A support group dedicated to dads in Aberdeen is breaking down barriers to offer help, advice and education for fathers as they bid to become better parents.

FIVE thousand unemployed people across North Lanarkshire are to be helped to find work through a £15 million council initiative.

A COUNCILLOR has intervened in the case of a Borders dad who claims he has been forced into debt because the petrol allowance he receives for conveying his disabled son to a special school in Dundee has been slashed, writes Andrew Keddie.

The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW – part of BASW) has hit out at plans to abolish prison Visiting Committees, warning that “an essential part of the checks and balances for the care of prisoners will be lost” by the move, confirmed by minister for justice Kenny MacAskill late last year.

A HORRENDOUS catalogue of neglect, cruelty and abuse at nursing homes run by the collapsed care giants Southern Cross can be revealed today.

THE future of two local drug and alcohol charities has been secured following the re-running of a grants application process.

A Fife social care worker has been struck off after being found guilty of misconduct.

WORK on readying Perthshire for the challenges of an ageing population will go before councillors tomorrow.

Midlothian Council has been hit with a £140,000 fine after its social services department sent sensitive information about children and their families to the wrong recipients on five separate occasions.

Fife Council has been asked to provide presentations to three national conferences arranged by the Scottish Government in relation to the approach being taken in Fife to help young people with disabilities and additional support needs make the transition to adulthood.