Boys brought up by their fathers during their early years are less well prepared for school, claims a Bristol University study.

A care home cheat has narrowly escaped prison after embezzling more than £5,500 from an elderly resident.

Career opportunities are expanding as social services heads into the new century, finds Debbie Andalo.

Nearly three-quarters of local authorities in England are rationing social services to exclude tens of thousands of vulnerable people from help with the basic tasks of daily living, official figures revealed last night.

People with learning disabilities are low on the government’s list of priorities, charities have claimed, after new figures reveal a shocking withdrawal of services.

A 94-year-old dementia sufferer has won a High Court fight to force the NHS to pay her nursing home fees.

Social care for elderly and disabled people in England is being rationed so severely that councils are supporting only the most needy, campaigners say.

The deputy manager of a pre-school stole thousands of pounds from parents who gave her cheques to pay fees.

The man in charge of Southampton’s social care services last night promised a full review into a billing fiasco that has meant 1,400 people receiving no bills for the past three months.

Social workers are increasingly at a loss as to what to do when representing vulnerable people in their care to local authorities as council cutbacks mean only people who are deemed to have extensive needs will be catered for.