The independent conduct committee of the GSCC yesterday (6 July 2006) decided the case of a social worker from London who was alleged to have breached the code of practice by providing false information and failing to disclose full details of criminal convictions in her application for registration. Misconduct was found against the registrant, Bernice Mary Francois, and she was admonished for a period of two years.

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis said:
“I am appalled that the vulnerable people living in this facility in Cornwall have been abused by those who were supposed to protect and care for them. Abuse of vulnerable people in any setting is simply unacceptable. With the help of an external team we appointed with the SHA in October 2005, the local NHS and county council have already taken steps to ensure that the people involved are now safe.

The heads of two care inspectorates have voiced serious concerns about the treatment of people with learning disabilities across England. Their report comes just over a year after an investigation was launched by Dorset police and Poole social services over the alleged assault of Down’s Syndrome man Jamie McManus.

A Suffolk charity which supports people who care for friends or family members with illnesses or disabilities could be forced to turn people away because of a huge growth in demand, its chief executive has revealed. Suffolk Family Carers provides respite and support for the hidden army of carers who devote their lives to looking after loved ones.

Patients could get a greater input into the provision of services for people with mental health problems if the county’s bid for foundation status is approved. The Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust has launched a three-month public consultation for the plans to become a foundation trust. It would be part of the NHS but would be directly accountable to the population it serves, have more financial independence and would be able to hand over governance of local services to people in the area.

The number of children in the eastern region living in poverty fell between 1998 and 2005, a report has revealed. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) found that in 2004/2005, 22% of children in the East of England lived in families on low incomes. This compares to the 26% of children in low income families in 1998/1999.

Who would be a social worker? Normally, they go about their job in a professional manner with very little praise, charged with the extremely difficult decision of whether to risk leaving a child at home, where they may suffer physical harm, or to remove them, risking emotional harm. In a judgment on a recent case, Mr Justice McFarlane described their dilemma as “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” take action.

{mosimage} A damning report has raised serious concerns about the treatment and care of people with learning disabilities. It follows an investigation by the Healthcare Commission and Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) into several treatment centres and units. The report recommended Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust is put in special measures for “widespread institutional abuse” of patients at Budock Hospital. Checks will now be carried out on all services in England. The report said the scale of abuse in Cornwall was the worst the inspectorates have come across. During the investigation, teams of inspectors found evidence of staff hitting, pushing, and dragging people who were supposed to be in their care. There were also reports of staff withholding food and forcing patients to take cold showers.

{mosimage}The heads of two independent health and social care inspectorates have joined forces to highlight serious concerns about the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities.

Anna Walker, Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission, and David Behan, Chief Inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection have released a joint statement on learning disability services across England.

Three directors of the Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust have resigned from the trust board. The announcement comes as an inquiry into allegations of abuse and neglect at Budock Hospital near Falmouth draws to a close. There is no indication that the resignations are linked to the investigation into the trust, which deals with mental health in Cornwall. Trust Chief Executive Lezli Boswell told board members on Monday that Medical Director Ken Wood was standing down, but would continue with his clinical work. She also said that Mark Steer, director of nursing and service governance, had resigned from the board, but would continue in his role improving services for people with learning disabilities.