Special Reports

Engaging fathers

Why social workers need to know more about gender and masculinity
Posted: 4 May 2012

Violence in social care 2012

A Community Care survey has revealed shocking accounts of the abuse and violence social workers have been subjected to in their work.
Posted: 25 April 2012

Social work dilemmas live
New live practice debate launched
Posted: 25 April 2012

The Munro reforms - UPDATED
Professor Eileen Munro has published her final recommendations on reforming the child protection system in England. Will they make a difference?
Posted: 12 April 2012

Birmingham's social work academy

The start of Professor Eileen Munro's vision for children's social work?
Posted: 8 March 2012

Mental health social work and stress: how to cope

We examine the unique pressures facing mental health social workers and how they can begin to tackle the resultant stress.
Posted: 1 March 2012

The future of adoption social work

As ministers prepare to launch their imminent adoption action plan, and Ofsted prepares to implement its new framework for inspection, Judy Cooper looks at the likely big changes and the potential impact on social work practice.
Posted: 28 February 2012

Protecting our Children: Episode 2

How social workers reacted to issues such as security guards accompanying social workers on visits and the wider role of adult services
Posted: 06 February 2012

Protecting our Children

Our guide to the three part BBC social work documentary series
Posted: 27 January 2012

Essex £1m abuse settlement case:

Timeline of social work involvement
Posted: 18 January 2012

The College of Social Work, BASW and Unison:

The costs and benefits for social workers in 2012
Posted: 11 January 2012

Social Worker of the Year Awards 2011: Winners

Overall Social Worker of the Year 2011 went to Celia Parker (above, middle), a social worker from the London Borough of Southwark, who was described as a ‘unique and inspiring leader’ .
Posted: 20 December 2011

Hostile parents

Our survey reveals the extent and regularity of intimidation and hostility experienced by children and family social workers.
Posted: 16 November 2011

Vital tools for direct work with children

Which techniques and resources should be in every social worker's toolkit when doing direct work with children? David and Yvonne Shemmings et al have put such a toolkit together.
Posted: 11 November 2011

NCAS conference 2011

News and views from the National Children and Adult Services Conference held in London, October 2011.
Posted: 23 October 2011

Social work vacancy rates 2011

Use the interactive map to find out the vacancy rates in your local authority, broken down into children’s and adult services.
Posted: 22 September 2011

Children's homes 2011

Community Care's exclusive survey on the state of the children's home sector 2011 reveals that homes are to some extent defying the cuts, but smaller, independent homes remain under pressure.
Posted: 15 September 2011

The child protection computer game

Can playing a computer game improve child protection practice? Dr Jane Reeves and Professor David Shemmings argue it can
Posted: 1 September 2011

News for NQSWs

Job advice and support for newly qualified social workers in light of the current difficulties many face in gaining social care employment.
Posted: 18 August 2011

Social care behind bars

Despite cost restraints, social workers are making a vital contribution to the lives of offenders, ex-offenders and their families.
Posted: 2 August 2011

Learning disability hospitals

Nearly one in five people in learning disability hospitals such as Winterbourne View have been there for more than five years
Posted: 20 July 2011

Child sexual exploitation

Would you spot a child at risk of sexual exploitation? Do you recognise these warning signs in young people you work with?
Posted: 7 July 2011

Dilnot: adult social care funding reform

The Commission on Funding of Care and Support, headed by Andrew Dilnot, set out its blueprint for reforming social care funding on Monday 4 July
Posted: 1 July 2011

Experiencing isolation

Social worker Pam Stopforth finds out what it is to be lonely and isolated for a week
Posted: 20 June 2011

Carers Week 2011

What one small thing would improve the life of carers?
Posted: 13 June 2011

Crisis in adult social care?

The implications of the Panorama abuse scandal and the uncertainty over Southern Cross care homes.
Posted: 2 June 2011

The state of personalisation
Exclusive research from Unison and Community Care on why social care professionals are losing faith in personalisation.
Posted: 25 May 2011

The Munro reforms
Professor Eileen Munro has published her final recommendations on reforming the child protection system in England. Will they make a difference?
Posted: 11 May 2011

Law Commission reforms
Detailed analysis on what the Law Commission reforms of adult social care mean for professionals.
Posted: 11 May 2011

Outsourcing
Exclusive survey reveals strong opposition from social work professionals to outsourcing of social care services, with many insisting quality has declined since provision has been transferred to the private sector
Posted: 4 May 2011

Domestic violence
How public spending cuts are affecting domestic violence services and examples of good practice that are thriving.
Posted: 20 April 2011

Child protection survey
Social workers forced to leave children in danger as cuts hit child protection
Posted: 13 April 2011

March for the alternative
Thousands of social care workers joined in a nationwide protest against cuts to public services
Posted: 29 March 2011

Self Neglect
What can social workers achieve for people who neglect themselves? Our interactive graphic provides answers.
Posted: 16 March 2011

Council social care cuts
Social care services and jobs across the UK face a wave of spending cuts.
Posted: 9 March 2011

Diverse Britain
How social work practice is interacting with the ever-changing demands of a multicultural society..
Posted: 2 March 2011

Bed blocking
How joint working between health and social care practitioner can create a seamless transition of care between hospital and home.
Posted: 9 February 2011

Sexual exploitation
How the grooming of children and young people is on the rise, and social workers' role in tackling it.
Posted: 27 January 2011

Technology in social care: a special report
From apps and robots to virtual learning and gaming: how technology is changing social care. (Pic: Jacey/Debut Art)
Posted: 19 January 2011

Dealing with aggressive dogs
Profound insights on human behaviour might be insufficient to help social workers perform their duties if dogs intimidate them on home visits. Dog expert Jan Fennell and CareSpace users offer advice.
Posted: 13 January 2011

A-Z of Social Care
Heard some jargon you don’t understand? Unsure what an organisation does or what a policy covers? Then read Community Care’s A-Z of social care. By Mark Drinkwater
Posted: 17 December 2010

Social Work Reform
Read our special report on how the Social Work Reform Board proposals will change the profession's future. Includes podcast from reform board chair Moira Gibb.
Posted: 15 December 2010

Social worker pay and conditions survey 2010
Social care professionals are facing a significant erosion of their pay and conditions according to the findings of the joint Unison/Community Care pay and conditions survey 2010
Posted: 9 December 2010

Baby P: What would you have done?
In the wake of the full publication of the second Baby P serious case review, child protection consultant and trainer Perdeep Gill looks over the case history and re-examines the options that professionals on the case faced
Posted: 16 November 2010

National children and adult services conference 2010
All our coverage, news and analysis
Posted: 9 November 2010

Spending Review
Social care is facing massive cuts in the government's spending review today. Community Care will be providing live coverage of the Chancellor George Osborne's announcement.
Posted: 20 October 2010

The Drug Issue
What social workers need to know about drug misuse and the future of treatment
Posted: 13 October 2010

The Social Work Contract
Join the campaign to fight for fairer working conditions in social work.
Posted: 30 September 2010

Councils illegally charge for reablement services
Social care minister Paul Burstow promises new guidance in wake of Community Care exclusive .
Posted: 22 September 2010

Situation critical: Councils raise care eligibility thresholds
Eight in 10 councils in England will not meet adult service users' moderate care needs by next year on current trends, exclusive Community Care research reveals.
Posted: 17 September 2010

The Food Issue:

Why food is at the heart of social care

Posted: 2 September 2010

Social worker vacancy rates in the UK: a special report

One in 10social work posts are empty, Community Care discovers

Posted: 26 August 2010

Finding the Trafficked Children from Romania

Trafficked Roma children coming to the UK from Romania are being brutally exploited by criminals. Julie Griffiths finds out what social workers and police need to know and ask before they can help these children.

Posted: 13 July 2010

Taking the risk
Special two-part report on child protection thresholds and managing risk
Councils have come under fire over child protection thresholds. But it can be tough to ensure consistency. Molly Garboden reports
Posted: 2 July 2010

Cot deaths and social workers
Analysis of police records shows key risk factors behind unexpected infant deaths
Posted: 23 June 2010

Surviving the cuts: how social care can save money
The government’s public sector spending cuts have begun. In this special report on surviving the cuts, Community Care reporters examine how councils can save money in social care.
Posted: 3 June 2010

Burnout: A social workers survival guide
Stress and burnout are perennial problems for social workers. Here we bring together information from across our site to help you survive the pressures of a demanding job
Posted: 27 May 2010

Family Courts
Children’s guardians in Manchester explain how they are tackling increased caseloads without cutting corners. By Camilla Pemberton
Posted: 27 May 2010

Surviving the Home Front
Entering other people's homes can turn up all manner of unexpected dilemmas. Kirsty McGregorasked experts and CareSpace users how social workers can diplomatically react
Posted: 27 May 2010

State of Personalisation
Adult social workers are becoming more doubtful that that the personalisation agenda will deliver for service users or themselves, a Community Care survey reveals today. We present the key findings, analysis and opinion on this exclusive research, conducted in association with Unison.
Posted: 20 May 2010

Disability Rights 40 Years on
The Chronically Sick and Disabled Act 1970 – the world’s first piece of disability rights legislation - passed into law 40 years ago in May 2010. According to its architect, Alf Morris, the act almost didn’t make it into law because of government opposition but he remains proud of its legacy.
Posted: 11 May 2010

Violence against social care staff
Community Care’s investigation reveals high levels of abuse suffered by social care staff and a lack of recognition, training and policies among employers to deal with the problem.
Posted: 6 May 2010