The first graduates from a pioneering new academic course designed to drive up standards of care provided throughout Scotland have been honoured at a special ceremony.

International mental health practitioners and leaders met in Edinburgh recently to discuss how to improve mental health services across the globe. It was the first time that the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) had been hosted in Scotland and was the largest gathering in its history.

Independent watchdog the Care Commission holds an annual Forum to address some of the care sector’s biggest issues. This year’s Forum on June 24 is dedicated to improving standards in childminding. Ronnie Hill, Director of Children’s Services Regulation explains why this is so important.

Scotland’s first dedicated family protection centre is to be established in Edinburgh by police, health workers and social workers.

The Care Commission has welcomed a report by the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee, which concludes that the regulatory body has been a success in delivering a “rigorous and comprehensive regulation regime” since its inception in 2002.

The Care Inquiry Report has now been published, heralding the free personal and nursing care policy a success.

A call for a thorough remodelling of the Scottish Executive’s flagship free personal care for the elderly budget has been made by MSPs. The Scottish Parliament’s health committee also said it wanted the law changed to stop councils setting up waiting lists for care.

A centre where mental health patients can go in times of crisis is set to open despite a wrangle with planning authorities.

An independent review which will look at how improvements could be made in inspection, regulation, audit and complaints handling for public services in Scotland has been launched.

The growing row over free personal care for the elderly is to go to the courts, with a test case challenging a council over a £1700 bill for a pensioner’s meal service.