Sure Start failing ethnic minorities, says report

July 10, 2007 in Community Care

By Maria Ahmed, Amy Taylor and Derren Hayes

Sure Start failing ethnic minorities, says report

The government’s Sure Start programme has proved a “very serious policy failure” for deprived black and ethnic minority families, according to a study today. The study by Hull University is part of the government’s evaluation of Sure Start.

Source:- The Guardian, Tuesday 10 July 2007, page 9

Councils may win bigger say over the NHS

Local government could be given greater control of the National Health Service, despite pledges from Alan Johnson, the new health secretary, that the NHS would face no further structural upheavals “for the foreseeable future”.

Source:- The Financial Times, Tuesday 10 July 2007, page 2

Mother kills herself and son, 5, with a barbecue

A mother killed herself and her young son while suffering from psychotic delusions caused by her regular use of cannabis.

Source:- Daily Mail, Tuesday 10 July 2007, page 33

Mother wins damages over smothered daughter

A grieving woman has urged midwives not to leave newborn babies in bed with their mothers after she fell asleep as a result of an anaesthetic and accidentally suffocated her daughter.

Source:- The Times, Tuesday 10 July 2007, page 9

Single parents must find jobs, says Tory report

Single parents would be required to work at least part-time as soon as their youngest child reaches five-years-old in order to receive benefits under new plans announced by the Conservatives.

The measures, which are contained in a report from the party’s social justice commission, says that living on benefits should not be seen as a way of life and that it is incorrect that at present single parents can receive benefits up until their youngest child is 16 without having to take any active steps to return to work.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, July 10 2007, page 2

Scottish news

‘Chemical castration’ on NHS for sex predators

Paedophiles and rapists are to be offered “chemical castration” on the NHS under a pioneering project being developed in Scotland.

High-risk sex offenders in Edinburgh will be considered for drugs that reduce their libido when they are freed from prison.

The initiative is the brainchild of Dr Raj Darjee, a consultant forensic psychiatrist in Edinburgh, who believes drugs can play an important role in managing dangerous sexual predators once they are released into the community.

Source:- The Scotsman, Tuesday 10 July

Respite centre dream close to becoming reality

Families of children with special educational needs in Edinburgh could soon benefit from a purpose-built respite centre after £830,000 was raised.

The children’s charity Barnardo’s has been overwhelmed by the response to their Care and Hope Appeal, which aims to move their innovative Caern project.

Now campaigners are planning a final fundraising push to reach their £1 million target. They hope to open the new centre – which will provide weekly residential stays for children with a range of disabilities – in October.

Source:- The Scotsman, Tuesday 10 July

Welsh news

Mother convicted over five children’s truancy

A mother who was unable to get her five children to go to school was warned that she cannot let them have their own way in court yesterday.

The woman, 37, from Rhyl in North Wales, had previously pleaded guilty to five charges of failing to send her children to school.

Source:- Western Mail, Tuesday, July 10 2007

Toddlers in poverty may get free care

Councils may provide one off top up payments to deprived children’s child trust funds in Wales it emerged yesterday.

Free childcare places may also be provided to two-year olds from this group to help their parents to go back to work. The proposals are both being looked at by the Welsh Assembly as ways to tackle poverty in Wales.

Source:- Western Mail, Tuesday, July 10 2007