MSPs from across the political divide voiced support last night for a troubleshooter hired to improve social services in Aberdeen who has links to the Shannon Matthews case.

A NEW Scottish Government strategy to support young families struggling with the impact of poverty, poor health and drug and alcohol misuse was launched yesterday – but no new money will be provided to fund it.

A toddler who was under the supervision of social workers in Perth had to be rescued from a needle-strewn drugs den by police officers.

THE health of frail pensioners is being put at risk as home helps struggle to meet time targets, council chiefs have been warned. Workers say they are increasingly being put under pressure to squeeze tasks such as feeding, washing and administering medicine to some of the city’s most vulnerable people, that usually take an hour, into 30 minutes.

For the first time, all local authorities in England have been rated and ranked on their approach to adults with autism.

AN American academic gave such a moving speech on child protection to health bosses that he was invited to hold a master class in Edinburgh.

MINISTERS will this week order a historic crackdown on Britain’s benefits culture in the wake of the Karen Matthews kidnapping case. Lone parents and the long-term sick who rely on state benefits will be told to find a job or face having their payments cut, as the Government tries to end the “Matthews culture” of spending an entire life on welfare.

One of Scotland’s largest voluntary care providers has relaunched its children’s services at the Scottish Parliament. CrossReach, the Church of Scotland’s social care provider, recently restructured its operations with a focus on inclusiveness, and its “Include me in” initiative features an enterprising apprenticeship scheme.

ALL of Edinburgh’s ageing council-run care homes are set to close and be replaced with six new “super” homes at a cost of £38 million.

THE PUBLIC must make sure a tragedy like the Baby P case doesn’t happen in Falkirk. In the wake of the death of the 17-month-old Harringay toddler, who suffered horrible abuse at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and lodger, Falkirk Council’s social work boss said child protection will always be a priority.