According to a major report developed by experts on a social care advisory board, including Jeff Jerome, the National Director of Social Care Transformation, and Chief Executive of Counsel and Care Stephen Burke, social workers need training in order to play a greater role in planning and delivering end-of-life care ahead of huge increase in the numbers of deaths each year.

BASW England is holding a series of seminars across the country to address emerging concerns from social workers working in adult services. BASW England policy development officer Joe Godden said concerns centre on “cuts, reductions in qualified social worker numbers and a growing tendency for adult social work to be relegated in importance to children’s social work”.

Social work students will be able to judge the quality of degree courses before applying after a decision by the General Social Care Council to crack down on universities by publishing inspection reports.

A new service for supporting terminally ill patients and their cares has been launched in Oxfordshire.

THREE day centres for people with mental health needs could close in Notts.The county council is expected to launch a consultation into shutting the centres in Beeston, Sutton-in-Ashfield and Worksop.

The number of new reports of children being cared for in private fostering arrangements has risen by nine per cent in the past year, the latest figures reveal.

Problems in children’s social care cannot be blamed on a lack of funding, according to Lord Laming, author of two government reviews into child protection.