Work and pensions secretary heckled by anti-cuts protesters during a speech at the George hotel in Edinburgh

Dealing with drug abuse is still a significant challenge for Scotland, the Community Safety Minister has said. While new statistics offer some “hopeful signs” for those seeking help, the country is still “dealing with a long legacy of drugs use”, according to Roseanna Cunningham.

Mabel Cooper, who has died of cancer, aged 68, was a charismatic and inspirational figure in the changing world of learning disability. She had a tremendous ability to draw on personal experience to tell stories that, written or spoken, engaged and inspired her readers andlisteners in many walks of life.

A FORMER homeless drug addict who has worked to turn her life around has scooped a royal award at a star-studded London ceremony.

Children who are looked after by Renfrewshire Council are being giving a £100,000 boost to help them achieve better results at school.

THE NUMBER of children on the child protection register in South Ayrshire has seen one of the largest rises in the country.

Social work has changed over the years, but it is still by no means set in a single mould, argues Viviene Cree

Council leaders have blasted “extreme and ill thought-out” welfare reforms that are due to come into force in just one week.

The loss of dementia beds from a troubled Tweedbank care home does not spell the end for the facility, according to Andrew Lowe.

Tribute was paid to the “life changing” work of social workers at the Scottish Association of Social Work Awards yesterday.