Work on checking standards in English care home fell “significantly” after a new watchdog was introduced, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned in a report published today (Friday).

The author of a government-commissioned report on the future of the care system has urged ministers to find the “guts” to get on and implement it.

Far from disregarding the expertise of social care professionals, Ofsted has it locked into its current programme of inspection and won the respect of children’s services staff, writes Jon Goldup

The Care Quality Commission is in a bad state, argues Terry Philpot, but it hasn’t been given many tools to work with

Four out of five people (83 per cent) think people with dementia and their carers need more help and support yet almost as many (72 per cent) fear dementia care could fall victim to cuts.

The British Association of Social Workers is urging members to take a more radical approach to social change; for example, by working with service users and refusing to do additional administrative tasks that have been foisted on them due to cuts in back office support.

Care home entrepreneur Phil Burgan has warned of a crisis in the elderly care market as the cost of looking after old people becomes unsustainable.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a commitment to double the number of free childcare places for two-year-olds.