Health Minister, Norman Lamb, issues important statement on provision of services
15th July 2013. Norman Lamb, Minister of State at the Department of Health made the following written ministerial statement – on the provision of public services, and especially health care, to people with learning disabilities… “I have today published the Department of Health’s second progress report in response to the recommendations of the Parliamentary and […]
LISA Inc (Australia) seeks supported living data from UK. Can you help?
Rescare, which has historical links with learning disability groups in Australia, has received the following request from Tony & Heather Tregale, coordinators with Lifestyle in Supported Accommodation (LISA) Inc, based in Victoria, Australia www.lisainc.com.au : “We are seeking, (a) contact with families having an adult family member in a supported accommodation group home – homes […]
Lords Committee on Mental Capacity Act calls for evidence – “Is MCA working?”
The House of Lords Committee on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 has published its call for evidence. Chairman of the Committee, Lord Hardie, said: “The Mental Capacity Act has been in force since 2007, and the time is right to scrutinise the legislation to see if it is working as Parliament intended. The Act provides […]
DWP’s fourth review of WCA (‘Lichfield’): call for evidence…
The Department for Work and Pensions has appointed Dr Paul Litchfield to undertake the fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), as required by section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007. This call for evidence will be one of several methods used to gather information during the review. Evidence submitted will be […]
Commons ‘has considered carers’…
20th June 2013: 11:20am Paul Burstow MP (Sutton and Cheam, Liberal Democrat) initiated a Backbench Business debate in the House of Commons by begging to move ‘that this House has considered the matter of carers’. There followed a wide-ranging debate (transcript here). Most MPs who spoke referred to their experiences of carers and caring in their […]
Court of Protection: out-of-hours and over-the-phone hearings
The Court of Protection is facing fresh questions about transparency, as The Independent reveals that its judges are making life-or-death decisions over the phone, with incomplete evidence, in proceedings that are not always recorded. The out-of-hours rulings about care or medical treatment are sometimes made following one-sided testimony, an investigation by the newspaper has uncovered… […]
Lords Select Committee to hear evidence on Mental Capacity Act…
Further to recent statements in the Lords regarding a (renewed) review of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its implementation, the calendar of parliamentary business for Tuesday 18th June includes the following: Upcoming Business – Lords: Select Committee (18 Jun 2013) Mental Capacity Act 2005: 10:30 am; Room 2, Palace of Westminster Witnesses: (at 10.45am) […]
Adult Autism Strategy: Review Schedule
The first ever strategy for improving the lives of adults with autism in England was published on 3 March 2010. The Autism Act 2009 committed the Government to publishing an adult autism strategy to transform services for adults with autism. The publication of this strategy was intended to meet this commitment. The strategy set out […]
NICE invites parents and carers to contribute to guidelines on learning disability and challenging behaviour…
From the NICE website: Become a carer or parent member of the group developing a guideline about the prevention and interventions for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges… The Public Involvement Programme and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Healthare looking for applications from carers and parents to be […]
Lords approve motion for Select Committee to report on the Mental Capacity Act
From Hansard, House of Lords, 14th May 2013: Mental Capacity Act 2005 Committee — Motion to Approve 3:09 pm Moved by Lord Hill of Oareford: That it is desirable that a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report on the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and that the Committee do report by 28 February 2014. […]