The number of children returned to care after being adopted has risen sharply in the past five years, new figures reveal.

Teachers and lawyers are being urged to become social workers under plans to address a shortage in the profession. Those persuaded to switch would be paid £15,000 a year while retraining.

A study reveals how signs of violence and abuse are routinely missed by GPs, social workers and police. Cahal Milmo reports on Britain’s betrayed children

The politician who drew attention to the island’s child abuse scandal has been charged under the Data Protection Act. Stuart Syvret, 44, was charged the day after the island’s authorities announced on Tuesday that no action would be taken against 11 people accused of child sex offences.

A care home in Wellingborough could be closed, despite being rated highly. Hemmingwell Lodge, which is rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, could be shut as part of a plan for the future of care in the county.

SOCIAL services in Stockton is being stretched to the limit after a massive rise in child welfare calls and investigations. A shocking new report warns the “significant and continuing” rise in social care workload could potentially impact on Stockton Council’s ability to “effectively safeguard children”.

Public services such as the NHS, schools and transport should be set targets to reduce the financial burden of mental illness, according to mental health leaders.

Long-awaited plans for a radical new approach to funding the care of older and disabled people are being held up by a Whitehall row over fears that the proposals will be portrayed as a £10bn raid on benefits claimed by 4 million people.

Patients with Parkinson’s disease are suffering delays in diagnosis and being deprived of specialist treatment because of “appalling gaps” in NHS care, a report by MPs and peers says today.

The children’s secretary Ed Balls is due to reveal plans encouraging professionals to switch careers to social work, following recruitment problems in the wake of the Baby P case.