CONTROVERSIAL plans to close Cheshire’s day centres for the elderly have been put under scrutiny by a former Age Concern employee.

A FORMER social worker was jailed for dealing heroin on the streets. Liverpool crown court heard James Dixon, 49, has been an addict for the past 30 years.

A SECOND boss at a crisis-hit equalities department is suing Birmingham City Council for alleged discrimination.

Half of social worker posts in young offender institutions (YOI) are lying empty, putting young people at increased risk, a charity has suggested.

Progress for Providers is a simple self assessment tool that has been developed by providers and commissioners to help providers think about their progress in responding to the personalisation agenda.

A WIGAN care worker has been arrested on suspicion of physically abusing residents of an old folks home.

Local authority youth services are in need of a complete overhaul, the junior children’s minister has claimed.

According to a major report developed by experts on a social care advisory board, including Jeff Jerome, the National Director of Social Care Transformation, and Chief Executive of Counsel and Care Stephen Burke, social workers need training in order to play a greater role in planning and delivering end-of-life care ahead of huge increase in the numbers of deaths each year.

BASW England is holding a series of seminars across the country to address emerging concerns from social workers working in adult services. BASW England policy development officer Joe Godden said concerns centre on “cuts, reductions in qualified social worker numbers and a growing tendency for adult social work to be relegated in importance to children’s social work”.

Social work students will be able to judge the quality of degree courses before applying after a decision by the General Social Care Council to crack down on universities by publishing inspection reports.