The care services minister has put social workers at the heart of his plans to transform social care from a high dependency service to one that supports people to stay independent
Ian Baker was awarded the Social Worker of the Year 2011 lifetime achievement award for his work helping people with disabilities He tells Community Care what kept him motivated until he retired last year
Social workers could be asked to go into prisons to respond to suspected abuse cases under moves to help inmates receive similar levels of protection to people living in the community
Julian Swan placed a teenage boy who had a history of inappropriate sexual behaviour with a foster family without warning the carers of the risk to other children in the household
The views of people who use social work services should inform everything a regulator does says David Rowland head of policy at the General Social Care Council
Social workers wanting to start their own business should be preapred for long hours meticulous planning and setbacks But it s worth it says practitioner turned entrepreneur John Byrne
Social workers will have a bigger service planning role and adult social care funding will be increased under proposals to merge health and social care in Scotland claims the country s government
Social workers would be given the freedom to innovate in supporting clients under a draft bill announced in the Queen s speech but no pledges have been made on reforming care funding
Despite claims for the liberating potential of independent practices for social workers and services users innovation flexibility and social work values continue to thrive in local authorities says council practitioner Carl O Riordan
The College of Social Work has failed to meet its aspiration of signing up 6 000 fee paying members by April Just over 1 000 social workers have formally signed up to the College since its free membership trial ended on 1 April This is out of a pool of roughly 9 600 prospective and trial members who had registered their interest by 31 March The College told Community Care in January that
Unison has confirmed it will take further industrial action against Cheshire West and Chester Council in protest at cuts to overtime pay and car allowances for staff including social care workers
A new training programme will help social care managers improve services and deliver more for less says National Skills Academy for Social Care head of membershp and engagement Debbie Sorkin
Social work practitioners throughout England are being encouraged to gain recognition for their hard work by entering the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2012 which are now open for applications
Unison officials met today to discuss taking further industrial action against Cheshire West and Chester Council over changes to staff terms and conditions including cuts to overtime pay for social care workers
England s model for ensuring the supply of practice placements for social work students is under considerable strain according to research by the outgoing regulator Photo Image Source Rex Features
Boosting investment in social care through tax breaks and incentives to start up new providers could help revive the economy s flagging fortunes the government was told today
Social worker Hannah Preece says moving out of the local authority into an independent social work practice has benefited practitioners and service users alike
Stroke survivors recovery is being hindered a lack of knowledge among health and social care professionals and poor access to assessments care plans and reviews the Stroke Association warned today
A private equity firm has bought up the country s biggest care home provider Four Seasons Health Care in a move that will significantly reduce the company s 780m debt burden
What do service users want from social workers Social work academic and mental health service user Peter Beresford says that research points to four crucial qualities
