UNIONS are warning that frontline social work staff will be in the firing line for redundancies due to the financial squeeze, despite Scottish Government figures showing councils employ more social workers than ever.

New research indicates that enhanced disclosure checks give a false sense of reassurance as the majority of persistent and serious offenders are never even referred to the police or Reporter.

A NEW 48-bed residential care home is set to be built in Kirkcaldy. Plans for the home, which will be built on empty land north of Ostlers Way, were approved by councillors at Tuesday’s planning committee.

Victims of domestic abuse in Moray will lose out on an innovative programme to tackle the problem, it emerged yesterday.

SPECULATION continues to surround the future of the Taigh Farrais care home in Forres. Rumours have reached the offices of ‘The Forres Gazette’ that the facility is on the verge of closure as Moray Council reviews its policy on provision of care to disabled people.

The body representing Scotland’s 32 councils has called into question the future of free personal care for the elderly.

The Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill, one of the largest pieces of legislation introduced by the Scottish Government, is to come before parliament today.

The number of social workers in Scotland has risen to an all-time high, according to official statistics published today.

A consultant paediatrician told a jury she was as “confident as she can be” that severe injuries suffered by a six-week-old boy were not the result of an accident.

Applications for the Open University in Scotland have surged, it has been revealed. Applications are said to be up 28% so far this year, as more people consider the option of part-time study.