Computer-based therapy for milder mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety should be made available to any patients in England who could benefit from it.

Staff overseeing the welfare of the youngest person to die in custody in the UK had failed to protect the 14-year-old, even though they knew he was a suicide risk, an inquest will be told this week.

{mosimage}Adam Rickwood, who had emotional problems, hanged himself at the privately run Hassockfield Centre near Consett, Co Durham, while being held on a wounding charge. In a meeting with Adam’s mother, Carol, 20 days before her son died, staff allegedly assured her that he was safe in their care.

‘Adam had told me he was going to hurt himself if he was kept in the centre,’ Carol said. ‘But the staff told me there had never been a suicide at the centre and that he would be constantly monitored.’ Hassockfield is more than 150 miles from Adam’s family home in Lancashire. Guidelines suggest that young offenders should be held no more than 50 miles away from their family. ‘The last time I saw Adam he cried and cried and said he wanted to be nearer to home. He wasn’t an angel, but he was a mummy’s boy. He liked a cuddle,’ said Carol.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) welcomes the challenges outlined by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Services, Ivan Lewis, following publication of the Status of Social Care Services – A Review 2007.

Parents who give alcohol to children aged under 15 should be prosecuted, a charity has said. The call comes in an Alcohol Concern report on the government’s Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.

{mosimage}The study highlights figures that suggest a large increase in the amount of alcohol drunk by 11 to 13-year-olds. Alcohol Concern also wants a 16% rise in alcohol taxes, a ban on brewers selling to retailers at a loss, and a crackdown on under-age alcohol sales. The charity would include meal times at home in the ban on giving alcohol to young people. Frank Soodeen, a campaigns officer for Alcohol Concern, said: “We are facing a new social reality where children seem to be adopting older behaviour at a younger age.

“One of the things we need to do is get parents on board.” He also suggested there was a need to consider new legislation regarding the issue. The charity would like to see a ban on alcohol advertising before the 9pm television watershed and non-18 certificate films in cinemas.

Fears are increasing among Halton carers that isolation and confusion will grow as a result of a shake-up of mental health services. Lack of independent advice and uncertainty over the future of professional services are among the their concerns.

Hundreds of mental health sufferers fear they will be left to cope alone with the future of their support centre hanging in the balance. Resource, based in Reading, faces closure because of a lack of funds – leaving its 1,400 users with nowhere else to go.

The controversial amendments to the Mental Health Bill put forward by the government are not supported by the public according to a recent YouGov poll.

Care for Camden’s elderly should not be privatised despite council figures showing that contract carers could save tax-payers millions, Labour’s top councillor has said.

Parents and carers have blasted west Berkshire’s local authorities in the wake of a survey which shows they provide autistic people with a sub-standard service. The Berkshire Autistic Society poll showed 89 per cent of its members feel autistic children and adults are receiving insufficient support from their councils.

Knowsley Safeguarding Children Board has launched an information campaign to highlight the issue of ‘private fostering’ and identify where these arrangements are taking place. Anyone who is looking after a child when they are not a close relative or legal guardian is legally required to let their local Children and Families social work team know.