The government’s proposals to reform the nation’s social care system must pass the same tests set for pensions reform, an independent policy group has said.

ELDERLY and disabled people in Warwickshire could suffer following a decision to partly privatise home care services in the county, a leading union has claimed.

New social workers joining councils are ill-equipped to tackle difficult work with vulnerable children and families, MPs have been told.

People with Alzheimer’s are languishing in care homes and being given excessive drugs in treatment programmes reminiscent of the Victorian approach to mental illness, a leading researcher claims.

A care home has drastically reduced patients’ dependency on drugs thanks to alternative treatments such as doll therapy, according to Nursing Times.

BARNET Council has appointed a new director of children’s services. Robert McCulloch-Graham has joined Barnet from Thurrock Council, where he was director for children, education and families.

DOZENS of elderly residents could be forced to give up their accommodation within weeks after councillors gave the go-ahead to close two council- run care homes.

A care home manager has admitted using the company credit card to buy items for herself or her family. Clare West also used her role to purport to buy items on behalf other people which they never received.

A care home in Chesterfield has claimed it has vastly reduced psychotropic drug use with techniques such as doll therapy. Ashcroft Care Home says only 28% of residents are now being treated with psychotropic drugs, compared to 92% at the start of 2008.

A CARE home worker has been locked up for 30 months after sexually violating a mentally disabled pensioner. Andrew Houghton, 34, sexually abused a 67-year-old woman at a south Huddersfield care home.