.htmlhttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/07/108107/early-risers.htmlWelcome to The Excellence Network, Community Care's new honours programme which recognises innovative and impressive practice and shares it with social care. We have been looking for teams that are passionate and committed and have implemented progressive ways of working. Today we reveal the teams our judges felt showed excellence in our final category, early intervention. The five teams have used preventive methods to improve users' lives immeasurably. The learning points from these teams and projects - and those from the other categories in partnership working user involvement/inclusion self-directed care/independent living and training/development - can be accessed through our free good practice database at www.communitycare.co.uk/Practices/Search.aspx On this page, James Blewett looks at the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention while, opposite, Rowenna Davis examines the honoured teams' work Wed, 07 May 2008 16:30:00 GMThttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/06/102669/direct-payments-and-individual-budgets.htmlhttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/06/102669/direct-payments-and-individual-budgets.htmlExpansion of direct payments and individual budget schemes look likely. The policy of extending cash for care schemes was promoted by health secretary Patricia Hewitt and her ministers during 2006. However confusion exists over the variety of initiatives and take-up is variable. Direct payments and individual budgets are universally applauded but doubts about the viability of implementation persist.Tue, 06 May 2008 09:37:00 GMThttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/01/108034/excellence-network-praises-teams-for-training-and-development.htmlhttp://communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/05/01/108034/excellence-network-praises-teams-for-training-and-development.htmlWelcome to the Excellence Network, Community Care's new honours programme which recognises innovative and impressive practice and shares it with social care. Jill Manthorpe explores the value of training while, opposite, Rowenna Davis examines the honoured teams' work Thu, 01 May 2008 00:01:00 GMT