CLOSING Haddington Sheriff Court could affect some of the most vulnerable children and families in East Lothian, a local councillor has warned.

A SOCIAL worker who spent two romantic nights with the mentally ill patient he was caring for has been handed a ­lifetime ban.

The number of youngsters contacting ChildLine in Scotland about self-harming has increased by almost 90% in the space of a year.

Standards in Dundee care homes fell last year and a prominent city councillor has expressed concern at the decline.

COMMUNITY Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham launched new services to help victims of domestic abuse in the Borders yesterday.

SOCIAL work spending in the Kingdom has already gone into the red by £4.5 million. And the cash crisis has prompted calls for extra funds as a “matter of urgency”.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Scotland and the National Carer Organisations welcomed the announcement during yesterday’s debate on the Social Care (Self Directed) Support Scotland Bill that regulations will be put in place waiving charges for support to carers.

A CARERS’ group has hit out at plans to close three Glasgow centres for people with learning disabilities and accused councillors of being “more concerned about the welfare of statues in George Square”.

WE MUST learn from the recent shocking cases to listen to children and act to help those at risk, writes Tam Baillie.

The size and scale of Scotland’s social housing providers are a financial drawback as they plan for their long-term future, by Susan Torrance