A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By David Callaghan, Reg McKay and Alex Dobson.

NHS reforms could mean private care homes
close

Care homes are concerned that much of the extra cash earmarked
for social services will not reach them. The government plans to
make an extra £1.1 billion available to social services in the
year 2003-2004.

Health secretary Alan Milburn said social services departments
should make sure some of the cash reaches care homes to enable them
to survive and relieve the delayed discharge of older people crisis
in NHS hospitals.

Local authorities, which fail to ensure care home capacity is
adequate to deal with demand in their areas, will have to pay the
costs incurred by hospitals in caring for the older people.

An increase in national insurance contributions will also hit
cash-strapped care home employers from next April.

Source:- The Times Friday 19 April page 12

Milburn defends decision to create another new health
inspectorate

A new inspectorate for social care will be organised along the
same lines as the new inspection service for the NHS.

The new Commission for Social Care Inspection will be formed
from a merger of the Social Services Inspectorate and the
newly-formed National Care Standards Commission. It will have a
legal duty to work with the new Commission for Healthcare Audit and
Inspection (CHAI), which will inspect hospitals.

Mike Leadbetter, president of the Association of the Directors
of Social Services, welcomed the rationalisation of inspection
services.

Source:- The Times Friday 19 April page 13

Judges reject child custody for house
husbands

The court of appeal upheld the principle that mothers should
raise their children, rejecting a house husband’s attempt to win
custody of his two children.

The father who raised the children in his home claimed that he
was the victim of sex discrimination, but the court of appeal
rejected his attempt to overturn a high court decision to grant
custody to his estranged wife.

The judges said they could not ignore the “realities” of the
“very different” roles of men and women.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Friday 19 April page 1

Scottish newspapers

Church of Scotland to close nine care units

The Church of Scotland is to close nine care units following a
dispute over funding with the Scottish executive.

The church said it could no longer afford to keep running the
units despite a pledge by the Scottish executive to increase
funding by £27 per person per week in independently run
residential care. The units to close in the summer consist of five
residential units for older people, three day care centres and an
alcohol addiction centre based in Glasgow, Ayrshire, Midlothian,
Fife and Aberdeen.

Source:- The Scotsman Friday 19 April page 4

Backbench rebellion threatened over private prisons
plan

Labour backbenchers served notice on the Scottish executive that
they are deeply unhappy about plans to build three
privately-managed prisons in Scotland.

The executive is coming under increasing pressure from
opposition parties against the proposed closure of Peterhead
prison, including its highly acclaimed sex offenders unit, and the
development of three private prisons in the central belt.

In the Scottish parliament, the executive was accused of getting
its financial calculations wrong, and using consultants with a
vested interest in the private sector.

Source:- The Herald Friday 19 April page 6

Executive launches social care recruitment
drive

The Scottish executive has announced a £3.5 million drive
to recruit more people to the social care professions.

Making the announcement, Cathy Jamieson, minister for education
and young people, came under attack from opposition MSPs on how the
statement was handled. The SNP said they welcomed the statement,
but that the amount was too little too late having been promised
three years ago. The Scottish Tories also welcomed the decision,
but accused the executive of showing “contempt” to social care
staff by not giving greater notice of the announcement.

Source:- The Herald Friday 19 April page 6

Social work harder than politics

A commentary by Cathy Jamieson, minister of education and social
work, on how her experiences in social work were the most difficult
challenges of her life.

Source:- The Herald Friday 19 April page 6

Welsh newspapers

Bullying sparks reminder by child helplines and
website

Children’s charities in Wales are reminding parents and children
that they can seek help from experts if they experience
bullying.

The reminder comes in the wake of the tragic death of
13-year-old schoolgirl, Laura Kilibarda, who was found hanged at
her home near Cardiff earlier this week. Police are looking into
the possibility that she may have been the victim of bullying.

Children’s charity Childline says that in the year April 2000 to
March 2001 more children contacted Childline about bullying than
any other problem.

Source:- Western Mail Friday 19 April page 5

Health Minister moves to tackle domestic
violence

Domestic violence in Wales is a serious problem that needs to be
tackled, health and social care minister, Jane Hutt told the Welsh
assembly yesterday.

She said that on average 49 women contact Welsh Women’s Aid
every day because of violence or abuse, and she announced the
setting up of a working group to look at issues surrounding
domestic violence.

“This group will develop a comprehensive strategy for Wales
covering the criminal justice, health, social welfare, child
protection, education and equality aspects of domestic violence and
violence against women,” she said.

Source:- Western Mail Friday April 19 page 5