The identification and support of pupils with hidden disabilities (especially autism) in schools
A crisis in the identification of special educational needs (SEN) and in SEN provision. Rescare trustee Simon Burdis, who has considerable professional experience of SEN provision in schools, recently wrote to ministers at the DfE and DoH to express his exasperation at the current sitiuation (notwithstanding the reforms outlined in the Children and Families Act […]
Health and Social Care Act 2012
The Health and Social Care Act 2012, enacted on 27th March, is the most extensive reorganisation of the structure of the National Health Service in England to date. It proposes the abolition of NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs). Thereafter, £60 to £80 billion of “commissioning”, or health care funds, would […]
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Rescare was closely involved in the consultations during the drafting of legislation that eventually became the Mental Capacity Act 2005, often referred to as the MCA. A summary of the contents of the Act may be found here on the DirectGov website:- http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/governmentcitizensandrights/mentalcapacityandthelaw/makingdecisionsforsomeoneelse/dg_186479 . The Mental Capacity Act provides a framework to empower and protect […]
Valuing People & Valuing People Now
Valuing People (‘A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century’) was a government White Paper published in March 2001, by the Department of Health, who during the consultation process assumed the role of ‘lead department’. The introduction to the White Paper explained its significance: This is the first White Paper on learning disability […]
A New Camphill Place
Rescare has been asked by the authors to publish the following open letter. The views expressed are those of David and Marie-Reine… A New Camphill Place Camphill is a spiritual impulse aiming to work out of the heart of Christianity and Anthroposophy. It is not tied to the existing places of the world wide movement […]
SEN policy: a timebomb of unmet need
The following email was sent by a Rescare member (Z) in the North of England, who has considerable practical experience in the classroom of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. Z emphasises the reality of the current situation – in stark contrast to the situation aspired to in policy statements and proposed legislation e.g. the Children […]
Demos Commission calls for evidence on Residential Care
The leading think-tank Demos announced last year that it would be considering the future of residential care via a special Commission to chaired by former Care Services Minister Paul Burstow MP. The Commission was to be assigned the aim of developing a vision of residential care ‘that is fit for the 21st century’. The […]
Residential Care in Intentional Village Communities: Template letter to Ministers
Resnews No.4 2013 was accompanied by the following ‘insert’: Letter to members Dec 2013 This read: December 2013 Dear Members, You may be aware that Residential Care in Intentional Village Communities is under extreme threat. We suggest that our members and other concerned individuals write a letter to or email their MPs and relevant Ministers […]
Online petition: Save Learning Disability Studies UoM
Manchester University intends to discontinue its Learning Disability Studies (LDS) course as of next academic year. This decision has prompted criticism and protests within and outside the university.The full story of the closure is available here in an article in the mancunianmatters online news service; and several critical observations on Twitter https://twitter.com/SaveLDS_UoM , from people […]
Oxfordshire County Council: Don’t take my brother’s home away (#JusticeforJames)
When Oxfordshire County Council proposed a cut in the care funding for James, aged 25, who has Down’s Sydrome and learning disabilities, his sister Alana Inness organised an online petition at change.org asking Oxfordshire to reconsider their proposal, which had resulted in James being threatened with eviction from the house in which he has been living, […]