An early intervention tool used by children’s services professionals is improving outcomes for children, reducing costs and helping to overcome barriers to learning, a coalition of local authorities has found.

Four local authority social care projects are to receive Private Finance Initiative credits, the Department for Health has said. They are among 17 projects reviewed by the department late last year.

A senior police chief warned today that public spending cuts will lead to more officers being diverted from fighting crime to tackling social issues.

A serious case review has found the death of toddler Violet Mullen could not have been prevented by social workers. But it has made more than 80 separate recommendations to child protection agencies.

A HOMELESS drop-in centre in Coventry is celebrating after securing enough cash to keep it running for another year.

A pensioner has protested his innocence after being arrested on suspicion of murdering his 75-year-old wife, who was found dead at a care home.

A Lincolnshire mental health charity has made the decision to close following cuts to its funding. Lincoln Mind’s main contract with the county council will not be renewed beyond March.

Wye Valley NHS Trust has become the first organisation in England to provide integrated acute, community and social services previously provided separately by a local authority, acute trust and primary care trust.

Sue Ryder has picked up a five-year contract to provide all specialist palliative care services in west Berkshire in the first instance of an NHS-run hospice being transferred to a voluntary sector provider.

A new chief officer for children’s social care has been appointed at Bracknell Forest Council. Lorna Hunt, who is head of children’s services at West Berkshire Council, will take over from Penny Reuter, who retires this month.