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Updated: 1 hour 12 min ago

What child protection can teach adult safeguarding - and vice versa

Tue, 06/11/2013 - 13:50
One council's decision to import family group conferencing from children's to adults' services has led to a mutual exchange of knowledge between social workers from the two departments.
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DfE funding cut for sector-led improvement raises spectre of bigger Ofsted role

Mon, 06/03/2013 - 11:27
Local government's programme to improve children's services has survived an unexpected cut in government funding but there is speculation that Ofsted may encroach upon its territory, finds Judy Cooper.
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The 80-mile home visit: social work in Scotland’s ‘forgotten region’

Wed, 05/29/2013 - 10:32
Andy McNicoll reports on the challenges faced by social workers who support disabled children in rural Scotland
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The 80-mile home visit: social work in Scotland’s ‘forgotten region’

Tue, 05/28/2013 - 14:16
Andy McNicoll reports on the challenges faced by social workers who support disabled children in rural Scotland
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Social worker saves mother and child after frenzied knife attack

Fri, 04/19/2013 - 16:21
A former nominee in the Social Worker of the Year awards has had her bravery recognised by police after she helped a mother and child following a frenzied knife attack.
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Judge criticises social workers for not challenging police

Thu, 04/18/2013 - 17:07
Social workers have been forced to re-assess a case after the appeal court found they were at fault for not challenging police officers enough.
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Social worker saves mother and child after frenzied knife attack

Thu, 04/18/2013 - 17:07
A former nominee in the Social Worker of the Year awards has had her bravery recognised by police after she helped a mother and child following a frenzied knife attack.
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Multi-agency inspections a tough hill to climb for Ofsted

Thu, 04/18/2013 - 10:58
Ever since the Munro review raised questions about the inspection process for child protection, Ofsted has played a fast-moving game of change.
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Multi-agency inspections a tough hill to climb for Ofsted

Wed, 04/17/2013 - 18:12
Ever since the Munro review raised questions about the inspection process for child protection, Ofsted has played a fast-moving game of change.
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SCRs to get more expensive but no guarantee on learning

Wed, 04/10/2013 - 18:42
It was announced last week that the case of six children who all died in a house fire, deliberately started by their parents, would be the subject of a serious case review.
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£3m scheme to boost social work to be scrapped as DfE pulls funding

Wed, 04/10/2013 - 17:12
Department for Education scraps £8.5m funding for Children's Improvement Board removing cash to help improve frontline practice.
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Lead children's councillor resigns over poor Ofsted rating

Wed, 04/10/2013 - 14:59
Sandwell’s cabinet member for children’s services, Bob Badham, has resigned after Ofsted rated the council’s services for safeguarding children as inadequate.
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Criminal record checks relaxed for social care recruits

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 14:30
Minor offences and cautions will be removed from records after a period of time, says government in response to court ruling.
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Council suspends senior manager ahead of critical Ofsted report

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 14:30
Sandwell council is expected to receive a critical report into its children's services
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Unison to consult social workers on strikes after rejecting pay offers

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 14:30
Union says councils' proposed offer of 1% pay rise but with cuts in benefits for social workers is "derisory" as it prepares to consult on industrial action.
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Social worker suspended for providing false references

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 14:30
Practitioner barred for one year by Health and Care Professions Council panel after pleading guilty to providing false references for her sister and nephew.
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Firmer future for Scie as it wins contract to produce care guidance

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 14:30
Social Care Institute for Excellence and partners awarded £1.8m-a-year contract to produce care quality guidance as it prepares to lose core government funding.
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Directors slam second round of adoption maps

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 01:01
The government has pressed ahead with a second publication of its “useless, irrelevant and out-of-date” adoption heat maps.
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Huge numbers of adoptive parents put off by system

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 01:01
More than 4 million people in England would consider adopting but are baffled by the system, concerned about continuing support and unsure about eligibility according to research.
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How social workers can reduce risks for children placed out of area

Thu, 03/28/2013 - 11:15
Tougher requirements on councils and children's homes are needed to reduce the risks to children from out-of-area placements, finds Louise Hunt.
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Judicial System - If I were running the country

Scales of JusticeHow do we make the courts run more smoothly?  Cases take too long and are too expensive, mired in endless argument and counter-argument that are the hallmarks of our adversarial system.  What if we were to set time limits?  Would that work?

Well, let's try it.  Each side presents their best evidence, and if magistrate or jury isn't convinced, they can ask for more time from each side.  If it works for Cricket, that most venerable of British institutions, it should work for courts.  Who knows, they may even become spectator sports?

If I were running the country - encouraging business

Minimum wage

Fantasy government - what would I do if I were in government?  Well how about reduce corporation tax, increase income tax, increase minimum wage and invest in job creation in the regions?  That would be a good start - create jobs where there are workers, then make sure that the right amount of tax is collected and at the same time reduce spend on benefits which are only used to increase profits of selfish organisations.

Would it work?  Have your say.

PwC Report on the Current State of Project Management

PwC Project Management ReportPwC found that successful companies are getting more mature in their project management ability.  This raises the game – successful companies have lower costs from fewer failed projects, and less successful companies have to work harder to catch up.  There are some important lessons to take this report for everyone – Read more…

Joy instead of tedium

The Office

Every office has them - the tasks that have to be done that nobody likes doing.  Whether it's the audit, the wages, standard letters, whatever it is - someone has to do it and it feels like a waste of time and money.

Why should you care?

So you employ somebody, so why do you care about how tedious the task is? Well they are costing money, to do something that could be done far more effectively.

Learning from the Past

Evidence for service improvement

Many public service changes have little basis in evidence. Their success (or otherwise) does not appear to depend on how 'good' the policy itself is, but rather on how it has been implemented. This relies on staff attitudes and relationships. My research falls into a number of broad categories: finding out what is currently happening; what people think about it; and what people think it will mean.

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