BASW Cymru – new resource
BASW Cymru has developed a new on-line resource ‘Social work law in Wales PPEG’ for members and the wider social work profession in Wales. To access this click here.
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Measuring social services performance
The Welsh Government has issued for consultation a draft code of practice ‘Measuring social services performance’ – to access the consultation documents click here.
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NHS Continuing Care (NHS CHC) for children and young people – Welsh Government Consultation
The Welsh Government has published a consultation paper on proposed revisions to the NHS CHC guidance for children and young people – which can be accessed by clicking here.[1] This…
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Extra care housing: ‘just in time’ systems are for cars not care
Extra care housing is a good idea. In practice however it looks to be failing all but the wealthy. This ‘post’ describes the idea behind extra care housing schemes and…
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Post-19 education transport costs
In a recent and important report,[1] the ombudsman has held that the transport needs of an adult in education are relevant considerations when assessing his (and his carer’s) social care…
Read moreNHS Continuing Care latest statistics
The most recent NHS Continuing Healthcare figures (to end of March 2019) show a slight increase in the total number of people being funded. However there is a continuing fall…
Read moreThe NHS & Carers Rights
For a paper by Luke Clements, Emily Holzhausen and John Bangs outlining how the existing law concerning carers’ rights relates to the Government’s ‘Universal Personalised Care’ proposals click here.
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Charging for social care changes
The Welsh Government has made uprating changes to the social care charging rules – which have now taken effect. The head-line changes are increases to: the maximum non-residential care charge…
Read moreLegal Aid closure
At the end of 2018 the BBC reported on the decimation of legal aid – with Wales a prime example. TA Law of Swansea has now announced its withdrawal from…
Read moreMeasuring the Mountain
A Welsh Government funded research report into ‘What Really Matters in Social Care to Individuals in Wales’ can be accessed by clicking here. It contains some interesting material and a…
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NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and transitions into adulthood
Young people who are receiving NHS Continuing Care (and their families) are inevitably anxious to know what their care and support arrangements will be once they become 18. Not infrequently…
Read moreIndependent User Trusts and the NHS
MS Martin Searle Solicitors are interested to hear from anyone who has experience of an Independent User Trust to manage NHS Continuing NHS Healthcare payments in Wales. If you can…
Read moreAssessment & Treatment Units (ATUs)
To access a Petition to stop the detention of people with autism & learning disabilities in ATU’s click here.
Read moreParents accused of inventing children’s illnesses
For an earlier ‘post’ concerned families being wrongly accused of fabricating or exaggerating their disabled child’s needs – see ‘Can you cope’. A follow up, and equally disturbing, report has…
Read moreResearch Assistant Post Leeds
The School of Law has a part-time Research Assistant vacancy in Law & Social Justice – for details click here.
Read moreWelsh Independent Living Grant (WILG)
For an interim report summarising the evidence the Welsh Government has received on the future of the WILG click here.
Read moreWhat really matters in social care to individuals in Wales?
For a report concerning the views of Citizens’ Jury on this question – click here.
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NHS CHC and supine council leaders
The number of people eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding (CHC) in England has fallen – again. The most recent figures[1] have just been published and show that in the…
Read moreHuman Rights briefings
Dr Simon Hoffman has produced two additional briefings for the Bevan Foundation (for the first briefing on ‘incorporation’ click here). The new briefings concern: (1) Equality & Well-being; and (2)…
Read moreBASW Human Rights
BASW wishes to commission a report on ‘Social Work Practice in the context of Human Rights’ – if of interest click here for details.
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Welsh Independent Living Grant (WILG): Policy Reversal
Julie Morgan, Deputy Health and Social Services Minister, has announced a major change to the process of winding down the WILG. There will be (with immediate effect) a ‘pause of…
Read moreSocial Care sector costs
The annual Pulse report: 59% of providers handing back contracts to councils: 80% citing low wages as the biggest barrier to recruitment / retention; 32% making a loss – click…
Read more700 days and counting
700 days since the promise to publish a Care Green Paper. For an excellent Age UK briefing click here
Read moreCut to the Bone?
For a report by the Welsh Governance Centre on the impact of austerity economics click here.
Read moreIncorporating Human Rights into Welsh law.
For the first (of three) briefing papers on this issue by Dr Simon Hoffman, Associate Professor at Swansea University click here.
Read more100% taxation rate
Once more the Department of Health has failed to uprate the personal allowances for charging purposes (click here for the announcement). It means that disabled people receiving services are liable…
Read moreTrack the Act – Carers Survey
If you are a carer in Wales please consider contributing to Carers Wales survey – click here for the Welsh language survey– and here for the English language survey.
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Staying in a care home when savings spent
What can be done when a resident, who has self funded their care home runs out of money: having spent their savings on paying for their care home? Although councils…
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Closure of the Welsh Independent Living Grant
A case of Wales following in the footsteps of England? While attention is focused on the countdown to leaving the European Union, one should not lose sight of the impending…
Read moreMental Capacity Law reform
For an independent report by Gillian Loomes for Inclusion London on the views expressed by Disabled People, DPOs and professionals about the proposed changes – click here.
Read moreOff the record
Many Social Security Tribunal hearings are not recorded (none in London) and the Ministry of Justice can’t explain why. Click here to read the story.
Read moreProf. Theresia Degener lecture
For a link to the Caroline Gooding Memorial Lecture 2018 given by Prof. Theresia Degener at the School of Law, Leeds on ‘Inclusive Equality’ click here.
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Can you cope?
It’s a simple question – yes or no? If you are a parent of a disabled child – it is a question, when asked by a social worker, that you…
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Can you cope?
It’s a simple question – yes or no? If you are a parent of a disabled child – it is a question, when asked by a social worker, that you…
Read moreWhy are Social Workers in Wales the Happiest?
An interesting paper that uses a 2015 Guardian survey that found that social workers in Wales to be the ‘happiest’ (87% compared to 79% in the UK overall). Andy Pithouse,…
Read moreVoiceSpaces
Gill Loomes has posted on her website ‘VoiceSpaces’ a fascinating piece reflecting on what the ‘Radical’ or disruptive ‘Voice’ may be for people who lack or lose capacity. It emerges…
Read moreFurther Delay Social Care Green Paper
Details of the proposed reform of social care in England have been delayed until the New Year,. For an update note on this from DRUK click here.
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Action on Disability: The Right to Independent Living
The Welsh Government has published a consultation paper setting out how it intends to fulfil its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: the paper…
Read moreDraft additional learning needs code
The Welsh Government has published the draft code for consultation – for details click here
Read moreState of Caring in Wales
The 2018 report published by Carers Wales on the impact on carers of the failing care system in Wales – click here
Read moreCounting the Costs
An important report published by ‘Contact’ on the additional costs of borne by families with disabled children – click here
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Continuing NHS Healthcare: legal challenge
A briefing note by Julie Burton Law concerning a successful legal challenge to a Local Health Board’s refusal to provide adequate replacement (respite) care for a disabled young adult. The…
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Elaine McDonald
It is reported that Elaine McDonald has died. She was by all accounts an extraordinary person and I hope she is remembered for this and her brilliance as a ballerina. …
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Elaine McDonald
It is reported that Elaine McDonald has died. She was by all accounts an extraordinary person and I hope she is remembered for this and her brilliance as a ballerina. …
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Personal Budgets: the tail and the dog
The law is clear: a disabled or older person’s eligible needs must be met, either by the council arranging the services or by providing a direct payment sufficient to enable…
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The charging regulations and injustice
A guest ‘post’ by Brian Collinge, a former local authority Chief Executive and father of a son who has severe learning disabilities. Brian identifies a major injustice experienced by disabled…
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Continence supplies from NHS Wales
The Welsh Government is to be congratulated in terms of putting their hands up and amending key guidance concerning continence supplies. In its recently released circular WG Guidance for the…
Read moreDisability support cuts in Wales
To access the BBC story concerning the impact of the WILG Closure click here.
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Is Britain Fairer? No.
Disabled people … are finding themselves increasingly excluded from mainstream society, starting in education and continuing later in life. …. . Disabled people are more likely to be in poverty,…
Read moreIs Wales Fairer?
“Unless these inequalities are addressed now, the disadvantage that too many people in Wales face could become entrenched for generations to come.” To access the Equality and Human Rights Report…
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