RCN Scotland has called on the Scottish Executive to increase the payments made to care homes to cover nursing care.  On the day (Tuesday) of the RCN Scotland Independent Sector Conference in Edinburgh, the nursing union has highlighted that nursing care payments in Scotland are the lowest in the UK and have not increased since 2002.

ProjectScotland, the revolutionary new volunteering organisation which matches young Scots to full-time community work, celebrates its 1st anniversary on Monday 8th May.  
Over the year, the organisation has received thousands of enquiries from young people from all over Scotland and has placed more than 470 volunteers into full time positions – trumping the 450 target it was set by the Scottish Executive when it launched.

East Ayrshire Council’s Social Work Committee today made a decision on the future of services for older people in East Ayrshire which will revolutionise service provision.

The Executive’s response to the Care 21 report, The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland, is set out today in the form of a 10-year vision that has four immediate priority areas for action.

Councillor Eric Jackson COSLA’s Social Work and Health Improvement Spokesperson has been appointed to the Board of the Scottish Prison Service.

Social service organisations from across Scotland have made the shortlist for the prestigious Care Accolades awards to be held on 2 June 2006.

Leading fostering charity the Fostering Network has welcomed the announcement by education and young people minister, Peter Peacock, to develop a national fostering strategy.

Community Justice Authorities are being set up across Scotland with the task of transforming the way councils, the Scottish Prison Service and other local organisations work together to tackle re-offending.

The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill has now been published with the aim of overhauling the country’s adoption system to ensure more vulnerable youngsters enjoy the benefits of a stable home life.

Health experts with Scotland’s care regulator have told a high-powered task force how homes for older people are leading the way in infection control.