A four-point plan to make social care fairer and more transparent ahead of wider reforms has been unveiled by one of the nation’s most respected social policy research organisations.

More than half of social care professionals believe a social insurance scheme is needed to fund the reform of care and support services. A further 27% say perhaps it is needed to raise adequate funds, but they fear it would prove too unpopular with the public.

A group of care homes in Sussex have installed iris recognition technology – similar to that used in airport security control – in a bid to monitor and record the movement of its staff.

A Government scheme aimed at boosting the number of social care workers is looking to fill 250 jobs across the Bradford district.

A child-protection service has been condemned after a 12-year-old was left with no schooling for two years.

Campaigners fighting controversial plans to open a home for troubled teenage boys in Portishead are to meet Ofsted chiefs this week.

A READING University decision to shut a thriving social work department could have a “catastrophic” impact.