People with learning disabilities in West Yorkshire are being encouraged to attend an event which will showcase the services available to them.

A new survey which will look at access to social care for adults with autism spectrum disorders in England is being carried out by the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex.

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector union, today warned that violence and abuse against social workers and people working in social care, has reached ‘chronic’ levels*, with attacks and abuse becoming a regular occurrence. The union has launched a ten-point blueprint aimed at combating the abuse and attacks.

AN Essex County Council boss is leading criticism of a Government plan to offer free support to help residents live at home.

MILTON Grange, a new mental health service for older people, has been officially opened. The dedicated East Sussex County Council unit opened after a £1.6million refurbishment of the old Milton Court Resource Centre and offers short-term respite care and day services.

Efforts to reach a secret cross-party agreement on the funding of social care ­collapsed yesterday amid acrimony after the Conservatives claimed Labour was planning to impose a £20,000 “death tax” to fund a national care service.

ANOTHER two old people’s homes are facing closure in Stoke-on-Trent. Heathside House, in Goldenhill, and Eardley House, in Bradley, had been earmarked for refurbishment. But Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now proposing to close the buildings, because there are so many private care homes in the city.

A VULNERABLE woman had sex with a former Kirklees social worker after he gave her cash to pay off loans, a conduct hearing has been told.

A single mother has been arrested for allegedly murdering her “severely autistic” son by poisoning him with bleach. Emergency services went to the family home in Barking, east London, after she dialled 999 on Tuesday night.

More than 70 leaders of social care throughout England are warning that the Government’s plans to provide free home care are flawed, unfunded and will force cuts to current services.