Free care is likely to be denied to all but the elderly with the most critical needs as public spending cuts hit local authorities, according to the NHS Confederation.

Even with a protected budget, the health service will be hit so hard by spending cuts that there will be major reductions in social care and this will cause problems for the NHS, the NHS Confederation has said.

Local authorities are set to benefit from a guide to commissioning for looked-after children, which will offer advice on how to cope with the unprecedented rise in referrals to children’s social care teams.

A national inquiry is needed to examine the impact of parental alcohol misuse on children, two charities have warned at the beginning of Alcohol Awareness Week.

Nottinghamshire County Council say it is ‘desperate’ for 40 more foster families after a dramatic increase in the number of children in its care.

EFFORTS to improve Herts County Council’s care of vulnerable children have been boosted by 30 new recruits.

A 95-year-old woman suffered serious burns and five other residents were injured in a suspected arson fire at a care home in Cleveleys, Lancashire.

Teachers and healthcare and social workers must work together better to improve the lives of children in care, new guidelines say.

Ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, JRF commissioned Ipsos MORI to look into the views and perceptions of local authorities and service user/carer organisations as they prepare for the challenges they now face.

A paedophile ring of four women described as “one of the most sickening this country has seen” was brought to an end yesterday after a community care worker was found guilty of abusing a five-month-old baby.