Social care, which proved so divisive when Labour sought cross-party consensus in the face of ‘death tax’ hysteria, is back on the table. Andy Burnham teases out the divisions between the cohabiting Lib Dems and Tories on this crucial issue.

A coalition of charities claims that a controversial health test being pushed by ministers to decide who will get long-term sickness benefits is not working. There is mounting evidence, say the charities, that people with serious illnesses are being judged fit for work when they are not.

A retired academic from Suffolk who specialised in child care has admitted a string of child pornography charges.

A pocket guide providing essential information about alcohol and other drugs to front-line Social Workers is being launched this week by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) in response to the area being over-looked on the Social Work education and practice agenda.

Barnet Council faces paying out £6 million after an arbitrator ruled it owed the cash to contractors hired to improve care homes.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of assisting the suicide of a disabled man from South Tyneside.

STAFF at a Peterborough-based charity are mourning the sudden death of “inspirational” national director Rupert Haydock.

Former director of children’s services at Haringey Council Sharon Shoesmith has been given leave to appeal against a High Court ruling that upheld the decision to sack her in the wake of the Baby Peter case.

More than 100 mental health service users came together at Queen’s Square, Liverpool, to produce and launch a Charter outlining their views on the service to the city council.

Young people in care have helped develop a training programme that aims to give social work trainees a better appreciation of how their actions impact children.