Author: News Desk

Recruits in pilot scheme have been taken from chains in charge of facilities deemed unsatisfactory Managers from some of the largest private children’s home chains in the UK have been asked to carry out inspections for Ofsted, despite those groups owning numerous homes that are deemed unsatisfactory. The Observer has discovered that Ofsted, which oversees standards in children’s social care, has recruited staff from the Outcomes First Group and the Keys Group to inspect homes as part of a pilot. Analysis of inspection data in Ofsted’s latest annual review of social care reveals 20 homes run by both firms have…

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NHS Federation chief says slashing budget will plunge crumbling service into deeper crisis Raiding the NHS budget or scrapping plans to rebuild crumbling hospitals would plunge the health service into its deepest crisis in decades. This was the stark warning this weekend from Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, who said the government is “living in a fantasy land” if it believes it can cut funds to the NHS without endangering patients. Jeremy Hunt promised spending cuts of “eye-watering difficulty” last week after becoming chancellor of the exchequer. Yet he also did not reverse his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng’s…

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The departure of Britain’s shortest serving prime minister and a possible comeback by her predecessor has created further divisions and infighting in the chaotic Conservative party The plunging pound had not done it. The wholesale dumping of a budget did not do it. A complete collapse in party discipline that led to MPs cursing colleagues and others sobbing did not do it. Even the resignation of Liz Truss, making her Britain’s shortest serving prime minister by some distance, was not enough. Yet as allies of Boris Johnson immediately let it be known that he was planning to stand for party…

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The former PM has voted in parliament once since announcing his resignation in July. But he has put in plenty of time at fancy resorts Boris Johnson could never be accused of wanting to be seen as politically engaged since announcing his resignation as prime minister in early July. Yet his apparent eagerness to abandon any pretence of parliamentary involvement would make grim reading for even his most ardent fan. For about a quarter of the considerable time that has elapsed, Johnson appears to have been abroad, enjoying a series of luxury holidays as the UK lurches through economic tumult…

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