Scotland’s leading child welfare experts have called for immediate and radical action to improve children’s wellbeing after the UK came bottom of a Unicef report on welfare.

Too often the human cost of cuts to social work services remains hidden. Those affected are usually vulnerable and understandably prefer to protect their anonymity, making it more difficult for councillors to see the results of their decisions and less likely that the public will object to the latest “rationalisation”.

Health workers and teachers face a hike in pension contributions of as much as 42% on top-end salaries as a result of a deal struck between the government and unions.

Children as young as three are to be assessed for anti-social tendencies under controversial plans. A new review of persistent offending suggests the radical move could give children from difficult backgrounds a better chance in life, shepherding them towards a suitable level of support.

Tough new powers to prevent the abuse of vulnerable adults are to be endorsed by MSPs. The reforms are partly driven by a case in the Borders where a woman was persistently abused by her carers.

A frantic hunt for a Selkirk pensioner’s missing wheelchair ended when social work chiefs admitted they had taken it from outside his home, writes Bob Burgess.

Mental health services in Scotland are losing out financially to other parts of the health service, according to a report published yesterday.

Jack McConnell has called for a radical shake-up in Scotland’s drug rehabilitation policy after witnessing a controversial new heroin addiction treatment in action. The First Minister said that Scotland must seek to abandon the methadone programme and look instead for new, drug-free methods of kicking heroin.

Volunteers would answer 999 calls in the capital under plans being considered by Lothian and Borders Police. The idea has been attacked as “policing on the cheap” by politicians and trade unions. They said it smacked of cost-cutting and would damage confidence in the police.

Safe houses and support for victims of human trafficking could soon be established in Aberdeen. The city council is being urged to sign a declaration aimed at addressing the growing global social problem – described as modern-day slavery.