Speaking at today’s Aiming High for Disabled Children Conference on Parent Participation Transforming Disabled Children’s Services, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls announced the launch of a National Parent Forum Network, which will ensure that parent forums have a stronger, more coherent voice.

AN investigation has been launched into standards of care at a Swaffham nursing home. Care chiefs at County Hall have launched a probe into Iceni House, in conjunction with watchdogs the Care Quality Commission.

Bristol academics have been asked to carry out an in-depth inquiry into shocking claims around the deaths of people with learning disabilities.

Responding to the Working Together guidance announced by Children’s Secretary, Ed Balls, which appears to scrap the costly recommendation from Lord Laming that required every referral from another professional to be followed up by a formal process known as an initial assessment, Cllr Shireen Ritchie, Chair of the LGA Children and Young People board, said:

The hounding of social workers by the press for being “baby-snatchers” if they take children into care is a predictable story. But now such persecution has taken a new twist with online campaigns by families protesting about child protection intervention.

The House of Lords’ vote to delay the introduction of free personal care at home until April 2011 is a practical step forward, council leaders said today.

The Department of Health has increased its strategic partners programme to include five additional partnerships.

Prison inspectors have added their voice to criticism of detaining children at the Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre.