Youth services are being overlooked in local area inspections and not subjected to the same scrutiny as schools and social care settings, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has warned.

The political parties must commit to making youth services statutory in order to protect them from the stinging impact of local authority cuts, the leader of the Community and Youth Workers’ Union (CYWU) has urged.

The crisis with social workers continues as a warning of “an epidemic of stress” is issued and the head of children’s services at Birmingham announced that his staff average around five weeks sick leave every year.

Drug users are being given a rare opportunity to comment on the quality of the services they receive, due to the expansion of Patient Opinion, a social enterprise that has pioneered online user involvement in the health service.

Students already enrolled on Level 3 diploma courses in childcare will not miss out when a replacement qualification for early year workers comes into force in September.

A STUDENT out celebrating after finishing the final essay for his master’s degree was caught on CCTV groping a woman’s bottom.

AN information event will be held on January 15 for those interested in a career in social care. Care Sector Alliance Cumbria (CSAC) will cover all aspects of social care including working in residential, home care, drug and solvent, learning difficulties, physical disability, mental health and with young people.

The Alzheimer’s Society is calling for political party election manifestos to address serious failings in dementia care. This is after a survey found less than a quarter of people with dementia are receiving all the help they need.

More than 600 posts are to go at Leicestershire County Council plus service cuts and price increases in a bid to save millions of pounds.

A GRIEVING dad is incensed over how his son’s death in a Lincolnshire care home has been handled by the authorities.