The government is spending £500 million less than is needed to maintain levels of social care provision this year, a new report suggests.

Health and social care support services in London should be more joined up to save time and money as well as improve patient care, new research by London Councils shows today.

Ofsted has finalised plans to begin two-week long spot checks of local authority child protection services from May.

Social workers just can’t win. There’s no such thing as a popular decision in any case of child protection, but if the care team get it wrong, then the finger swiftly points at their failings.

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has welcomed Ofsted’s announcement that it will introduce no notice inspections for child protection services, coming into effect in May.

A new assistant director for social care in Adult and Local Services has been appointed by Cumbria County Council.

The Department of Health has unveiled a children and young people’s health forum to be charged with developing a child health strategy over the next three months.

A decision on plans to privatise day care services used by about a thousand disabled and elderly people in Lincolnshire has been postponed.

Hospitals should check every elderly patient for signs of neglect on admission, health ministers will be told on Friday.

USERS of Northumberland’s social services are being asked to share their views on the care and support they receive.