Social workers across Northern Ireland have been recognised for their contribution to the profession at an awards ceremony hosted by the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW – part of BASW).

The Western Health and Social Care Trust has said it does not have the resources to meet the demand for home care packages for the elderly.

Children’s services could be hardest hit by Northern Ireland’s draft budget, the Children’s Commissioner has warned.

A report into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) has found 197 young people were admitted to adult wards between 2007 and 2009.

Evidence of cuts impacting on social work services in Northern Ireland is already emerging, despite any formal agreement on the budget for the coming year.

A judge has hit out at social services after a benefit fraud trial in Londonderry had to be put back because of delays caused by the big freeze in December.

A drastic change is needed to radically overhaul child welfare and protection systems, a leading charity has warned.

Northern Ireland’s rates of mental health disorders are among the highest in 17 regions and countries, new evidence has found, with the region coming second to America.

A new specialist floating housing support service for adults has been launched for the Omagh and Fermanagh areas. The service has been developed in partnership by the Housing Executive, the Supporting People Programme, the Western Health and Social Care Trust and Leonard Cheshire Disability to address the specific housing needs of those with physical and sensory disability.

Health care for children in one of Belfast’s best known and well respected hospitals may not have been fit for use in recent times.