Murdered schoolgirl Tia Rigg ‘failed by agencies’- BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2011 in children, murder, news, rape, social services by tracey

“A 12-year-old girl who was raped and murdered by her uncle in Manchester was failed by child protection agencies, an independent inquiry has found.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (G) v Lambeth London Borough Council and another – WLR Daily

Posted May 11th, 2011 in children, housing, law reports, local government, social services by sally

Regina (G) v Lambeth London Borough Council and another [2011] EWCA Civ 526; [2011] WLR (D) 152

“Accommodation ostensibly provided to a child aged 16 to 17 by a council as a local housing authority was to be deemed to be accommodation provided by it as a children’s services authority where the child met the criteria of a ‘child in need’ within section 17(10) of the Children Act 1989 and the actions of a social worker working for the council in a different team could properly be imputed to the social services division. Consequently on reaching adulthood that person became a ‘former relevant child’ within section 23C(1) of the 1989 Act, as inserted, and was owed the duties set out in that section.”

WLR Daily, 6th May 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Law Commission recommends radical overhaul of adult social care law – Law Commission

Posted May 11th, 2011 in carers, elderly, Law Commission, local government, news, social services by sally

“The Law Commission is recommending the most far-reaching reforms of adult social care law seen for over 60 years, in a report published today.”

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Law Commission, 11th May 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Law Commission: elderly care must be reformed – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 11th, 2011 in care homes, elderly, Law Commission, local government, news, social services by sally

“Elderly people will be guaranteed a minimum level of council help under plans for the most radical overhaul of social care in 60 years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Munro report: child protection work must be freed from box-ticking – The Guardian

Posted May 10th, 2011 in child abuse, news, reports, social services by sally

“Child protection social workers should be freed up from box-ticking bureaucracy to give them more time to work with families and at-risk youngsters, a government-commissioned report was due to say on Tuesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: The Munro Review of Child Protection, CM 8062 (PDF)

Massive fall in child abuse deaths linked to new protection policies – The Independent

Posted May 5th, 2011 in child abuse, news, social services, statistics by sally

“Child deaths from abuse have fallen dramatically over the past 30 years, new figures show. With social workers frequently vilified after the death of a child at the hands of adult guardians, the findings – published in Archives of Disease in Childhood – act as tribute to the success of child protection policies and those who implement them.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th May 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge raps care ‘failures’ in paedophile case – The Independent

“A High Court judge investigating a mother with learning difficulties whose children became victims of a dangerous paedophile has strongly condemned the way the case was handled by a county’s social services.”

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The Independent, 21st April 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Birmingham City Council disabled care limits ‘unlawful’ – BBC News

“Judges have ruled that Birmingham City Council’s plans to limit social care for disabled people are unlawful.”

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BBC News, 20th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pair found guilty of trying to sell child for £35,000 – The Guardian

Posted April 13th, 2011 in child cruelty, duty of care, news, social services by sally

“Two people have been found guilty of trying to sell an 11-month-old girl as a slave.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Freed man in court secrecy battle – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 11th, 2011 in freedom of expression, injunctions, news, rape, social services by sally

“A businessman cleared of rape was told by social workers that he could not live with his young daughter and was then banned from asking his MP for help.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ministers ignoring Child Poverty Act, warn family campaigners – The Guardian

Posted April 4th, 2011 in children, local government, news, poverty, social services by sally

“Child poverty campaigners have written to the government warning ministers that they have broken a legal commitment to implement the Child Poverty Act fully.”

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The Guardian, 4th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Adult Social Care – Final Report Page – Law Commission

Posted March 31st, 2011 in consultations, Law Commission, reports, social services by sally

“On 31 March 2011, we published the Consultation Analysis, which is an analysis of the responses received to our consultation paper.  It summarises the views of consultees in relation to the 57 provisional proposals and 25 consultation questions put forward.”

Full analysis

Law Commission, 31st March 2011

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Sharon Shoesmith in appeal over sacking – The Independent

Posted March 28th, 2011 in appeals, child abuse, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“Sharon Shoesmith has launched a Court of Appeal battle over her sacking after the Baby P tragedy.”

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The Independent, 28th March 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Call to sue councils that are ‘failing the vulnerable’ – Law Society’s Gazette

“The case of a mentally ill man who attempted suicide after being discharged from hospital to a park bench has prompted mental health solicitors to call on lawyers to sue local authorities that fail to provide adequate healthcare for some of society’s most vulnerable members.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th March 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

How the law can be used to fight cuts to services for disabled people – Law Society’s Gazette

“Disabled children and disabled adults need significant support from public bodies to help them lead ordinary lives. These groups require both specialist and targeted services and flexible universal services which can be adapted to their needs.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th March 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Woman convicted of impersonating a social worker – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2011 in impersonation, news, social services by sally

“A woman from Hertfordshire has become the first person to be convicted of pretending to be a qualified social worker, six years after legislation protecting the professional title took effect.”

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The Guardian, 8th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Khyra Ishaq’s father sues council over starvation death – BBC News

Posted March 7th, 2011 in child neglect, local government, negligence, news, social services by sally

“The father of a girl who was starved to death after ‘missed opportunities’ by children’s services to save her is suing Birmingham City Council.”

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BBC News, 4th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman could investigate child ‘snatching’ by courts – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 7th, 2011 in adoption, judicial review, news, social services by sally

“An independent Ombudsman could be appointed to investigate cases in which social workers and the courts are accused of taking children from their homes without justification.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

U-turn on mixed-race adoption ban – The Independent

Posted February 21st, 2011 in adoption, minorities, news, social services by sally

“New guidance will tell social workers that they should allow white couples to adopt black and ethnic minority children, it was revealed today.”

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The Independent, 19th February 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Oldham care baby mother takes battle to European courts – BBC News

Posted February 11th, 2011 in care orders, human rights, news, social services by sally

“A mother from Greater Manchester who claims her baby daughter was wrongly taken into care has taken her case to the European Courts.”

Full story

BBC news, 11th February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk