Industry News

• Councils slow on care budgets says Audit Commission

  Source: BBC News

  28 October 2010

  BBC News reports that the Audit Commission claims that many councils are struggling with moves to give individual people their own budgets to spend on social care. Read more...

• Drinking alcohol is not a crime, even for prisoners on parole

  Source: The Guardian

  28 October 2010

  The Guardian reports that Kit Malthouse, one of London's deputy mayors, is suggesting an adapted programme for people convicted of crimes in which alcohol was involved. This is to be piloted in London, where the testing will work either in conjunction with a prison sentence – as a condition of... Read more...

• Social workers face £75 rise in pension contributions

  Source: Community Care

  28 October 2010

  Community Care reports that Brian Strutton, GMB's national secretary for public services, has warned that social workers may have to pay an extra £75 a month into their pensions if the government's plan to increase employee contributions goes ahead in 2012. Read more...

• Tackle the housing crisis by building shared flats for the young

  Source: The Guardian

  28 October 2010

  Deborah Orr writes for the Guardian suggesting that we need to rethink our approach to high-density housing. Read more...

• Youth jails yet to introduce new restraint system six years after deaths

  Source: The Guardian

  27 October 2010

  The Guardian reports that the Ministry of Justice confirmed tonight that a new system of restraining troublesome children in privately run youth jails has still not come into effect six years after the deaths of two teenagers. Read more...

• Housing benefit cap 'may change'

  Source: BBC News

  27 October 2010

  BBC News reports that the government may have to amend its plans for a cap on housing benefit payouts. Read more...