An anonymous article by a care team worker on the fourth year of redundancies and the effects on team morale. The pertinent question is raised of why after four years of drip-fed redundancies, there has been no change to management staffing levels? Surely there are far fewer people to manage now.

Management decision making (or the lack of it) is also addressed, raising further questions.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/social-life-blog/2015/jan/21/redundancies-social-care-job-cuts

An uplifting account written by family support worker Bobby Owen, who offers emotional support and practical advice about sibling care, employment and housing when a child is in hospital.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2015/jan/16/social-work-charities-ill-children

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Our e-learning courses can be issued by GPs to patients by e-learning prescription. To find out more, please call 0161 928 9987 and visit our online course library: http://goo.gl/wVmnWq

The amazing story of Australian Josie Webster, who is exhibiting and selling her works internationally, having been painting for less than a year. This article is well worth a read.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909080/From-high-school-dance-reject-international-landscape-painter-Australian-teenager-syndrome-Josie-Webster-conquering-art-world-exhibitions-London-New-York.html?dm_i=6N7,33XO0,GPCQXA,B5CY4,1

An examination of the state of the social care profession. With an anticipated extra million social care jobs by 2025, action needs to be taken if these positions are to be filled. How this is to be funded is considered in some depth here by Laura Gardiner. The challenges she identifies that need to be faced include:

- Eradicating zero hours contracts

- Ensuring that at least the minimum wage is met, by paying care workers for time spent travelling

- The provision of adequate training in, for example, caring for those with dementia.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2015/jan/20/care-workers-better-pay-conditions