Some Useful Books On Report Writing

A number of people have been asking me about report writing - so here are some books that you might find useful:

• Aveyard, H., Sharp, P. and Wooliams, M. (2011) A beginner's guide to critical thinking and writing in health and social care. Maidenhead: OUP. [Ebook] A straightforward guide showing you how to demonstrate critical thinking and critical appraisal in health and social care.
• Healy, K. and Mulholland, J. (2007) Writing skills for social workers. London: Sage. [Ebook] Covers a whole range of writing skills in the filed of social work. Chapter 5 deals with effective report writing.
• Murray, N. and Hughes, G. (2008) Writing up your university assignments and research projects: a practical handbook. Maidenhead: OUP. A clear handbook on assignment and report writing at university.

New Report Says Children In Care Run Away Despite The Risks

Photograph by Pink Sherbert Photography

A new report from the Children's Rights Director for England finds that children in care are running away from placements despite being well aware of the dangers of sexual exploitation, drugs and gang culture.

The report Running Away 2012  found they ran away for many reasons, such as stress, anger and unhappiness at being in care.

The research gathered views from 62 girls and 36 boys from different ethnic backgrounds and in different types of placement.

The children identified many dangers associated with running away - getting raped, being sexually exploited, being stabbed, being kidnapped, being taken and trafficked for sex, being murdered, getting involved in drugs or being made pregnant.

However,  issues such as anger, stress, fear of people living in the same placement, feeling "you don't get what you want or need in your placement", not being listened to, being scared and getting away from bullies were felt to justify the risks associated with running away.

Children's Minister Edward Timpson said: "We have been very concerned that some local authorities and care homes are letting down children by failing to act as a proper 'parent'. "This is a very important report - which makes clear that carers and social workers need to listen and address children's concerns as early as possible, before it reaches the crisis point of them feeling they have no option but to run away."

Figures published by the Department for Education last month show the number of children in local authority care in England rose by 2% from 65,520 last year to 67,050 this year. 

Income Inequality & Poverty In The UK "Set To Rise" Claims New Report

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a new report: The impact of employment changes on poverty in 2020.

The report states that projections suggest long-term labour market trends are set to continue. Examining the impact of these changes on income inequality and poverty levels, this study:

• Forecasts a rise in income inequality and poverty levels.
• Cites expected cuts in benefits and tax credits as a major cause of these rises.
• Suggests the impact on the overall level of relative poverty and inequality forecast for 2020/21 made by changes imposed on employment and pay structures will be small.

The full report is available to download here: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/poverty-inequality-employment-structure

UK Slavery - What do we know?

The issue of slavery in the UK has made the headlines over the last few days and has thrown the UK's 'dirty secret' into the spotlight. But what do we know about this hidden phenomenon and what can we do about it? The Joseph Rowntree Organisation has just published a new report about forced labour in Northern Ireland documenting the experiences of a number of employees who had been exploited in the workplace, some of whom had been in forced labour. You can read more about the report and its findings here. UK Slavery What do know?