The private sector continues to be the biggest social services employer in Scotland with 42% of workers employed by private companies, according to new statistics released by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) today.

More facilities for unpaid work as a criminal punishment are to open in the region. Dumfries and Galloway Council has already opened two workshops for unpaid work in Dumfries and Stranraer and now the Social Work Committee has been told of plans to open more facilities around the region.

About 3,000 workers in Edinburgh have won an equal pay settlement from the city council which will run into millions of pounds.

A paedophile has been convicted of sexually abusing three young boys over a 13-year period. A jury found Graham Borthwick guilty of four charges. He was convicted by a majority verdict of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards two step-brothers at addresses in Edinburgh.

A CARE worker whose partner is accused of sexually abusing three underage schoolboys is “standing by her man”.

The Care Inspecrate has announced it is seeking the views of the workforce on changes to their proposed organisational structure.

Edinburgh’s Liberal Democrat MP, Mike Crockart, will be swapping his day job tomorrow and taking to the shop floor in a bid to encourage more people to volunteer for Barnardo’s Scotland.

THE DEATHS of a married couple found in a retirement complex in Glasgow are believed to have been a murder-suicide.

A 20-year-old Dundee nursery worker has appeared in court on charges relating to images of child abuse.

Alzheimer Scotland has organised six events, throughout Scotland, as an opportunity for you to come along and comment on the progress of Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy to date, identify the gaps, opportunities and priorities and to help shape the direction of Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy from 2013.