The number of people employed in the voluntary sector rose 6.5 per cent to 778,000 last year, bucking the trend of job losses in the public and private sectors.

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.

A SOCIAL worker from Sheffield has been banned from her profession after swindling more than £20,000 in housing benefit, council tax relief, and income support.

Providing better health and social care services to more people for less is at the heart of the personalisation agenda. But while tailoring services offers greater choice and control to users, local authorities need to recognise what long-term benefits can be gained from radically changing how they commission services.

Nicola Jacobson is dementia adviser for the Alzheimer’s Society Jacobson has been a dementia adviser in Sheffield since the role was created under the government’s national dementia strategy in 2009. She says co-designed services are making a difference in the social care sector.

Croydon Council is creating a private company to run its adult social care and housing services.

Sacked social services chief Sharon Shoesmith today spoke of her distress and sorrow over the death of Baby Peter as she warned that the “whole story” of what happened to the toddler had not yet been told.