Prison or restorative justice?

There's been a lot of discussion in this weeks media about the efficacy of long versus short sentences and community justice versus prison. Todays Guardian carries an interview with a victim of burglary and the perpetrator and their experiences of restorative justice. Guardian, May 21.

Poverty researchers need YOU

The 21st Century Poverty project is looking for social workers' input into their project. The project, funded by the Webb Memorial Trust, is looking to develop a model for the policies the UK must adopt in order to meet the demands placed by the Child Poverty Act, which places a binding obligation on the UK government to end child poverty by 2020. The researchers will be hosting a teleconference on 9th June and looking for written contributions by 10th June 2011, with a final paper to be published by the end of September 2011. Register you interest at 21st Century Poverty Project.

Final report of the Munro Review published

This week saw the publication of the final report of Professor Eileen Munro's review of child protection. The review concludes that local authority social workers should be freed from national prescribed targets, methods of working and IT systems and be allowed to redesign services based on research and feedback from children and families.

Telecare - supporting carers in Scotland

A study commissioned by Carers Scotland in 2009 examined the impact of telecare not only on those with long term care needs but on family members struggling to provide care in combination with other work and family commitments. This study, Jarrold, K. & Yeandle, S. (2009). A weight off my mind. University of Leeds, is also reported on in Begley, P. (2010). 360 degrees of care. Quality in Aging and Older Adults, 11 (4), pp. 47-50

Domestic Violence

This recent issue of Community Care journal carries a special report on domestic violence with articles on the implications of intervention thresholds for child protection, and engaging more with fathers to improve child protection and prevent domestic violence:

Valios, N. (2011). Fatal consequences of service cuts. Community Care. April 21, 2011, pp16-17.
Carson, G. (2011). Challenging anti-men bias. Community Care.April 21, 2011, pp 18-19.

You can find Community Care at Jordanhill Serials 362 or online via the Suprimo catalogue.