The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken of his ‘deep sorrow’ for the suffering of victims of child abuse involving the Church of England. Dr Rowan Williams was making his first statement since the jailing of Hampshire choirmaster Peter Halliday for sexually assaulting a boy 17 years ago.
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Children who are visibly involved in their communities make people feel safer and help create stronger neighbourhoods, according to research. A study by the Economic and Social Research Council found, contrary to public opinion, children play a key role in developing strong community spirit and safe neighbourhoods.
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Some 40% of people from ethnic minority backgrounds are living in poverty, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said. The figure is twice as high as it is for white people, and rises to 65% for those of Bangladeshi origin, it says.
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Two sex offenders released into the community in Scotland are being forced to wear an electronic tag – one for the next 10 years – because they are considered such a risk to society.
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A company trying to evict an 83-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer from a private care home it runs is facing a legal battle in a historic case that could affect hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.
{mosimage}The patient, who is female and known as YL, is taking Southern Cross Health Care to the House of Lords today on the grounds that the eviction would breach her human rights. Southern Cross is arguing that it is not undertaking a public function. Doctors say that evicting her would lead to a 25% chance that she may die within 6 to 8 weeks. If she wins, it could provide protection to 300,000 care home residents potentially at the mercy of private firms who run 91% of care homes in England and Wales.
Her action is being backed by Lord Falconer, the secretary for constitutional affairs, and by disability and human rights campaigners. Due to a legal loophole, the Human Rights Act offers no protection to elderly people in private care homes who may be at risk of eviction, abuse or neglect.
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A former health minister is calling for a radical rethink on drugs policy. Former Labour MSP, Susan Deacon, who is not standing for re-election, said politicians from all parties should stop talking tough on drugs.
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Views expressed by eminent social care leader, Dame Denise Platt, in her national review of the Status of Social Care services have been warmly received by Skills for Care, the national workforce development organisation for people working in adult social care.
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More than 40 staff from Scotland’s care watchdog are celebrating success in a pioneering new course designed to help drive up standards. The Care Commission officers have all gained a new academic qualification which puts them at the forefront of modern regulation for nurseries, care homes and other care services.
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The creation of the new Vetting and Barring Scheme has taken an important step forward with the appointment of Sir Roger Singleton as chair of the new Independent Barring Board (IBB). He will oversee the development of the scheme in preparation for its launch in 2008.
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Talks on the nurses’ dispute being held at Government Buildings have been adjorned until Tuesday. Efforts to end the four-week old dispute over pay and a shorter working week had been ongoing since mid afternoon under the auspices of the National Implementation body.
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