Luke Clements is the Emeritus Professor of Law and Social Justice at Leeds University.
The Department for Education (DfE) has opened a consultation on its proposal to update the 2018 ‘Working Together’ guidance. It has summarised the overall aim of the update as a…
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A local authority accepted that a disabled person had eligible needs for support to develop and maintain personal relationships, and provided funding for him to attend a social and life…
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A submission to The Senedd Health & Social Care Committee concerning the state of social care in Wales by Ann James and Luke Clements can be accessed by clicking here…
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PANS and PANDAS are severe childhood impairments with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive behaviours, tics or eating restrictions that develop suddenly: conditions that can be accompanied by changes in normal behaviours, personality…
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As previous posting on these pages have sought to highlight,[1] there are in our opinion profound problems with the Welsh Government’s Guidance concerning the process by which eligibility for Continuing…
Read moreWe are seeking to further strengthen our disability research programme at the School of Law, Leeds University (closing date 15 May). For details, click here.
Read moreTo demonstrate support for the Cri de Cœur / call to action by three leading reviewers involved in Safeguarding Inquiries – click here
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There is an extensive body of English and Welsh law that requires local authorities to provide school / college transport for disabled young people.[1] What is often forgotten, however, is…
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Flicking though the current (March 2023) batch of Local Government Ombudsman’s Children and Education complaints decisions is like re-watching Groundhog Days. More than half of the complaints were not, for…
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Parent Blame is not simply a problem encountered by families when dealing with Children’s Services. It is, therefore, very welcome that West Midlands ADASS (the Association of Directors of Adult…
Read moreFor details of a FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness) event in Gloucester on 14 March click here.
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A report published by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory highlights the ‘extreme vulnerability’ of children who are the subject of High Court applications that seek to deprive them of their…
Read moreFor a new research report on this issue by Alice Running & Danielle Jata-Hall, click here.
Read moreThe School of Law, Leeds University is looking to appoint a Chair in Disability Law - for details click here.
Read moreThe PSOW is considering investigating the fitness for purpose of (and complaints about) 'Carers: Needs assessments'. For details click here.
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A provocative New Year posting from my good colleague Rachel Adam-Smith. . _______________ I love my dog. He’s non-verbal. I love…
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John Bangs OBE[1] reflects on the recent UN carers rights decision and its implications in relation to the duties of local health and social care authorities to provide a sufficiency…
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An interesting complaint concerning (among other things[1]) a prolonged and significant loss of respite care for a young person transitioning into adult services. Due to challenges resulting from his impairment,…
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The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has handed down an important decision concerning the rights of unpaid carers in the case of Maria Simona Bellini v.…
Read moreA report by a Welsh Government convened ‘Expert Group’ has been published. For the announcement by Julie Morgan MS click here and for the report click here.
Read moreFor a Senedd article on this issue click here.
Read moreThe University of Galway wishes to hear from disabled children and young people about the impact that the covid-19 pandemic has had on different aspects of their lives. For details…
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What would ‘fit for purpose’ disabled children’s assessment guidance look like? At the School of Law, the University of Leeds, this is what we hope to be researching in the…
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The Health Service Ombudsman has published an important CHC report concerning the failure of an NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) - now known as an Integrated Care Board (ICB). The…
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The current political farce / tragedy has meant that a shaming report[1] concerning the institutional abuse of disabled young people has failed to attract the attention it deserves. The report…
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Senedd Research has published an interesting analysis of the problems that social care under-funding are causing the NHS.[1] The analysis starts with the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee’s finding[2]…
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The Kirkup Report[1] – published earlier this week – identified the scandalous treatment of mothers in maternity and neonatal services in East Kent. It uses the words ‘blame’ / ‘blaming’…
Read moreFor a scholarly review by the Nuffield Trust that assesses ‘How far have we come in improving support for unpaid carers in England?’ click here.
Read moreFor a Carers Wales Policy Briefing on the cost-of-living crisis for unpaid carers in Wales click here.
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A parent refused to sign a council’s safety plan (relating to support for her disabled son) because it implied that she had on one occasion refused to allow workers…
Read moreFor a brief article reviewing the last 30 years of social care law - click here.
Read moreFor details of a Cerebra / Leeds University School of Law Conference (on-line and in person) click here.
Read moreSenedd Cymru Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee has published a report on Care Home Commissioning which can be accessed by clicking here.
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What can be done when a disabled person’s or a carer’s assessed social care needs are not being met – either because no care and support is available or because…
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In ‘Clustered Injustice’ I refer to one of the key insights gained from working on the Cerebra research programme with disabled children and their families. It may be obvious to…
Read more5th October 2022 in London entitled ‘Barriers to Breakthroughs’: for details click here.
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The disabled children’s charity Cerebra is concerned about reports from families with disabled children which suggest that a significant number have been accused by practitioners of creating or exaggerating their…
Read moreThe UK Covid-19 Inquiry is launched with the publication of its Terms of Reference – for details, click here.
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The Department of Health and Social Care has published a revised NHS Continuing Healthcare Framework – a copy of which can be accessed by clicking here. A handout of a…
Read moreFor a Scottish Employment Tribunal judgment that found a claimant who suffered from long-COVID to be a disabled person in terms of the Equality Act 2010 click here.
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Allegations by professionals that families are guilty of FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness) appear to be proliferating as do training programmes that seek to alert social care and health professionals…
Read moreFollowing the High Court judgment finding concerning the unlawful discharge to care homes of hospital patients with asymptomatic Covid, a report by the ONS notes that all disabled people were at greater risk…
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Councils do not have to charge for care and support services under the Care Act 2014, but if they do the Statutory Guidance states (para 8.2) that in determining…
Read moreFor a copy of the submission by Ann James and Luke Clements to the Senedd Petitions Committee concerning Petition P-05-1106 – click here.
Read moreFor important High Court guidance on this issue click here: see paras 105 – 108.
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An earlier posting referred to Baroness Pitkeathley’s amendment to the Health and Care Bill which – although opposed by the Government – was passed in the House of Lords by…
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The current edition of ‘Senedd Research’ highlights two important social welfare issues – namely the serious problems with the Welsh NHS and the social care workforce crisis. In relation…
Read moreFor details of an update research webinar on 27 April 2022 click here
Read moreWelsh Council found to be in contempt of court for its failure to address the needs of a young disabled man – click here for further details.
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A parent complained that a local authority commissioned ‘Early Help’ service (for ‘short break’ sessions) was unsuitable for her son. She complained that the Council had offered no alternative and…
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