A new head of children’s services at Cambridgeshire County Council has been appointed. Adrian Loades succeeds Gordon Jeyes as the new executive director of children and young people’s services.

The owner and manager of a Southampton care home have been found guilty of ill-treating and neglecting residents.

George Osborne faced anger and dismay last night over his plans to cut sickness benefits, with even a government minister joining the backlash.

Westminster Council is planning to shave £1.6m off its early years budget and £900,000 from youth and play services over the next three years, as part of council-wide efficiency savings of £54m to be made by 2013.

Recommendations in a major report on improving the care system will be too costly to deliver and conflict with new government policy, a senior children’s professional has warned.

A cap on immigration could impair the UK’s ability to recruit the necessary number of overseas consultants to fill skills shortages in the health sector, according to John Faraguna, managing director of Hays Health and Social Care.

Adult care costs in Warwickshire could be set to soar as the county council prepares to consider proposals to cut subsidies.

Social workers require more training and support in order to aid their career progression, the head of children’s services at Haringey has warned.

Cardiff Council’s have said a report on the city’s social services should be put to the full council to make them responsible.

A controversial vetting system recently halted by the Government was an “entirely sensible measure” and did not deter volunteers from coming forward, a charity said yesterday.