SCOTLAND’S largest social care charity will today launch a campaign aimed at creating awareness of the quality of life issues faced by young Scottish homeless people.

Highland Council is to consider a proposal to create a new service to address youth crime in the region. The proposal from Bill Alexander, head of children’s services, is for the appointment of three uniformed police youth co-ordinators to help divert offending young people from further offences.

The Western Isles child abuse investigation began with dawn raids in 2003 and led to the arrest of nine people in Lewis and in England and charges, including rape.

A BRUTAL care-home worker smashed a terminally ill resident’s nose in with his elbow. Mental health nurse Eric Crilley, 68, from Renfrew also called the patient sectarian names and “demeaned” him.

A charity which has described survival rates in Scotland for lung cancer as “unacceptable” has called on the government to improve patient care.

Highland’s joint committee on children and young people will consider a proposal today to create a new service to address youth crime in the Highlands.

The cream of Scotland’s social service teams received awards today (5 June 2009) which recognise the excellent work carried out every day. Social services are at the heart of our communities and the projects showcased at Care Accolades 2009 highlighted the difference these services are making across a range of services including palliative care, older people and children’s services and services for people with learning difficulties.

The credit crunch has led to a crash in the value of Church of Scotland investments by more than £89m in the space of one year. Such is the looming financial crisis facing the Kirk that as well as cutting ministers stipends or the number of minsters, it is considering abandoning parishes altogether.

South Lanarkshire and Edinburgh acknowlege it will not tender services through online auctions again, after coming under criticism.

After 21 weeks on strike, Glasgow community service supervisors have voted to accept an improved offer and end their dispute. The strikers returned to work on Monday to applause from other members of the Unison union.