The real needs of older people are not being heard because of stereotypes that paint them as problematically sick and vulnerable, heroically young and active or comically grumpy like television character Victor Meldrew, according to a new report.The study, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, also says that professional attitudes that treat old age as if it were ‘an illness for which there is no cure’ are no less damaging and it challenges service planners and providers to do better.

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Families fostering children for almost half of English local authorities are being paid allowances below recommended minimum rates according to a new survey published today. The study, carried out by leading fostering charity the Fostering Network, says this means they are effectively subsidising the state.The survey shows foster carers in 46 per cent of English authority areas receive less than the recommended rate and so do not get their fostering expenses fully covered. That, says the Network, is leaving fostered children and carers short-changed in spite of Government standards that state that all carers should be reimbursed for the full costs of fostering.

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By Deborah M. Kolb, Judith Williams and Carol Frohlinger.This woman’s guide to negotiating five key challenges to leadership success sets out a practical approach for any woman dealing with a demanding management role. Drawing on extensive interviews with women leaders the authors isolate key challenges they face. These include the difficulty of getting good information which is often a tricky proposition for a women, getting the backing of major players and securing adequate resources. It also deals with the leadership problem of bringing a team on board.

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