The big news story is the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton. Like many other couples, they and their families will spend much time planning for their wedding. If only so much planning and attention was given to all major life changes.

A group of care homes, which has a site in Redhill, has won an award at this year’s Surrey Care Awards.

Adult care services are continuing to improve despite huge pressures on staff and rising demand according to the Care Quality Commission’s report today.

WIRRAL’S social services department was rated among the worst in England in a national assessment released today.

Most local authorities in England have not carried out the social worker healthcheck recommended by the Social Work Taskforce (SWTF), BASW Online has learned.

The social care system for children is under massive pressure, Ofsted warned today. A huge rise in the number of children being referred to social services has left staff with little time for face-to-face work.

Ofsted inspectors have criticised Kent County Council’s safeguarding and looked-after children’s services.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) is calling on all councils to ensure staff across education, transport and housing services receive training in preventing accidents and ensuring children are kept safe.

A care worker was yesterday jailed for stealing £4,000 from a disabled man she was looking after. Abigail Herbert was sent to prison for a year for taking the cash which her victim had saved for a new specialist wheelchair.

A SENIOR councillor has called for a controversial children’s home to be closed because it is making neighbours’ lives a misery.