Babies who do not respond to their name when they are one year old are more likely to be diagnosed with autism, according to researchers. They believe the simple test could help identify those children who need help at a much earlier age.

Extra cash has been found to give young people in custody better access to specialist mental health professionals. The £1.5m is backed up by guidance for health and social care commissioners and will help standardise patchy provision for young offenders with severe mental health problems.

Childcare providers are calling for the continuation of funding for the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative after a report has proved its effectiveness. The initiative aims to expand daycare services in the most deprived 20 per cent of areas in England.

New research has highlighted that, while a quarter of British adults have either organised or are in the process of organising care for a relative or friend who is no longer able to cope at home alone, there is a lack of awareness of the different options that are available.

Widely dispersed housing stock, remoteness of housing managers from tenants and multi-landlord estates can all lead to poor service to residents, lack of involvement in neighbourhoods and higher costs to housing providers, says a report from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) commissioned by the Housing Corporation.

Organisations tackling homelessness and working with homeless people in London stand to win a share of £25,000 through the London Councils Andy Ludlow Homeless Awards 2007. The awards are open to registered social landlords, housing and social service departments, NHS trusts and voluntary organisations in London.

Women in England are to be given a choice of where they give birth, under plans due to be unveiled by ministers. From 2009, expectant mothers will be able to choose whether they go to hospital, a midwife-led unit or stay at home to have their children delivered.

Council officials in Wokingham look set to do a u-turn on the crunch decision to increase charges for respite care in residential and nursing homes. Wokingham Borough Council is looking to axe the plans to start charging for the first four weeks of someone receiving care in a registered care home.

People who are overweight have a 50% higher risk of developing asthma, scientists have said. US researchers reviewed seven studies involving over 330,000 adult patients, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reported.

Unemployed Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants, desperate for work in Britain, are camping out in London’s Hyde Park. The men and women have resorted to setting up tents beneath trees and bushes because they have no money to pay for accommodation.