Inspection of adoption agencies is to be simplified in another part of the Government’s drive to improve the care children receive.

Family lawyers are warning that parents risk losing contact with their children because of reforms to legal aid, ahead of further scrutiny of the legislation in the House of Lords.

In the coming weeks, local authorities are faced with the daunting task of calculating the number of “troubled families” in their area, identifying where they live and what their needs are.

The definition of ‘social care’ and rules for eligibility vary across the country, but poor understanding is nationwide, says Melanie Henwood

The government wants greater integration between health and social care, apparently, but little thought has been given as to how this will be achieved, says Bob Hudson

COMPLAINTS against Dudley’s children’s social care services dropped by six per cent lat year. Figures show 104 complaints were received in the 12 months ending March 2011 from 95 different young people or their representatives compared to 111 during the previous year.

A care home in Haringey, north London, has closed after enforcement action by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Social care has already been hit hard by the Coalition Government’s spending squeeze and plans for more cuts risk making life intolerable for many needy pensioners

Service provider charities censoring their public remarks for fear of funding reprisals, warns Independence Panel

A SCHEME to protect children who have witnessed or suffered domestic violence was to be rolled out across the city today.