Support worker wins Orwell Prize

An anonymous social work blogger who writes Winston Smith - working with the underclass, has won the 2010 Orwell Prize for political writing, in the best blog category. The blog details his experiences of working in supported accomodation with teenagers and his frustrations with managers, policy and practice in social services.

Children's Hearings and the European Convention on Human Rights

Douglas Bulloch, Retiring Chairman of the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, has described the European Convention on Human Rights as the "biggest challenge" facing the Childlrens Panel system. The panel system my conflict with the convention in the area of the right to a "fair tribunal", and the current situation, where children and parents do not have direct legal representation, is in conflict with this. Read more in the Herald, May 16, 2010.

Mental health on BBC4

BBC 4 are screening a themed mental health night on monday 17th May. Progammes include Mental: a history of the madhouse, which focuses on High Royds near Leeds, a large long stay mental hospital and Sectioned, which follows three men through their experiences of compulsory treatment.

SCIE learning objects

SCIE provides a number of E-learning resources including Communication Skills, Law and Social work, and An Introduction to Residential Care.

Two new E-documents

Shaw, C. (2010). Research into private fostering. Department for Children Schools and Families. This research aimed to collect information into the practices and procedures of local authorities in relation to private fostering arrangements and to improve the understanding of the needs of privately fostered children, especially in regard to safeguarding issues.

Hart, D. (2010). Children and young people in breach: a scoping report on policy and practice in the enforcement of criminal justice and anti-social behaviour orders. NCB. This research is the first phase of a project undertaken by NCB to increase understanding of policy and practice in relation to breach proceedings, wih particular focus on young people who are incarcerated as a result of breach of bail conditions or ASBOs.

Scottish Executive Consulation

The Scottish executive have issued Draft National Guidance: under-age sexual activity - meeting the needs of young people and identifying child protection concerns, for consulation. responses to the consultation should be submitted by 23.7.10.

Evidence Informed Practice Portal

A new link to the Evidence Informed Practice Portal is now available on the Jordanhill Social Work electronic resources web page. The Evidence Informed Practice Portal is provided by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services and brings together key evidence sources, new research, current awareness links from many respected organisations and the Confidence Though Evidence Toolkit to enable practitioners to acquire, assess, adapt and apply evidence in practice.