The NHS Confederation has called for a major rethink of strategic health authorities’ roles in light of the new regulatory regime.

Local authorities will have access to tailored support from early years sector specialists from next month onwards.

An MP is seeking to pass a law to improve the way local authorities provide support for people with autism. Conservative Cheryl Gillan came top of a ballot of MPs hoping to introduce private members bills into Parliament.

A care home chain with a raft of local authority contracts is in emergency talks to restructure its £1.5bn debt.

If there’s one thing to be said about being a parliamentary candidate, it’s that no day is ever the same. It also puts you face to face with the reality of situations and circumstances that all too often are glossed over in white papers with predictable and vacuous politi-speak.

Who’d be a social worker? In the wake of the Baby P inquiry, those charged with protecting children from abuse have been vilified as useless and uncaring. Jeremy Laurance joins the unwelcome visitors in one of Britain’s most troubled neighbourhoods, and witnesses the mistrust and frustration they face – every day.

A new report predicts the number of job opportunities in health care, education and social work will increase by 170,000 in the next eight years despite the credit crunch, painting an optimistic picture for the labour market over the long term.

The Government is poised to launch a probe into Birmingham’s children’s services department, a month after it was labelled inadequate by Ofsted inspectors.

More applications to take children into care are being issued than at any time since the present system of child protection was established.

Thousands of children unofficially cared for by adults who are not close relations are “invisible” and vulnerable to abuse, an adoption charity said today.