Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2002): Social Care - UK
THE PRICE OF A LOAF OF BREAD: SOME CONCEPTIONS OF FAMILY SUPPORT
H. Penn and D. Gough
Children and Society, vol. 16, 2002, p. 17-32
This paper looks at Riverside Borough Council and illustrates the different definitions of the term 'family support' employed by the different agencies within the authority. It analyses the contribution of the agencies according to the assumptions they make about methods and efficacy of intervention and access to termination of intervention. The findings are discussed in relation to resources for families, to key issues for the implementation of family support identified during the introduction of the Children Act 1989, and to the relevance of Social Services Inspectorate inspections to those issues.
PROTECTING ADULTS FROM ABUSE
D. Mathew et al
Community Care, Jan. 24th-30th 2002, p. 38-39
Reports results of a postal survey which shows that social services departments in England are making good progress in developing a multi-agency strategy to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
REFUGES OF INFORMATION
J. Taylor-Browne
Community Care, Feb. 7th-13th 2002, p. 36-37
Discuss the role and value of user consultation in improving services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
SIGNS OF A SICK SYSTEM
P. Burstow
Community Care, Jan. 31st-Feb. 6th 2002, p.38
Argues that local authorities may be acting illegally if they charge people with chronic illnesses for their care.
STAR WARS
F. Rickford
Community Care, Jan. 31st-Feb. 6th 2002, p. 26-27
A new star ratings system will award zero, one, two or three stars to Social Services Departments depending on a formula bringing together their performance indicator scores with data from Best Value, joint reviews and Social Services Inspectorate reports. High performing departments will receive extra freedom and more money, but poor performers will face a battery of possible interventions. Article argues that the present performance indicators are flawed.