Major plans for public sector reform across the west of Scotland have been dealt a critical blow, with a second council expected to reject merging thousands of backroom staff.

Social workers have been criticised for using £10,000 of a pensioner’s savings to pay for personal care which should have been funded by Edinburgh City Council.

A party which would have cost council tax payers in Dumfries and Galloway about £13,000 has been cancelled.

SOCIAL workers have been criticised for using £10,000 of a pensioner’s savings to pay for personal care the local authority should have funded.

AN experimental Scottish project in which police refer young gang members directly for intensive support from a local charity has achieved dramatic results by cutting offending in half.

A NURSE faces being struck off over a catalogue of vile verbal assaults aimed at elderly patients in her care.

SUICIDES in Scottish prisons are believed to have quadrupled in the past three years, prompting calls for better provision of mental health support for a growing number of vulnerable prisoners.

BORDERS users of Choices Care have been promised their services will be retained – despite the firm going into administration, writes Kenny Paterson.

In her first interview, children’s panel chief Bernadette Monaghan tells Stephen Naysmith why the system is being improved

The north’s top social work official has left local people in no doubt that while the Beachview Unit in Brora, which provides day care services for adults with learning disabilities, may not be in line for closure, its role WILL definitely change.