News round up: Tories defy Balls on child abuse reports

February 4, 2009 in Child safeguarding, Mental Health, Older people, Workforce

Tories defy Balls on child abuse reports

The Conservatives last night moved to embarrass Ed Balls, the children’s secretary, over the fallout from the Baby P scandal by pledging to publish for the first time a serious case review into the death of a child under social services care.

Dementia strategy criticised by Alzheimer’s trust

The first-ever national dementia strategy, intended to transform the care of the rising number of sufferers and their families, was launched by the government yesterday with funding of £150m and the promise of a string of memory clinics and advisors across the country.

But while the much-delayed strategy was welcomed by many in the field, it was criticised for failing to deliver on two crucial issues – research into the causes and potential treatments of dementia and the drugging of elderly people in care homes. A review of antipsychotic drugs – the so-called “chemical cosh” used in care homes to sedate people whose dementia makes them angry or distressed – has been postponed until the spring.

Social work faces recruitment crisis after Baby P case, Tories say

Around one in seven social work jobs is empty because of a “recruitment crisis” that threatens vulnerable children, the Conservatives have said.

Elderly and poor families get help to beat burglars

Cash-strapped householders will be given free locks and burglar alarms to beat a credit crunch crimewave.

Darling hints at tax cuts for pensioners

Tax cuts for millions of pensioners were signalled last night by Chancellor Alistair Darling.

Channel 4’s Little Brother reality show slammed as ‘little more than corporate child abuse’

Channel 4 has been accused of ‘corporate child abuse’ over its decision to screen a Big Brother-style show featuring 20 primary schoolchildren.

Read more on this story in The Daily Mail

The shame barrier to seeking charity

With unemployment set to soar above 3 million during the recession and 75,000 households likely to be repossessed by the end of the year, people should be turning to charities in their droves. But research published today reveals that one in four adults are ashamed about receiving charitable support.