We’re launching Care Insider, so people working in social care can share their experiences.

Those working on the frontline are best placed to tell the real stories.

Contributions can be anonymous. You can write the submission or chat to our Features Editor, Emily.

Contact: sct@spacehouse.co.uk

Unregulated child placements rise by 370% in five years Children are being placed in unregistered settings such as caravans, Airbnbs and holiday accommodation amid a shortage of regulated care placements.  A new report by Public First, commissioned by Comm...

Unregulated child placements rise by 370% in five years

‘The ultimate risk here is the accumulation of increasing levels of harm for children who have already faced enough distress for several lifetimes.’

👉 socialcare.today/2026/04/20/u... #care #socialcare @ofstednews.bsky.social #news #children

Care leaver deaths trigger urgent government review A government review has been launched into the deaths of young people who have left care, following concerns too many are dying without enough support.  Harrowing data published in May 2025 shows 91 c...

This article is far from a bright weekend read, but nonetheless an important one:

Care leaver deaths trigger urgent government review 👇
socialcare.today/2026/04/17/c... @basw-uk.bsky.social #SocialCare #government #news #ChildrensCare #ChildrenSocialCare

Government warns pensioners of Winter Fuel Payment scams More than 25,000 scams referred to HMRC in the last year, with criminals using the annual repayment process as a hook for the unwary.  The government has warned pensioners to beware of texts, emails a...

Government warns pensioners of Winter Fuel Payment scams

More than 25,000 scams referred to HMRC in the last year, with criminals using the annual repayment process as a hook for the unwary.

👉 socialcare.today/2026/04/15/g... #government #scam #news #HMRC #WinterFuelPayment

Specialist teams deployed to tackle NHS ‘corridor care’ in worst-hit hospitals Targeted support and new urgent care sites aim to cut waiting times and end corridor care across England’s NHS. NHS leaders at the worst-affected trusts, where patients are treated in hospital corrido...

Over the weekend the government announced specialist teams would be deployed to tackle 'corridor care' across England.

👉 socialcare.today/2026/04/11/s... #NHS #Government #News #Health #Care #England #Hospitals

Unpaid carers could have debts wiped – how to know if you're eligible Around 200,000 cases relating to overpayments of the welfare benefit are being reviewed

Unpaid carers could have debts wiped – how to know if you’re eligible trib.al/E6CoOol

Police raise concerns over vape shops and child grooming

‘We have complaints that vapes and illegal goods are perhaps given free on some occasions to children in return for sexual favours.’

This story is a hard read. socialcare.today/2026/04/08/p... #news #ChildSafety #police #vapes #investigation

War of the wards: resident doctors have returned to the picket lines Resident doctors in England have begun a six-day strike, their 15th long-running dispute over pay.  The walkout, which started at 07:00 BST on Tuesday 7th April and is due to end on Monday 13th April,...

This week: resident doctors have returned to the picket lines.

The British Medical Association (BMA) called the strike after negotiations with the government broke down in March.

Read more 👉 socialcare.today/2026/04/07/8... @bma.org.uk #government #residentdoctors #strike #health #NHS #news

Could your gut reveal dementia risk before symptoms show? A group of chemicals in the blood, produced by gut bacteria, could help detect the earliest signs of cognitive decline, a study suggests.  The old saying goes, ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his...

Could your gut reveal dementia risk before symptoms show?

The old saying goes, ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’, but new #research suggests the gut could also offer clues to #brain health.

👉 socialcare.today/2026/04/08/c... @alzheimerssoc.bsky.social #health #dementia #news

TikTok ‘worst offender’ for ADHD and autism misinformation, study finds Concerns raised over accuracy of online mental health information, with TikTok deemed a ‘minefield’ for misleading content on ADHD and autism.  Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) exa...

New research shows TikTok is the 'worst offender' for ADHD and autism misinformation...

Read more about the study 👉 socialcare.today/2026/03/23/t... #socialmedia #TikTok #ADHD #Autism #MentalHealth

From weapons to welfare: Ukraine volunteer veterans left behind First-of-its-kind research shows a worrying picture of the support available to former Ukraine volunteers, warning: ‘Their psychological distress should not be surprising.’  Former soldiers who volunt...

From weapons to welfare: Ukraine volunteer veterans left behind

First-of-its-kind research shows a worrying picture of the support available to former Ukraine volunteers, warning: ‘Their psychological distress should not be surprising.’

👇
socialcare.today/2026/03/23/f... #Ukraine #MentalHealth

NHS maternity crisis prompts new national taskforce A new taskforce and funding boost aim to address safety concerns and inequalities in NHS maternity care across England.  This morning (17th March), Wes Streeting revealed a new national taskforce has ...

NHS maternity crisis prompts new national taskforce

‘No one can be in any doubt about the scale and seriousness of the problems in maternity services.'

👇
socialcare.today/2026/03/17/n... #NHS #maternity #health #England #neonatal #childbirth #news @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social

BMA demands zero-tolerance for abuse of NHS staff Survey finds doctors facing abuse, violence and burnout, prompting the BMA to call on NHS leaders to take urgent action. The British Medical Association (BMA) has called on NHS England and hospital tr...

BMA demands zero-tolerance for abuse of NHS staff

‘Everyone should feel safe in hospitals – both patients and crucially those who are doing their absolute best to look after and treat them.'

👉 socialcare.today/2026/03/13/b... #NHS #abuse #news #MentalHealth #health @england.nhs.uk @bma.org.uk

Today marks the start of #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek.

As @manninghamhousing.bsky.social notes, around 15–20% of the population has a neurological difference.

Check out the thread below to find out how you can get involved 👇

Rethinking social care through the lens of neurodivergent carers Across the UK, thousands of families undertake one of the most complex tasks imaginable: navigating the health and social care system in order to secure support for a loved one. For many, this process...

Our latest industry led feature:

'Rethinking social care through the lens of neurodivergent carers'

READ MORE👉 socialcare.today/2026/03/12/r... #news #socialcare #autism #neurodivergent

'The findings follow a recent Guardian investigation showing that NHS trusts disclosed nearly 300,000 incidents of physical violence and 50,000 of sexual harm in the three years to April 2025.'

‘My health had to come first’: Grandmother opens up for No Smoking Day To mark No Smoking Day, a Cheshire grandmother who was hospitalised with dangerously low oxygen levels has shared her story of quitting smoking.  Cathy Wareing, 63, from Middlewich, started smoking wh...

‘My health had to come first’: Grandmother opens up for No Smoking Day

‘Every time I had a cold, I ended up in hospital,’ she said. ‘The doctors were worried about me and I had to have oxygen just to breathe properly.

👉 socialcare.today/2026/03/11/m... #smoking #health #NoSmokingDay

Donna Ockenden appointed to lead independent Leeds maternity review Families in Leeds are one step closer to an independent review into maternity and neonatal care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.  Senior midwife Donna Ockenden has been appointed to lead the inq...

Donna Ockenden appointed to lead independent Leeds maternity review

‘I’m delighted to appoint someone so trusted by those who have been repeatedly let down by the NHS.'

👉 socialcare.today/2026/03/10/d...
#health #news #Leeds #maternity #birth #government

‘Wall of Hearts’ tribute honours those lost to Covid Spellman Care is inviting the local community to take part in a weekend of remembrance to mark the official COVID-19 Day of Reflection.  In a tribute to those lost during the pandemic, four care homes...

THIS WEEKEND👇

‘Wall of Hearts’ tribute honours those lost to Covid

👉 socialcare.today/2026/03/06/w... #Covid #news #health #care #COVID-19 #pandemic

A costume crisis: When World Book Day becomes overwhelming Every year children across the globe are encouraged to dress up as their favourite literary characters. But, in the words of Oscar Wilde: ‘Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.’  Today (5th Ma...

A costume crisis: When World Book Day becomes overwhelming

Every year children across the globe are encouraged to dress up as their favourite literary characters. But, in the words of Oscar Wilde: ‘Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.’

Read👇
socialcare.today/2026/03/05/a... #WorldBookDay

Interview: Mock elections for people with learning disabilities in Bexley With local elections imminent, there’s lots of talk about what councils can and should be doing to engage residents in the process — especially those residents who, for one reason or another, don’t us...

Interview: Mock elections for people with learning disabilities in Bexley

With local elections imminent, we spoke to members of Bexley council to find out how they're encouraging residents to vote...

FULL STORY👇
socialcare.today/2026/02/26/i... #elections #localgov #news #interview #feature

Do the SEND reforms actually offer ‘a better education for every child’ The government unveiled major reforms to the SEND system this morning and the response has been anything but unanimous.  Over the past few weeks, schools and inclusivity have been dominating headlines...

The government unveiled major reforms to the SEND system this morning and the response has been anything but unanimous...

READ 👉 socialcare.today/2026/02/23/d...
#news #SEND #school #news #government #Labour

This is what teachers want parents to know about SEND reform It is clear is that SEND reform is no longer a niche issue, but fundamental to our education system’s future

If you have a subscription to The I Paper I would absolutely give this piece a read:

👇
inews.co.uk/opinion/teac... #SEND #school #parents #teachers #care #government

First report on deaths related to cold weather in England New UKHSA report reveals 2,544 deaths associated with cold weather between November 2025 and January 2025, across three cold episodes  As the Environment Agency and Met Office warn that cold condition...

First report on deaths related to cold weather in England

New UKHSA report reveals 2,544 deaths associated with cold weather between November 2025 and January 2025, across three cold episodes

👇
socialcare.today/2026/02/19/f... #news #health #weather #England #cold #care #socialcare

Healthy life expectancy in UK at lowest levels since official data series began in 2011-13. Grim reading.
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

Kinship carers forced into poverty without paid work leave Thousands of relatives caring for children face financial strain, often having to reduce work hours or claim benefits. Research by Kinship, based on 1,245 carers, found four in 10 are claiming benefit...

Kinship #carers forced into #poverty without paid work leave

‘You wouldn’t expect a parent with a newborn baby to go back to work the next day, so there’s no justifiable reason why #kinship carers should be expected to do the same.’

👉 socialcare.today/2026/02/18/k... @kinshipcharity.bsky.social

Opinion: the NHS’s digital backbone George Stern, Enterprise, Connectivity & Security Specialist at Cloud Gateway, on why secure, scalable networks must underpin the next decade of healthcare The NHS 10–year plan signals bold ambitions:...

Our latest industry led feature: The NHS’s digital backbone

George Stern, Connectivity & Security Specialist at Cloud Gateway, on why secure, scalable networks must underpin the next decade of healthcare

READ MORE 👉 socialcare.today/2026/02/17/o... #NHS #news #feature #health #technology

Everything I know about love: Age UK launches ‘Still Got It’ To mark Valentines Day, Age UK has launched it’s first-ever guide challenging the stigma around love and intimacy in later life.  ‘Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,’ William Shakespeare...

Everything I know about love: Age UK launches ‘Still Got It’

‘As we get older, the world becomes more obsessed with our age than who we really are. But we’re exactly the same person on the inside as we’ve always been'

👉 socialcare.today/2026/02/12/e... @ageuk.bsky.social #news #Valentines #care

Smokefree law could cut youth smoking faster than expected Raising the legal age for tobacco sales could cut youth smoking below 5% decades sooner, according to new research from the University of Nottingham. The ‘smokefree generation’ law, originally propose...

Raising the legal age for tobacco sales could cut youth smoking below 5% decades sooner, according to new research from the University of Nottingham.

👇
socialcare.today/2026/02/11/s... #smoking #health #news #government #research

Nurses’ families fear being torn apart in UK immigration crackdown, survey says Exclusive: Most people in charity’s study say they worry about being separated from relatives under Mahmood plans

Vital read from @theguardian.com:

'Nurses’ families fear being torn apart in UK immigration crackdown'

'Zayne, an 18-year-old aspiring doctor...said his mother “cries every day because our whole future feels like it’s been pulled away overnight".'

👇
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...