The number of children living in poverty in Wales has fallen, but more than a quarter of families are still on low incomes, a report has revealed. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said the number of children in Welsh low income households fell a fifth since 1999. But it said 64 Welsh local authority wards had more than twice the national average of 21% of families on benefits.The UK government welcomed the report and said it was “redoubling” efforts to meet poverty targets.

Disabled groups want Labour to re-think their policy on free care. Labour pledged at the last assembly election to provide the care, but dropped the policy in February. A coalition of disabled groups is to lobby Health Minister Brian Gibbons. In a statement, Mr Gibbons said he “recognised people’s disappointment” and had since announced a £76m package of alternatives. The Coalition against Charging Cymru – which includes groups such as Help the Aged, Disability Wales and Carers Wales – said it wants the Welsh Assembly Government to re-examine the issue as a matter of urgency.

Carers Wales and Carers UK have been campaigning for a carers’ champion and are therefore delighted that Wales will lead the way as the first UK country to announce the appointment of a carers’ champion at central government level. John Griffiths AM, Deputy Minister with Responsibility for Older People is to take on this important new role.

Two years after a report into sex abuse at a school, there is concern all its recommendations have not yet been met. Wales’ children’s commissioner, Peter Clarke, set out 31 tasks to minimise future risk after his Clywch inquiry into Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, Pontypridd. It followed abuse by drama teacher John Owen, who killed himself before trial. BBC Wales has learned at least 10 recommendations are not fulfilled yet, but the assembly government said it was committed to delivering them all.

Mental health patients have staged a protest in Mold over Flintshire County Council’s plans to close three of its day centres. Five drop-in centres across the county will replace the current facilities. The council says the new set-up will cater for more individual needs. But those who depend on the centres – where patients can interact with each other and learn new skills – say the closures will result in more isolation for individuals. A group of patients from the Ambrose Lloyd Centre in Mold marched through the streets on Monday morning

Parents whose children have misbehaved or been bullied at school are to tell the Welsh education minister that excluding pupils is “not the answer”. A Barnardo’s Cymru group of 20 parents will meet Jane Davidson at an assembly government event to discuss bullying. But one expert in bullying policy said schools needed the sanction after all the stages of a school’s bullying policy had been worked through. A consultation event in Newtown, Powys, on Monday will bring together representatives from local education authorities, teachers, governors, parents and pupils.

Funding for an organisation to help abused women has been withdrawn after accusations of bullying of staff, BBC Wales has learned. There were also allegations of callous treatment of vulnerable women and questionable financial transactions at Ynys Mon Women’s Aid. The service closed following investigations by Anglesey Council and Tai Eryri Housing Association. The service is now being provided by Bangor Women’s Aid.

Since the first post-registration education programme, preparing mental health nurses for practice in a community setting, appeared in 1970 at Chiswick Polytechnic, there have been significant changes in the nature of and academic level at which Community Mental Health Nurse (CMHN) courses have been offered. In 1988, almost all educational centres offered courses at certificate level. However, by 1995, virtually all centres offered a relevant course at diploma level.

The mother of a toddler who was kidnapped and sexually abused by a convicted paedophile has called for an immediate change in the law. Craig Sweeney, 24, who took the three-year-old from her home in Cardiff was last week sentenced to life but can seek parole after five years. The girl’s mother has called for tougher sentencing adding the attack did “terrible damage” to her daughter. She said: “He should have had life and life should mean life”

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has stepped up its work in Wales with the appointment of an experienced Practice Development Manager, Vicky Allen, to focus on work in the region. Vicky will work with SCIE’s key stakeholders in Wales – including the Care Council for Wales , the Welsh Assembly Government and the Social Services Improvement Agency – to develop good practice and ensure that social care practitioners and service users benefit from SCIE’s work.