A summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By
Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

How
Britain’s teen mothers fall into the poverty trap

Teenage
girls in Britain are more than twice as likely to be impoverished single
parents than their European counterparts, a survey found yesterday.

According
to researchers, the strong family bond often found in other European countries
means teenagers abroad are more likely to be supported by family members in the
same situation, whereas in England it leads to poverty and deprivation where
family ties are not as strong.

The
findings taken from 13 European countries fuels fears that Britain is fast
becoming a society where the traditional family is breaking down.

It
will also concern ministers who have targeted reducing teenage mothers as a key
part to tackling social inclusion.

Source:-
Daily Mail  Wednesday 3 October page 35

Researchers
again find no MMR link to autism

Fresh
research finding no link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and
autism has urged parents to immunise their children.

The
study in the journal Paediatrics is
the second within a week to deny a link between the jab and autism.

Researchers
from Kings College, London studied 262 children to see if a new type of autism
linked to bowel disorders had emerged after the introduction of MMR.

“These
results add to the recent accumulation of large scale epidemiological studies
that failed to support an association between MMR and autism at population
level,” the researchers concluded.

Source:-
Daily Telegraph  Wednesday 3 October page 16

‘Green
card’ work permits for useful migrants

The
Home Secretary will today announce a major overhaul of the asylum system
including the introduction of a US-style “green card” immigration scheme
including a work permit system with quotas in areas of severe labour shortages.

David
Blunkett will also try to head off a revolt over the controversial voucher
scheme  by promising to announce the
results of a year long review by the end of the month.

Blunkett
is expected to announce four different types of work permit schemes that could
alleviate pressure on the immigration system by giving economic migrants a
legal route into Britain.

“We
want to ensure that our economy can benefit from opening opportunities to both
skilled and unskilled workers on a sensible and managed basis for those who
wish to be legally employed here,” he will say.

Source:-
The Guardian  Wednesday 3 October page 15

Courts’
line ‘wrong’ on asylum detentions

Three
appeal court judges were told yesterday that it was not for the courts to
substitute their opinion for the home secretary’s decision on the right way to
handle asylum claims speedily.

The
government’s senior law officer was opening an appeal against a high court
ruling last month that the Home Office acted unlawfully in detaining asylum
seekers for seven to ten days at Oakington detention centre for the aim of fast
tracking their asylum claims.

Mr
Justice Collins’ ruling infuriated the Home Secretary and threatened to wreck
the government’s attempts to speed up the asylum process.

Lord
Goldsmith addressed the judges yesterday and said that the purpose of Oakington
was to increase the ability to deal quickly with applications.

Source:-
The Guardian  Wednesday 3 October page 12

Safety
system

NSPCC
urges reform in light of Climbie case

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 4

Open
accounts

Children’s
charity combats criticism

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 4

Rapid
retreat

Asylum
scheme chief quits after only six weeks

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 5

Distant
voices

Looking
after a relative can be an isolating experience – more so for refugees
struggling with cultural and language barriers

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 6

Male
models

Linda
Jackson on a new report calling for urgent action to end the perception that
child care must be women’s work

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 112 – 111

Watchful
eye’s right

Home
visits for elderly have ‘significant’ effect on mortality

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 111

False
evidence exposed

Leeds
censured for mishandling child welfare case

Source:-
Guardian Society  Wednesday 3 October page 111

Scottish
newpapers

Boy (15) held in adult prison

The
parents and lawyer of a 15-year-old boy remanded in an adult prison after being
rejected by two secure units have spoken out of their worries for his
safety. 

The
unnamed boy appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday to face charges of
assaulting another boy in Kerelaw School, Ayrshire the secure unit he had been
resident in under a supervision order of the children’s panel. 

After
the alleged assault last month he was transferred to Rossie Farm secure unit in
Montrose but staff reported that his difficult behaviour and violent outbursts
continued. 

Due
to being his violent behaviour and history of self-harming, the boy has been
under the care of East Ayrshire Council social work department for the past
four years. Yesterday, Kilmarnock Sheriff Court remanded him to Bowhouse prison
in Kilmarnock.

Source:-
The Scotsman Wednesday 3 October page
1  
 

Slap case teacher ‘was a victim’

The
teacher struck off from his duties as he awaited trial for assaulting his
eight-year old daughter was a victim of incompetence, according to his lawyers
presenting his appeal against the decision of the General Teaching
Council.  

The
49-year-old teacher from North Lanarkshire faced the charges following
allegations that he repeatedly slapped his daughter in a dental reception area
two years ago. 

At
his appeal at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, his lawyers claimed that the
GTC had been initially incompetent in suspending him from duties as he awaited
trial.  Andrew Smith representing the
GTC accepted that the council may have made errors in striking the teacher off
but insisted the teacher’s conduct was better judged by his peers who sit on
the committee rather than an appeal court. The three appeal judges are expected
to announce their decision late next week.

Source:-
The Scotsman Wednesday 3 October page
4