Thursday 26 May 2005

By Maria Ahmed, Clare Jerrom and Amy Taylor

Angella Mairs, the London social worker dismissed for
gross misconduct following the death of Victoria Climbie, fought
off a High Court bid to stop her working with children.

Her name had been placed on the Protection of Children Act list
which contains names of people unsuitable to work with children.
However, she won an appeal before the Care Standards Tribunal which
said her name should eb removed from the list. The High Court
yesterday backed this decision.

Source:- The Times Thursday 26 May page 2

Award for Afghan

A 15-year-old asylum seeker was yesterday awarded £11,000
after Charles Clarke conceded in the High Court that he had been
detained unlawfully in a detention centre.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 26 May page 2

Dabbling with drink at 15, an alcoholic at 16…dead at
19

A coroner yesterday warned that drinking excessively had serious
consequences at an inquest into the death of Noleen Devlin, a
19-year-old who died after bingeing on wine, cider, champagne and
lager.

Source:- Daily Mail  Thursday 26 May page 7

Appeal to parents on teenage births

The government has reached the limits of its ability to contain
the UK’s high rate of teenage pregnancy and can go no further
without the help of parents, the new children and families minister
warned yesterday.

Beverley Hughes said that ministers had reached a “sticking
point” where their efforts could not by themselves solve the
problem of teenage pregnancy.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 26 May 2005 page 1

Labour’s policy on children
criticised

The government’s policy on children and families is in
conflict with its international commitments on human rights, a
study published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says.

It says ministers have tried to promote the welfare of children,
but have refused to give them the rights they are due under
international conventions.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 26 May 2005 page 8

Scottish news

Child rapist allowed togo free from court on bail

A sex offender who raped an 11-year-old girl was allowed to walk
free on bail yesterday.

Edward Waugh admitted raping the girl but was allowed to go free
while Lady Ann Smith deferred sentence until 14 June. She made the
decision after hearing that Waugh had learning difficulties.

Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 26 May 2005

Prison gets worse for women

Scotland’s only women’s jail has deteriorated even
further in the last year, according to Scotland’s chief
inspector of prisons.

Dr Andrew McLellan said he was “even more sad” at the
physical and mental conditions of female prisoners at Cornton Vale
than he was in 2004.

Source:- The Scotsman  Thursday 26 May 2005

Social work chief attacks Executive

The Kirk’s head of social work yesterday slammed the Scottish
executive over its funding of care homes for older people.

Director of social work Ian Manson said the executive’s
framework for funding meant that money earmarked for residential
homes was not reaching them.

Source:- The Scotsman  Thursday 26 May 2005

Hunt for bogus council worker

Police are hunting a woman who posed as a council worker after two
older people were conned within an hour of each other.

Police believe the two incidents were carried out by the same
woman.

Source:- Evening News  Wednesday 25 May 2005

Child protection advice offered at meeting

People who run activities for young people will be advised
how best to protect them.

A meeting is being organised by Voluntary Arts Scotland for 1 June
where people will be briefed on the implications of the new
Protection of Children (Scotland) Act.

Source:- Evening News  Wednesday 25 May 2005

Abortion rate rises, leading to new calls for better sex
education

Director of the Family Planning Association Scotland Tim Street
yesterday urged ministers to push for more sex education in order
to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy and abortions.

Health figure services revealed that 12,448 terminations were
carried out in 2004 compared to 12,304 the previous year.

Source:- The Scotsman  Wednesday 25 May 2005

Welsh news 

Two months – 76 complaints

Powys Local Health Board (LHB) received 76 complaints in just over
two months.

Forty five formal complaints were made together with 31 informal
complaints between January 14 and March 15 of this year.

The highest number of complaints was for waiting times for
services.

Source:- Powys County Times Thursday 26 May