Social work news

• Achieving better value when buying

  04-12-2025 12:00 via gov.uk
  Information about the range of support available to schools and trusts to buy goods and services, get better value and be compliant with procurement regulations.
  
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• Guidance: NHS general ophthalmic service fees and payments from April 2025

  08-12-2025 16:33 via gov.uk
  Letter and directions setting out general ophthalmic services fees and payments from 1 April 2025.
  
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• Independent report: SaBTO hepatitis E virus (HEV) screening review and recommendations

  08-12-2025 11:41 via gov.uk
  Review of UK blood donor screening for hepatitis E virus (HEV), assessing current methods, risks and options to reduce transfusion-related HEV transmission.
  
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• Senior DWP civil servant blames victims for carer’s allowance scandal

  06-12-2025 18:06
  Neil Couling said failings by individual claimants ‘at the heart’ of crisis, despite a report finding DWP shortcomings ‘unacceptable’ One of the most senior civil servants in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has placed the blame for the carer’s allowance benefits crisis on victims, many of who have been left with life-changing debts.In an internal blogpost written for Whitehall colleagues, Neil Couling, the director general of DWP services, said individual
  
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• RISE attendance and behaviour hubs programme

  05-12-2025 16:16 via gov.uk
  Guidance for school leaders on the RISE attendance and behaviour hubs programme, its benefits and support, and how to join.
  
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• Official Statistics: Health and social care statistical outputs consultation follow-up

  05-12-2025 15:59 via gov.uk
  An update on the November 2025 response to the consultation on health and social care statistical outputs which ran from December 2023 to March 2024.
  
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• Health and social care statistical outputs

  05-12-2025 15:59 via gov.uk
  We are seeking views on health and social care statistical outputs published by DHSC (including OHID), NHSBSA, UKHSA, ONS and NHS England.
  
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• Digital revolution in care saves millions of admin hours

  05-12-2025 12:48 via gov.uk
  Four in five care providers now use digital social care records, helping almost 90% of people who draw on care.
  
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• Over half a million children to be lifted out of poverty as government unveils historic child poverty strategy

  04-12-2025 23:30 via gov.uk
  Around 550,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by 2030 – the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began – as the Government launches its Child Poverty Strategy today (Friday 5 December).
  
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• Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report 2025 – Infections 

  04-12-2025 18:29 via gov.uk
  The Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty has released his Annual Report for 2025, on infectious diseases. 
  
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• Review launched into mental health, autism and ADHD services

  04-12-2025 18:17 via gov.uk
  Government launches new independent review to look at rising demand for mental health, ADHD, and autism services and what is driving it.
  
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• Apply to the APAR as an apprenticeship training provider

  04-12-2025 18:11 via gov.uk
  How to apply to join the apprenticeship provider and assessment register (APAR) to receive government funding to train apprentices.
  
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• Independent report: Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2025: infections

  04-12-2025 16:00 via gov.uk
  Professor Chris Whitty’s annual report considers trends, successes and challenges in preventing and treating infectious diseases.
  
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• Schools to save millions as Government launches agency profit cap

  04-12-2025 13:46 via gov.uk
  New programme launched to help schools tackle avoidable costs and agency staff mark-ups, so every penny is invested in young people.
  
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• More people training to teach

  04-12-2025 13:41 via gov.uk
  Trainee teacher numbers reach highest point since pandemic as government progresses towards its pledge to recruit and retain 6,500 additional teachers.
  
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• Strategic workforce planning for schools and trusts

  04-12-2025 12:00 via gov.uk
  Support for schools and trusts to plan their workforce and recruit effectively.
  
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• Policy paper: Maximising value for pupils

  04-12-2025 12:00 via gov.uk
  Sets out how government will work with schools and trusts to maximise value from resources, ensuring every pound delivers the best outcomes for pupils.
  
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• Maximising school and trust resources: managing financial and physical assets

  04-12-2025 12:00 via gov.uk
  Information about the range of support available to schools and trusts to maintain, improve and use their financial and physical assets effectively.
  
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• Improve your school's and trust's digital and financial planning

  04-12-2025 12:00 via gov.uk
  Information about the range of support available to schools and trusts to build capability, improve commercial expertise and meet digital standards.
  
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• Guidance: Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism: terms of reference

  04-12-2025 10:40 via gov.uk
  Terms of reference for an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.
  
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• Official Statistics: Initial teacher training: trainee number census 2025 to 2026

  04-12-2025 10:30 via gov.uk
  Provisional recruitment to initial teacher training (ITT) programmes in England in the academic year 2025 to 2026.
  
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• Official Statistics: Adult social care in England, monthly statistics: December 2025

  04-12-2025 10:30 via gov.uk
  Official statistics on a range of topics including occupancy and infection control measures in adult social care settings.
  
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• Guidance: Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies: guidance for local authorities

  04-12-2025 10:30 via gov.uk
  How local authorities in England can prepare to run the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programme.
  
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• Review launched into mental health, ADHD and autism services

  04-12-2025 01:00 via gov.uk
  Government launches independent review to look at rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services and what is driving it.
  
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• Access to early SEND support through Best Start Family Hubs

  03-12-2025 23:30 via gov.uk
  Best Start Family Hubs to act as one-stop-shop for parents with SEND professional and services to support speech and language development confirmed.
  
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• Which children to include: spring 2026

  03-12-2025 17:33 via gov.uk
  Find out which providers and children are in the scope for the early years census.
  
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• Correspondence: DfE update 3 December 2025

  03-12-2025 13:58 via gov.uk
  Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.
  
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• Policy paper: Infant formula: government response to CMA market study

  03-12-2025 13:55 via gov.uk
  The 4 nations response to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) market study into the UK infant and follow-on formula market.
  
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• Government brings in measures to help tackle child poverty

  03-12-2025 13:49 via gov.uk
  Savings for families on baby formula as government brings in measures to help tackle child poverty.
  
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• Almost every GP now offers online access for patients

  03-12-2025 10:06 via gov.uk
  GP online access has been rolled out at nearly all GP practices, benefitting patients across England.
  
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