Twelve people with learning disabilities have recently moved into their own flats fulfilling their dreams of a much more independent life. For Iso Mullarkey, a social worker from Bishop’s Stortford, it is times like these that make her job worthwhile.
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Better monitoring is needed to measure how effective homelessness prevention services are, Shelter Scotland has said. Shelter’s report has recommended that more efficient monitoring and evaluation is needed as there is little to help councils in measuring how successful their prevention programmes have been in providing lasting solutions.
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Seven in 10 people arrested or charged for escaping police or prison custody over the past five years were never convicted for the offence, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. A total of 131 people were either arrested or charged with escaping lawful custody from 2002 to the end of 2006, but only 39 of those resulted in a conviction.
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The cost to patients of making telephone calls from their hospital bed is to increase by 160% from Wednesday. Patientline, which charges people to make phone calls and watch television in hospital, is to increase its call charge from 10p a minute to 26p.
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Depression during pregnancy may increase the risk of giving birth early, a UK study suggests. Mothers who were severely depressed gave birth earlier than those without depression, a small study shows.
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Union officials in Dumfries and Galloway have received “a lot” of complaints after about 1,000 council staff got letters outlining wage cuts. The cuts are part of “single status” plans to address equal pay issues.
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Further operation cancellations and delays are expected in hospitals around the country as the work-to-rule by nurses enters its third day. The unions are threatening work stoppages in one week’s time if their demands for a 35-hour working week and a 10% pay increase are not met.
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IVF clinics could see their multiple birth rates capped under plans being considered by the fertility watchdog. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is considering sanctions for clinics that produce too many multiple births as part of its drive to cut the number of twin pregnancies.
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Following the launch last week of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), a new survey* shows how widely their influence and responsibilities are being developed within English top tier local authorities.
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A Coalition of Scots anti-poverty and kids’ charities has heavily criticised the energy regulator, Ofgem. The coalition has turned its attention on Ofgem because of what it sees as its continuing failure to protect vulnerable consumers from debt.
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