http://www.communitycare.co.uken-gbFri, 10 Feb 2012 17:23:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/10/117977/lga-steps-in-to-tackle-councils-adult-safeguarding-failings.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/10/117977/lga-steps-in-to-tackle-councils-adult-safeguarding-failings.htmlThe Local Government Association has stepped in to address adult safeguarding failings at Wirral Council by setting up a board to drive improvement. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:23:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/10/117976/how-security-guards-help-keep-social-workers-safe-on-home-visits.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/10/117976/how-security-guards-help-keep-social-workers-safe-on-home-visits.html One of the most memorable moments in the second episode of BBC Two’s Protecting Our Children programme came less than two minutes in. As Annie Semphill, the Bristol social worker, arrived outside the home of Shaun and Marva, she met with the two security guards who would accompany her on the visit to discuss the couple’s ability to care for their then unborn child. The security guards kept resurfacing too. Semphill’s visits to Shaun, who has a history of unpredictable violence, always had a burly, cross-armed guard close by. The use of security guards raised some eyebrows during Community Care’s live discussion as the documentary was aired with reactions ranging from shock at their use to wishes that their local authority would do the same (see box below). In a blog for Community Care a couple of days later, Semphill expressed surprise at people’s interest in the use of security, explaining that “it did make me feel safe to have two large uniformed men standing behind me as I...Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:41:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/09/117975/social-worker-suspended-for-not-reporting-underage-sex-case.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/09/117975/social-worker-suspended-for-not-reporting-underage-sex-case.htmlA social worker has been suspended for not reporting a case of sexual activity between two children aged under 13, in breach of national child protection guidance. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:25:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/09/117973/family-courts-plans-risk-miscarriages-of-justice.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/09/117973/family-courts-plans-risk-miscarriages-of-justice.htmlSocial workers and children's guardians have condemned "nonsensical" government plans for a six-month limit on care cases, warning the deadline could lead to miscarriages of justice.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:35:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/09/117970/cafcass-reveals-record-care-applications-for-january.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/09/117970/cafcass-reveals-record-care-applications-for-january.htmlCare applications to family courts body Cafcass are continuing to soar, according to the latest statistics, with record numbers of referrals made last month. (Pic: Voisin/Phanie/Rex Features) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:53:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117971/nhs-must-protect-lives-of-all-psychiatric-patients-at-risk.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117971/nhs-must-protect-lives-of-all-psychiatric-patients-at-risk.htmlPsychiatric hospitals risk breaching human rights law if they do not take action to protect the lives of patients admitted informally, the Supreme Court has ruled in a landmark judgement today. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117969/cqc-personalisation-lacking-in-winterbourne-style-services.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117969/cqc-personalisation-lacking-in-winterbourne-style-services.htmlMany learning disability hospitals and care homes are failing to provide person-centred care, the Care Quality Commission has found in its national review triggered by the Winterbourne View case. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:05:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117968/essex-council-unveils-plans-for-social-impact-bonds.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117968/essex-council-unveils-plans-for-social-impact-bonds.htmlEssex council has confirmed plans to use social impact bonds to fund intensive and community-based work with families and children on the edge of care or custody. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:33:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117965/supreme-court-to-rule-on-councils-right-to-limit-care-funding.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117965/supreme-court-to-rule-on-councils-right-to-limit-care-funding.htmlThe Supreme Court is to rule on councils' right to take resources into account in determining the levels of care they will fund for users, in a case that could have significant implications for social care funding. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:15:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117964/mps-unify-health-and-social-care-to-tackle-funding-shortfall.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/08/117964/mps-unify-health-and-social-care-to-tackle-funding-shortfall.htmlAdult care and health should be brought under a single commissioner in each area to improve support for older people and help solve social care's funding crisis, the health select committee, chaired by Stephen Dorrell (pictured), said today.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/07/117966/eileen-munro-takes-new-role-at-the-college-of-social-work.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/07/117966/eileen-munro-takes-new-role-at-the-college-of-social-work.htmlProfessor Eileen Munro has been appointed transitional chair of The College of Social Work’s children’s faculty, it was announced today. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:04:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/06/117962/adult-social-workers-pessimistic-but-proud-finds-college.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/06/117962/adult-social-workers-pessimistic-but-proud-finds-college.htmlAdult social workers feel pessimistic about the future of their practice because of bureaucracy and care management, but still believe they make a difference, The College of Social Work has found. (Photo: Rex Features) Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:09:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/03/117960/personalisation-wrongly-used-to-devalue-social-workers.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/03/117960/personalisation-wrongly-used-to-devalue-social-workers.htmlAdult social work is being 'devalued' by cuts and mistaken ideas about personalisation, The College of Social Work warned today as it launched a campaign to champion adults' professionals. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/01/117955/burstow-social-work-to-be-at-heart-of-care-white-paper.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/01/117955/burstow-social-work-to-be-at-heart-of-care-white-paper.htmlSocial work will be at the heart of the government's forthcoming adult care White Paper, with the profession's role expected to switch from rationing care to community development, Paul Burstow has said. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:10:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/01/117957/ofsted-well-supported-social-workers-improve-child-outcomes.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/01/117957/ofsted-well-supported-social-workers-improve-child-outcomes.htmlSocial workers who are supported by “accessible” and “visible” senior managers do improve outcomes for children, according to Ofsted.Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:30:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/01/117954/lords-vote-to-reject-50-cuts-to-disabled-children.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/02/01/117954/lords-vote-to-reject-50-cuts-to-disabled-children.htmlDisability campaigners are celebrating today after peers from across the House of Lords voted yesterday to reject a 50% cut to disabled children’s benefits. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:02:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/31/117952/social-workers-need-better-mental-capacity-act-training.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/31/117952/social-workers-need-better-mental-capacity-act-training.htmlSocial workers need more effective training and guidance in applying the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to take decisions on behalf of service users and support them to make decisions for themselves. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/31/117951/ofsted-to-give-no-notice-on-child-protection-inspections.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/31/117951/ofsted-to-give-no-notice-on-child-protection-inspections.htmlLocal authorities will be given no notice before their child protection services are inspected when Ofsted’s new inspection framework comes into force in May. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/30/117949/council-fined-for-sending-childrens-reports-to-wrong-people.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/30/117949/council-fined-for-sending-childrens-reports-to-wrong-people.htmlMidlothian council has been fined £140,000 for sending children’s social services reports to the wrong recipients on five occasions.Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:25:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/30/117948/social-care-funding-gap-has-widened-by-500m-says-age-uk.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/30/117948/social-care-funding-gap-has-widened-by-500m-says-age-uk.htmlThe gap between social care funding and need has grown by £500m for older people in England in 2011-12, compounding a situation in which 800,000 pensioners were already going without services. (Image: Rex Features). Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:13:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/27/117946/birmingham-appoints-new-director-of-childrens-services.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/27/117946/birmingham-appoints-new-director-of-childrens-services.htmlBirmingham council has appointed the head of an ‘outstanding’ social services department in Lincolnshire to help transform its troubled children’s services.Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:16:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/27/117945/call-for-national-inquiry-following-second-child-custody-death.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/27/117945/call-for-national-inquiry-following-second-child-custody-death.htmlTwo teenagers who were serving time at young offender institutions in England have died in the space of a week. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:45:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/27/117944/social-workers-urged-to-support-distressed-cancer-carers.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/27/117944/social-workers-urged-to-support-distressed-cancer-carers.htmlSocial care professionals have been urged to increase assessment levels for carers of cancer patients after a survey found half were receiving no support and a similar proportion were experiencing mental distress. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:59:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/25/117943/social-work-raises-parliamentary-profile-with-cross-party-group.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/25/117943/social-work-raises-parliamentary-profile-with-cross-party-group.htmlSocial work has raised its profile in parliament with the launch yesterday of an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on the profession. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:55:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/25/117941/council-staff-reluctant-to-signpost-clients-to-equity-release.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/25/117941/council-staff-reluctant-to-signpost-clients-to-equity-release.htmlCouncil staff have proved reluctant to signpost older clients to equity release schemes to fund low-level support at home, research has found. (Image: Rex Features) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:28:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/24/117940/nhs-must-spend-more-on-adult-social-care-say-mps.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/24/117940/nhs-must-spend-more-on-adult-social-care-say-mps.htmlThe NHS should spend more on adult social care to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of support for people with long-term conditions, MPs said today. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:42:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/23/117939/half-of-social-workers-feel-powerless-to-stop-neglect.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/23/117939/half-of-social-workers-feel-powerless-to-stop-neglect.htmlHalf of social workers feel powerless to stop children being neglected because of high thresholds and inadequate resources. (Image: Rex Features)Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:57:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/19/117938/independent-negotiators-to-restart-baswcollege-talks.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/19/117938/independent-negotiators-to-restart-baswcollege-talks.htmlThe British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and the College of Social Work are to reopen talks on a possible merger. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:50:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/18/117934/council-pays-1m-damages-for-shocking-child-abuse-failings.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/18/117934/council-pays-1m-damages-for-shocking-child-abuse-failings.htmlEssex council has paid damages of almost £1m to four siblings it failed to protect from years of parental abuse, Community Care has learned. (Pic: posed by model, Nigel R. Barklie/Rex Features)Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:49:00 GMThttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/18/117935/councils-face-hidden-army-of-child-abuse-damage-claimants.htmlhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/18/117935/councils-face-hidden-army-of-child-abuse-damage-claimants.htmlLocal authorities could be hit by a “hidden army” of people seeking damages for historic child abuse cases, lawyers have warned.Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:48:00 GMT