Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2004): Social Care - UK

AS CHILDCARE DREAM COMES TRUE, THE BACKLASH BEGINS

J. Ashley

The Guardian, July 14th 2004, p. 9

Margaret Hodge, the Minister for Children, is interviewed about the long battle to raise childcare up to the political agenda, to the point where it is a central plank of the spending review

BATTERED AND BOOZED

J. Pearl

Community Care, July 22nd-28th 2004, p.38-39

Article analyses the links between domestic violence and substance abuse. It argues that women can be failed or rejected by services lacking knowledge of these links, and that professionals need training and support to develop integrated provision.

THE BLAME GAME

M. O'Hara

Society Guardian, June 30th 2004, p.10

Article looks at the claim that social workers are being made scapegoats in the Ian Huntley affair as a result of Sir Michael Bichard's condemnation of vetting procedures.

CARERS (EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES) ACT 2004

London: TSO, 2004

This Act builds on existing carers' legislation and government support to carers. It will:

• ensure that all carers know they are entitled to a needs assessment;
• place a duty on councils to consider a carer's outside work, study and leisure interests when carrying out an assessment;
• promote joint working between local councils and the health service to ensure support for carers is delivered in a coherent manner.

COUNCILS STRUGGLE WITH "FAIR PAY" DEAL

S. Gillen

Community Care, July 22nd-28th 2004, p.20

The Single Status Agreement (SSA) was signed by unions and local authorities in 1997 to ensure better salaries for low-paid workers. Cash-strapped councils are struggling to implement the agreement, and it has emerged that some are resorting to cutting the pay of social workers by downgrading their posts to reduce implementation costs.

DEATH OF THE DEPARTMENT

R. Jones

Community Care, July 8th-14th 2004, p.36-37

As social services departments are disbanded and split up, how are the values, principles, and knowledge and skills base of social care and social work to be protected and promoted? The article argues that strong professional associations and a proposed assembly for social work are needed in addition to the four government-sponsored social care bodies, (Commission for Social Care Inspection, General Social Care Council, Scie and Topss) which may be subject to political vagaries.

FILLING IN THE GAPS

D. Brindle

Society Guardian, July 28th 2004, p.10

From next April, social workers must be registered in order to practise. However many are holding back due to a dispute about over who should foot the bill for registration. The process costs £30 a year, and individual workers are being asked for £90 up front to cover three years. The employers have recently rejected a Unison (the union representing the majority of social workers) claim that they should pay.

LADYMAN VOWS TO LISTEN, BUT WARNS PROFESSION: THERE WILL BE CHANGE

D. Hayes

Community Care, June 3rd-9th 2004, p.14-15

The Community Care Minister, Stephen Ladyman, sets out his vision for the reform of adult social services. He envisages more home, and less institutional care, which is bad news for residential homes.

LONG-TIME COMPANIONS

N. Lavin

Community Care, July 22nd-28th 2004, p.34-35

Discusses the difficulties faced by older Lesbians and gay men, and highlights a research project that aims to identify the needs of this group and offer appropriate provision.

THE NEW BIG FISH

A.U. Sale

Community Care, June 10th-16th 2004, p.25-26

Government has proposed creating a new Commission for Equality and Human Rights to replace the Equal Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and Disability Rights Commission. Race and human rights activists comment on the proposals.

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS SCHEME IN ENGLAND AND WALES FOR CARE HOMES AND DOMICILIARY CARE AGENCIES: A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Department of Health

London: 2004

The POVA scheme will act as a workforce ban. Individuals will be included on the POVA list if they have abused or neglected vulnerable adults in their care or placed them at risk of harm. Care providers must make statutory checks against the list and not offer employment to anyone named on it.

WORST OF ALL WORLDS

A.U. Sale

Community Care, June 24th-30th 2004, p.28-29

Many women with HIV/AIDS from ethnic minorities meet with hostility from family and friends. The article discusses how social care services should respond to the needs of this group.