“The conditions in the Beatson are appalling. The reception area is like Piccadilly Circus, and you walk down a long narrow corridor with dark alcoves where patients are lying on trolleys. It really is like something from the third world.” These were the words of Nicola Sturgeon back in December 2001 when she was Shadow Health Minister and Scotland’s biggest cancer centre was at the height of a staffing crisis.

The leader of one of Scotland’s largest councils was last night forced to apologise after being caught smoking in his office. Jim McCabe, the Labour boss of North Lanarkshire, repeatedly lit up in an interview with a reporter despite having local responsibility for enforcing the smoking ban.

Social work, social care and early education and child care organisations are being invited to enter their teams for the Care Accolades 2007. Billed as “the Oscars” for the sector, the Care Accolades is now in its fourth year as Scotland’s only established awards ceremony for the social service sector.

The cost of providing foster care in Edinburgh has grown by just under £3 million in the last five years. Figures released under Freedom of Information laws show the council’s expenses for fostering jumped from £5.6m in 2001/02 to £8.4m in 2005/06.

Hundreds of care homes are to get detailed advice on how to improve the way they look after people with terminal illness – direct from the care watchdog. The Care Commission has invited providers to attend groundbreaking seminars designed to help them meet national standards.

Grampian Police chiefs are to be investigated for refusing to reveal how many officers are currently monitoring sex offenders in Buchan, it emerged last night.

The priorities of the Scottish Executive justice department has been questioned after £25,000 of public money was spent on helping staff master the art of juggling chiffon scarves.

A social worker who runs a home for troubled teens was charged by police over a drug haul linked to the Lyons crime clan. Gavin Harper is deputy unit manager at East Dunbartonshire Council children’s unit in Lenzie.

{mosimage}The Scottish Cabinet will get regular reports on how looked after children perform at school. Education Minister Hugh Henry said the move demonstrates the Executive’s commitment to improving education for these youngsters.   

A national ‘champion’ will also work with councils to make sure they are providing the best possible education for children in care. The measures, which were drawn up by a working group established to examine the education of looked after children, were announced by Mr Henry during a visit to St Joseph’s Academy, Kilmarnock today.  

Currently, children in care gain fewer qualifications than other pupils. Ministers have made it clear that this is unacceptable.

The report includes recommendations for councils, teachers, social workers and health workers, including:

• Reminding councils of their role and responsibility as corporate parents

• Improving training for teachers and other professionals to ensure that they have the skills to deal with these pupils

• Providing key workers with guidance on their role in supporting individual young people

• Ensuring that councils continue to provide young people with support beyond their eighteenth birthday, including financial support for those going on to further and higher education. 

The Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC) has endorsed the findings of a Scottish Executive report into looked after children.