Flagging up a (not widely publicised) way to challenge a local authority’s actions, decisions, policies or practices.
Belindsa Schwehr, an expert on learning disability and the law, recently posted a blog in the publicly accessible section of her website ‘Schwehr on Care’ snappily entitled “Using the Monitoring Officer as a free and convenient means to raise concerns about illegality, in the public law sense, in adult social care” In it, she highlights […]
Shadow Health Minister’s response to Queen’s Speech focuses on carers and Care Act
In response to the recent Queen’s Speech (coverage of which was somewhat overshadowed by speculations on the EU Referendum), Barbara Keeley, Shadow Minister for Health addressed what she saw as omissions from the government’s announced programme, focusing on carers, especially older carers. Barbara Keeley, Shadow Minister (Health), 19th May 2016
CQC launches “Better Care In My Hands Report – A review of how people are involved in their care”
The Care Quality Commission has just published a report on how people (including people with a learning disability) are involved with their care. We note especially the comments re inadequate family and carer involvement. e.g. Recommendation for Service Providers: The sustained and supported involvement of families and carers in the care of their loved ones. […]
Disability Benefits Consortium launches survey on move from DLA to PIP
The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) has just announced an impact survey ‘Moving from DLA to PIP’, and is inviting people with relevant experience of the migration from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to complete it online. The survey is introduced as follows:
Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (ADMC Act) enacted in the Republic of Ireland
We are aware that many UK residents and British citizens have family ties or other links to the Republic of Ireland, and may be interested in the new legislation relating to learning disability and capacity enacted in December 2015. The (ADMC Act) provided a long-overdue update and reform of legislation in the Republic.
Ministerial Statements on Autism, Learning Disability, Mortality and Life Expectancy
The following exchange (written question and answer) took place in the Commons on 19th April, and should be of interest the family carers of any child or adult with a learning disability or ASD. In recent months charities (notably Autistica) and campaigners have attempted to highlight the issue of premature mortality – an issue which […]
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) – New Guidance for Social Workers.
I have to admit to my own ignorance with regard to Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). I was reminded of this by an item in a recent newsletter from 39 Essex Street (legal chambers). This cited the publication of new guidance on ABI published by the British Association of Social Workers .
That’s NICE… Guidance on transitions between hospital and community or home care.
Apologies: Published this last year, but never assigned it a valid category (News or Blog)! Still interesting reading though, especially in light of current ‘crisis’ within the NHS, and repeated debates re ‘bed-blocking’ and the interface between health and care services… The pages of the website of NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care […]
Not Pleasant Viewing…
There have been two documentaries on television this week that have really highlighted just how bad things can be for people with mental health problems and disabilities. The first was Panorama shown on BBC 1 on Monday 10.4.16 and dealt with young peoples in patient psychiatric services or more specifically the lack of facilities for […]
Extra Care Housing: Independent Living with Care at Hafod Y Parc.
Thought it time we mentioned the concept of ‘Extra Care Housing’ again, although it does not get mentioned today as often as it did a decade ago… Below is a description of case study from bulletin (No 117) published by the Housing LIN. It describes a scheme development in […]