Business ethics is important to social workers, who have to deal with the consequences of self-interested behaviour in business

This article appears to be about economics and business, but it's important to people interested in social work, because holding businesses and governments to account for how they spend their money helps to avoid corruption and devious excuses for self - interested behaviour, which benefits us all and especially people who rely on the state to protect them from oppression.

The Economist | Corporate transparency: The openness revolution via @theeconomist

The openness revolution

The Economist

HOWARD SCHULTZ, the head of Starbucks, said last year that “the currency of leadership is transparency.” If so, bosses should be feeling ever more qualified to...

Adult social care spending rising: but what about the impact of this on local government in general?

Interesting that crude figures show that adults social  care spending rose by 8% in real terms over the last 10 years: what, I wonder, does this mean for financial pressures on other local government spending?

Link to Integrated Care Today article

Working into later old age - the financial markets' interests are more important than older people's needs

Another Telegraph article making it clear that the pensions system dominated by financial markets rather than people's needs is not working for many people.

Link to Telegraph article

Academic study concludes that savers have 'grasped the harsh realities of the 21st century pensions world'

'Bed-blocking' comment really reinforces the need to respond to older people's complex social needs in the community

It's a pity about the headline name-checking bed-blocking in a Gloucestershire health chief's comment on integrated care. That's because the point being made is a good one, that health and social care services have to work to resolve complex social needs as well as treat medical problems if they are going to succeed in providing worthwhile  services.

 

Link to Integrated Care.com article

Feelings and frustrations of caring for an older parent and your young family well-expressed

A woman (American, as it happens, but the feelings and frustrations expressed are universal) is a 'sandwich carer' (she has a frail elderly parent and children and family to care for) talks to her father who is having a bad day at the same time as coping with her family's needs. Impressive piece of writing,

Link to the original article

Pensioner bonds and top-ups to state pensions start soon - info

A news report on the new pensioner bonds and the arrangements for existing pensioners to top up their state pensions, all part of the government's response to the ill - effects of low interest rates on people with fixed incomes. 

Steve Webb tells 'livid' pensioners: give us your money for a better interest rate - Telegraph

The Case For The Bus Pass | Greener Journeys

The Case For The Bus Pass | Greener Journeys


Any older person will tell how important their bus pass and senior railcard is to maintaining and building their social network. And it's good for the environment too, if we encourage people to use collective means of transport. This link is a useful discussion of the arguments.