SOCIAL work chiefs have defended their decision to allow four children who were described as living like “street urchins” to be returned to their parents.

SERVICES for deaf and hearing-impaired people in Tayside have been further supported with a funding increase from Perth and Kinross Council.

EAST Lothian Council officials have admitted they failed to do enough to inform the public about controversial plans to put some support services out to competitive tender.

A joint social work and health project aimed at preventing falls by older and vulnerable people in the Falkirk area has won another national award.

Vulnerable residents of a closure earmarked Dundee care home were facing an anxious wait today to find out where and when they will be re-housed (writes Graham Huband).

Deaf people in Tayside feel like second-class citizens as a result of the “patronising and parental” treatment they receive at the hands of Tayside Association for the Deaf’s social workers (writes Stuart Johnstone).

JOBS could be axed at a riot-hit secure unit in East Dunbartonshire. As many as 40 jobs could be at risk at St Mary’s Kenmure, which hit the headlines in March 2008 when a number of young offenders escaped and thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused.

Moray Council’s occupational therapists spend only a fifth of their time in direct contact with patients, it was revealed yesterday.

IRISH Street could become a social work hub with the local authority looking to centralise its support services there.

A leading councillor last night admitted that the biggest shortcoming of Moray’s child-protection service was its inability to successfully and consistently share information.