Children’s Secretary Ed Balls called on wider society to celebrate the invaluable role social workers play in protecting children from harm during his speech at the Children & Young People Now Awards last night.

Gordon Brown came under renewed pressure over how his promise of free care at home for the elderly will be met as figures showed a fall in government funding for dementia research.

The 100,000 UK children who run away from home each year should be offered more protection via a network of new refuge centres, a charity has urged.

AN INVESTIGATION into the death of a teenager found dead in a house has been launched by social services.

A couple have accused social services of “kidnapping” their nine week-old daughter for adoption. They allege that police and council staff forced their way into their home and took the baby away while they were physically restrained. They claim they were not allowed to cuddle the child or say goodbye.

The National Autistic Society will continue to publicise the hidden vulnerabilities of people with Asperger syndrome despite the Government’s decision not to block Gary McKinnon’s extradition on medical grounds.