The way in which councils are interpreting the eligibility criteria for adult social care is inequitable and has produced a post code lottery. This is a key finding of a review by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, commissioned by the Care Services Minister. The review report ‘Cutting the Cake Fairly’ also calls for greater clarity and transparency so that both professionals and service users understand how decisions are reached.

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The Ministry of Justice has launched an initiative to engage its 80,000 staff who work in criminal justice policy, prisons and probation in England and Wales. The first web chat was held in July 2008 as part of a search to explore new ways to engage staff, covering all departments and regions.

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By Lavinia Mitton

The financial network of banks, insurance companies and advisors can be taken for granted by those with easy access to the network. But for those without access there is financial pain caused by higher-interest credit, lack of insurance, no account into which income can be paid and higher-cost utilities. Financial exclusion leads to social exclusion and particular groups of people, such as lone parents, are particularly vulnerable. The author looks at how measures to limit the risk of exclusion are working and what might be done in the future.

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