HEALTH union Unison has criticised NHS Warrington for awarding a care contract to a company that does not yet have a building to house patients in.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope today underlined the benefits of a career in social work while promoting a nationwide recruitment campaign.

MORE than 20 disabled pensioners are looking for a new place to live after their care home closes. Bosses at High Dene Residential Home, in Stanley Street, South Shields, say it has been losing money for years, forcing them to take the “difficult decision” to close it.

Hate crime directed at people with learning difficulties to be closely monitored in Lambeth Hate crime directed at people with learning difficulties to be closely monitored in Lambeth

A new study into the needs of social care users has revealed that a ‘whole system change’ is required to deliver a tailored service for individuals.

NHS and social care staff have been responsible for an appalling catalogue of neglect of people with learning disabilities, the health and local government ombudsmen say today after an investigation into six “distressing” deaths.

Tougher checks on people wanting to work with children and vulnerable adults are now running two years late after a Home Office decision to further delay the full launch of the scheme.

As part of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and Skills for Care’s joint work to provide a practical methodology to help Directors develop workforce commissioning strategies, to enable the step change to a personalised model of social care, a survey has been launched, and circulated to all Directors of Adult Social Services in England.

Bosses at The University of Reading have decided to close its department which trains social workers in a bid to save money. The university’s governing body voted to shut its School of Health and Social Care in September 2011.

The vilification of social workers after the death of Baby P shows the public ignorance of the challenges they face…