Social Care
New ADASS president calls for community focus
The new president of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADASS) has called for a community, rather than a hospital, focus for the sector.
'No appetite' for Scottish equal pay unit
Scottish Government ministers are unlikely to establish a national equal pay unit despite calls from the trade union that led strikes over the snowballing issue.
Limited improvement on hospital delayed discharges despite £600m funding
An improvement of just 12% in hospital delayed discharge figures was achieved in the last financial year despite a further £600m investment in the problem.
Social work development programme 'pulled' by Department for Education
A Government decision to end a training and development programme for social work managers has been branded a ‘kick in the teeth’ for the sector.
How to build a healthy economy
Social care, often seen as a millstone for councils facing financial challenges, has been turned into an opportunity by Stockton-on-Tees BC to create inclusive growth and tackle health inequalities all at once, writes Heather Jameson.
Crises to continue as we lurch towards a General Election
The MJ's 24-hour Future Forum summit cantered through a collection of catastrophes, says Heather Jameson. 'Perhaps we ought to conclude that watching local government is more like the Anatomy of a Fall. But at least it’s not quite Oppenheimer. Yet.'
Deployment of AI technologies must be guided by a robust framework
The local government sector knows the best ways to serve local communities and is best placed to integrate new technology to deliver wider benefits, says Cllr Shaun Davies.
Growing public awareness is an important step in galvanising action
With a General Election later this year, there’s a clear opportunity to build on the growing public awareness of the problems councils face, says Claire Kober.
Care satisfaction hits all-time low
Public satisfaction with social care services has slumped to the lowest level ever recorded, according to a new survey.
PAC: Government has ‘no roadmap’ for fixing social care
The Government has ‘no roadmap’ for fixing the failing social care system and ‘nothing meaningful’ in place that might demonstrate progress, MPs have warned.
Children's services commissioner appointed at Tameside
A commissioner for children’s services has been appointed at Tameside MBC in the wake of a watchdog’s damning report.
Adult social care demand reaches unprecedented high
The King’s Fund’s annual social care report published today found adult care requests hit a record high of two million while costs for councils have outstripped inflation.
Care sector 'in the dark' over immigration clampdown
The public has been have been ‘left in the dark’ over the impact on social care following a clampdown on immigration rules, peers have said.
OBR: Council borrowing for capital to halve
Council borrowing for capital projects is expected to almost halve due to curbs on commercial loans and interest rate rises.
Daring to be bold
The MJ’s series on building a new vision for local government, drawing from the 2007 Lyons Review, continues as Piali Das Gupta looks at how councils can do hard things successfully. 'We should have every confidence in the strength of our offer.'
National care service overhaul fails to charm councils
Councils in Scotland remain unconvinced by proposals to create a national care service.
14 councils ‘likely’ to issue s114s next year
More than half of councils are likely to issue a section 114 notice within the next Parliament unless funding is reformed, senior local authority figures have warned.
Two-thirds of councils to cut neighbourhood services
Community services will have to be ‘drastically scaled back’ or cut altogether without further funding for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Creating a Centre for Population Health
Professor Durka Dougall explains how the Centre for Population Health can support health and care leaders in prioritising a more equal future for everyone.
Former social care chief sentenced for drug offences
An ex-deputy director of social care at Bradford MDC has been sentenced after pleading guilty to offering to supply and possessing a class A drug.