News round up: Cameron to slash benefit payouts to 500,000

October 5, 2009 in Child safeguarding, Disability, Older people, Social care leaders, Substance misuse, Workforce

Cameron to slash benefit payouts to 500,000 now deemed ‘unfit to work’

More than half a million people on incapacity benefit would have their payments cut by more than £25 a week under radical plans to be outlined by David Cameron today to force them to find jobs.

Read more on this story in The Times

Darling set to reveal autumn spending cuts

Public spending priorities and cuts will be announced in this autumn’s pre-Budget report, Alistair Darling indicated on Sunday, as he revealed he was calling ministers into the Treasury for “very robust” discussions.

Speaking to journalists in Istanbul, the chancellor attacked Conservative plans to cut spending for 2010 and reform welfare as “downright daft” and completely contrary to the international consensus at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, held in the Turkish city at the weekend.

Read more on this story in The Financial Times

Down’s dementia risk ‘overlooked’

Not enough is being done to support the growing number of people with Down’s syndrome who have dementia, say campaigners.

Read more on this story on the BBC news website

Cocaine drug of choice for under-25s, NHS figures suggest

Fewer young adults with a drug problem are using heroin and crack – the two substances most likely to cause addiction, increase crime and pose serious health risks – but the number of under-25s seeking treatment for dependency on cocaine is rising significantly, official figures show.

Haringey takes on social workers from North America

The children‘s services department at the centre of the Baby P tragedy has hired almost two dozen social workers from North America to boost staff numbers.

Social workers to check pets and fridges during suspected child abuse cases

Social workers are to be instructed to check the contents of families’ fridges, take pictures inside the home and ensure pets are healthy when investigating suspected child abuse cases.

Harrow council in north-west London is introducing a contract to make explicit the responsibilities of families and the duties of officials involved.