Social landlords have welcomed plans for a national strategy to support vulnerable people, but are continuing to demand firmer assurances over funding.
One of devolved Scotland's first major policies was free personal care for the elderly. Four years on, how has it fared and does it offer any lessons for the rest of the UK? David Scott reports
Sure Start, tax credits, baby bonds. Gordon Brown has not been idle on the social policy front while he waits for his chance at the premiership. But what kind of legacy will the longest-serving...
Social care is often described as the Cinderella service. So will Ivan Lewis, the fourth to wear the ministerial shoes in just five years, turn out to be its Prince Charming? Sally Gainsbury went to...
For many young vulnerable people, the statutory sector closes its door on them the moment they hit 18. But thanks to new social inclusion projects, this is changing. Nicola Pauling reports
The government is on a new charm offensive with the voluntary sector. But will all the reviews and initiatives allay charities' suspicions that ministers are looking for public services on the cheap...
The Cornwall Partnership NHS trust has been placed under 'special measures' following a watchdog report revealing 'many years of abusive practices' of adults with learning disabilities.
Proposals to close community hospitals might be delayed after Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt told primary care trusts to adopt new methods of public consultation.
The tangle of performance indicators and reporting requirements that are throttling local government will be swept away following a wide-ranging review being set up to slash red tape in the sector,...
Older people are being 'deprived of the care they deserve' because of the worsening £600m shortfall between what councils have available to fund care services and the minimum they need to spend, the...
Families with disabled children, professional carers and MPs have joined forces to influence the Treasury's policy review on children and young people.
Local government workers should share the risks faced by their pension funds and be subject to possible contribution rate increases or benefit decreases every six to nine years, the government and...
The NHS across the UK could save around £690m a year more than last year's reported net deficit for England if it rented expensive medical equipment such as scanners rather than buying it...
There is a crisis in democracy, as more and more citizens lose interest in politics. The reasons are complex and varied but globalisation and professionalisation are prime culprits. It's time to...
The Department of Health will hold a summit next week with the leaders of frontline NHS staff in an attempt to win back clinicians' support for its reform programme.
For the Labour government, charity began and ended at home. Or the Home Office, at least, where its charitable and voluntary sector policy largely gathered dust after 1997.
Disagreement between local authorities over employee benefits in the Local Government Pension Scheme risks fragmenting and ultimately undermining it, unions have told Public Finance .
The government has poured money into public sector pay, but taxpayers can't see any service improvement, the unions are far from grateful and now the chancellor is pulling the plug. It's time to...
The Housing Market Renewal programme is aimed at regenerating rundown areas, through replacing or renewing poor housing. But it is now threatened by the loss of its champion John Prescott and a...
The government has pledged to eliminate the 'postcode lottery' in NHS funding for care home residents through the long-awaited introduction of a single national framework.
The US comptroller general, David Walker, has praised the UK's system of permanent secretaries running Whitehall departments and wants a similar system introduced in US government departments.
