Editorial
Government is frequently heard to be saying that
money is ‘tight’ and that it, through the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, is trying, wherever possible, to save cash.
Something I applaud.
How many times have we heard from the lips of a
succession of Secretaries of State for Health:
1.that never has so much money been spent on NHS;
2.never before has any Government invested so much
more ‘new’ money in the NHS;
3.how hard they have worked to control costs;
4.how soon they will bring the NHS budget back into
balance;
5. how the Department of Health will penalise NHS
Trusts who fail to balance their budget; etc. etc. etc.
Imagine then my despondency when I read, as we all
did, last week that my money, and yours, was
needlessly and wantonly wasted.
It came to light that, in the last few months of the last
financial year, those in charge of the NHS budget
became concerned that the NHS budget would be
under spent by a very considerable margin, some £1.8
billion, in the event it seems to have been nearer
£3bn. See item 103.
Was that cause for back-slapping and congratulations?
Was it heck!
The word went out the senior managers better spend
the money and spend it fast. What was wanted was an
NHS budget in balance not significantly under
spent. No; that would never do! This is a perverse approach.
A report is due shortly from the Public Account s
Committee. I await, with interest, their take on the
debacle.
This week’s article
This week we bring you the report ‘Nothing for Services; Nothing for Quality’ researched, written and published by the English Community Care Association which looks at the issue of the conduct of local authority commissioners in relation to fees; particularly those authorities which have not provided any increase in care fees over what was paid in 2006/07.
To read the full report, click here
Parliament
05.06.08 – HoL - Lord Ashley of Stoke to call
attention to the 30th anniversary of disability rights
legislation covering the whole of the United Kingdom
and the progress of disability rights; and to move for
papers.
Next
Abuse
1. £97,000 payout for ‘vulnerable’ couple tortured
by an evil gang
31 May 2001—Daily Mail
A couple, Mr X and Mrs Y, with learning disabilities
living in the community were befriended by teenagers
who later effectively imprisoned the couple, and
two daughters of Mrs Y from a previous relationship,
subjecting them to a “degrading, disgusting and
wicked” assault and other humiliations won a landmark
case against the London Borough of Hounslow
for failing to re-house the family following their requests.
The lawyers for the couple successfully argued
Hounslow owed them a duty of care to protect vulnerable
adults from abuse.
Hounslow has been given permission to appeal.
2. Charities seek views on creating elder
abuse survivors network
30 May 2008
Action on Elder Abuse/Age Concern launch
survivors network debate
30 May 2008 – Community Care
Action on Elder Abuse and Age Concern are consulting
on the establishment of a ‘survivors network’.
Gary Fitzgerald, CEO of Action on Elder Abuse said
“providing a voice for survivors could not be more
timely or warranted in view of government initiatives,
such as the review of ‘No Secrets’ and the dignity in
care campaign.” The proposals come from work undertaken
as a result of grants from Comic Relief.
Action on Elder Abuse and Age Concern England
Launch Consultation on Survivors Network for
Victims of Abuse
Action on Elder Abuse, the only charity in the UK
dealing exclusively with the abuse of older people
and Age Concern England have today launched a
consultation on proposals to launch a Survivors Network
for victims of Elder Abuse.
The consultation is part of a Comic Relief funded project
looking at the possibilities of developing a survivor
lead network for the victims of elder abuse and
their families.
This follows a year of research work talking to older
people and professionals about what a Survivors Network
should look like.
Commenting on the consultation Gary Fitzgerald
Chief Executive of AEA said “We are delighted to
launch the Consultation document. So far we have
attempted to understand abuse through definitions
and categories, quantify it through prevalence studies
and intervene through guidance, polices and procedures.
As useful as these are, what has been missing
has been the voice of victims and their families” Fitzgerald
continues “ this comes at a time when Government
has announced a National Dignity Tour, a new
prevalence study into abuse, neglect and loss of dignity
in institutional settings as well as a review of the
No Secrets guidance. Providing a voice for victims of
abuse could not be more timely or warranted. We
applaud Comic Relief for funding such innovative and
difficult work.”
Gordon Lishman Director General of Age Concern
England said “Abuse of older people takes a range of
forms from the insidious to the horrifying. Anyone who
is the victim of abuse is entitled to protection, but after
the abuse has stopped they are also likely to need
help and support to repair the damage and rebuild
their lives. It is hard to find evidence of any type of
continuing support for older people who have survived
abuse. This trailblazing project is an ambitious
and innovative attempt to fill this gap.
Rachael Kenny Project Consultant comments “This is
a difficult and complex area of work. However older
people have given a clear steer of how they would
like to see a Survivors Network develop. It is against
these standards that our work will be judged. I urge
everyone to get a copy of the consultation paper and
contribute as comprehensively as possible”
For CC report click here
3. Care home death: 'Nobody should die in
such a terrible, cruel way'
25 May 2008 – Telegraph
An article discussing the current social care system
and abuse of vulnerable adults.
For full report go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/
uknews/2021892/Nobody-should-die-in-such-a-terrible,-cruelway.
html
4. Government responds to second ISA consultation
30 May 2008 - COI
The Government today published its formal response
to the recent consultation on the Independent Safeguarding
Authority scheme for vetting and barring
those who wish to work, either paid or unpaid, with
children or vulnerable adults. The response document
sets out the Government's evaluation of stakeholders'
responses to the consultation and next
steps. :
Under 16s in the workplace
Where young people under 16 work, the adults who
teach, train or instruct them in the workplace will not
be required to register with the ISA scheme. But it
will be an offence for a barred adult to do this work,
or for an employer knowingly to use a barred person
for this work.
This means that managers of newsagents and other
shops will not have to register before they can employ
newspaper delivery boys and girls or under 16s
in Saturday jobs.
Those who train or supervise employees who are
under 16 will be able to register with the ISA scheme
and their employers will be able to check them if they
wish. These decisions to register and to check
should be taken in the light of the circumstances and
a commonsense assessment of risk. This is how the
arrangements work at present, whereby employers
check their employees who are supervising fellow
employees who are under 16.
Work experience organisers will want - as they do
now - to agree appropriate safeguarding measures
with the employer which may include ISA checks. It
is essential that young people in these placements
are safe, including those who are working towards
the new Diplomas.
Teaching 16 and 17 year olds in mixed age settings
in higher education, sport and leisure
Those who teach, train or instruct 16 and 17 year
olds in mixed age settings in higher education and
sport and leisure will not have to register with the ISA
scheme.
However, Ministers have decided in response to the
consultation that barred people who work with 16 and
17 year olds in these mixed age settings will commit
an offence, as will employers who knowingly allow
them to do so. This is a tightening of the policy as set
out in the consultation document. .
Definition of a vulnerable adult
We confirm the consultation proposal that vulnerable
adults who need the protection of the scheme should
not include those suffering from dyslexia and, in response
to the consultation, will extend this exemption
to related conditions such as dyscalculia and
dyspraxia.
Referrals
Employers will be required to refer to the ISA any
employees whom they dismiss or would have dismissed
on the grounds that they have harmed or
pose a risk of harm to the vulnerable groups. This is
a significant strengthening of safeguarding as the
requirement to refer will cover all regulated activity
with children or vulnerable adults rather than just education,
children's social care, childcare and adults'
social care.
ISA consideration: notification of employer
In response to the consultation, Govt has concluded
that, when the ISA is considering whether to bar
someone, it must proactively inform any employer
whom the ISA knows has an interest in the employee
and who may be unaware that that employee is under
consideration. This will happen at the point when the
ISA thinks the employer should be aware of a potential
risk of harm to the vulnerable groups. However,
before informing the employer, the ISA must be satisfied
that the referral is not clearly unfounded or malicious,
and also that it is not trivial but is serious
enough to warrant consideration for barring.
The new policy balances the need to safeguard the
vulnerable groups from risk of harm with the right of
the employee to be treated fairly. The information provided
by the ISA will enable the employer to put in
place any appropriate extra safeguards until a decision
to bar or not to bar is taken.
Background
The new Independent Safeguarding Authority will
take consistent expert decisions as to who should be
included in the new lists of people who will be barred
from working with children and/or vulnerable adults.
The system was legislated for in the Safeguarding
Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act:
- Those who are judged to pose a risk to children or
vulnerable adults will be prevented, at the earliest
opportunity, from getting access to them via paid or
unpaid work.
- there will be tough penalties for those employers
who fail in their responsibility to carry out the necessary
checks or recruit people who are not members of
the scheme - including fines of up to £5,000;
- it will be a criminal offence for a barred individual to
even seek a job in regulated activity working in close
contact with children or vulnerable adults;
- employers and parents will be able to make an online
check that a prospective employee is a member
of the scheme and thus not barred;
- scheme members' status will be reviewed when
new information becomes available and employers
who have registered an interest will be notified when
an individual ceases to be a member of the scheme.
These are the same employees that will be notified
by the ISA when an employee is under consideration
for barring.
- a person will not be removed from a barred list
unless he can convince the ISA that he no longer
poses a risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults.
An individual does not have a right to a review, but
may apply for permission to apply for a review at the
end of the Minimum No-Review period.
The response is available from http://
www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations
The ISA scheme will go live in October 2009. People
who work in, or volunteer to carry out, regulated activity
with the vulnerable groups will be required to
register with the scheme. Employers will be able to
register their interest in being notified of any change
in their workers' status in the scheme.
5. New Adult Protection Policy from Wakefield
29 May 2008
The policy is available on the web at - http://
www. w a k e f i e l d . g o v . u k / H e a l t hAn dSo c i a l C a r e /
AdultsAndOlderPeople/SafeguardingAdults/Policy/default.htm
6. Top cop in Jersey child abuse inquiry
slams critics
27 May 2008 - Belfast Telegraph
The Northern Ireland police officer, Lenny Harper,
who heads the investigation into horrific child abuse
in a Jersey care home has said that of his critics that
he will not let them damage the highly sensitive inquiry.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph Mr Harper said he
is becoming increasingly frustrated with the "small"
number of people who, he says, are intent on discrediting
him, his officers and the investigation into
alleged physical and sexual abuse of more than 100
children in the former care home, Haut de La Garenne.
7. New proposals will make all obscene images
of children illegal
27 May 2008 - UKPolicing.info
All images of child sexual abuse, including drawings
and computer-generated images of child abuse, will
be made illegal. Offenders holding such images will
face criminal charges and up to three years in prison
under new proposals announced by Justice Minister
Maria Eagle.
8. ‘We all have a role to play protecting the
vulnerable’
26 May 2008 - icWales from Western Mail
As with anything, the first step towards tackling a
problem is to recognise that the problem exists. Like
child abuse, or domestic abuse, it is only when we
face up to the realities that we can do something
about it.
In recent years there has been a growing awareness
and better understanding of the abuse of older and
vulnerable people, although it should be acknowledged
that systematic and structured approaches
across Wales to address this are still at a relatively
early stage of development when compared to the
arrangements that exist for child abuse.
All too often older people and their families may not
be fully aware of arrangements that exist to protect
vulnerable adults and of the help and support that can
be available.
The Welsh Assembly Government is taking steps to
address this. Most recently I gave funding to a consortium
led by Learning Disability Wales to produce a
DVD on the protection of vulnerable adults, which is
aimed at adults, including older people, with learning
disability themselves; said Deputy Minister for Social
Services, Gwenda Thomas.
9. Panorama covers the filming of a new
SWGfL internet safety film
27 May 2008 - COI
The airing of the BBC's 'Panorama' programme 'One
Click from Capture' on, 26 May, 2008 (referred to in
BHCR Vol 3—Issue 20, item 2) highlighted the risks
and issues associated with some of the new internet
technologies. The programme also caught up with
Ellie and Olivia, who had been targeted by an online
predator. The pair were shown contributing to one of
five new special films being created by SWGfL as
part its programme to reach all South West parents.
South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) is currently
pursuing an objective to offer an opportunity to every
parent across the South West to attend an annual e
safety parents' evening. This involves the regional
Local Authorities and Police Forces jointly presenting
the risks and issues, alongside critical advice and
guidance for parents. Around 200 sessions are now
being delivered at South West schools that will bring
these vital messages to every neighbourhood.
SWGfL, the Local Authorities and Police Forces together,
aim to change the e safety landscape for the
benefit of our 750,000 children and beyond.
The risks and issues highlighted by 'Panorama' apply
as much to the South West region as they do to the
rest of the country. SWGfL has concluded through its
research and surveys that as a region:
* 20.3% of South West parents state their children
have access to the Internet in their Bedroom. In contrast
39.3% of South West Children (Y6-9) in a recent
poll state they can access the internet in the
bedroom.
* 32.0% of parents have never had a conversation
with their children about how their children should the
Internet
* 81% of South West Secondary schools have experienced
an issue related to their students conduct
on Social Networking Sites. Of these, over 60% relate
to Cyber bullying incidents, where as 19% were
related to inappropriate contact.
These are a sample of statistics that have been collected
from an array of research programmes conducted
by South West Grid for Learning. SWGfL recognises
its responsibility to help protect all its users
whilst online, most notably the 750,000 children in the
region, as a primary role. In its effort to reduce the
risks associated with the Internet and provide supporting
processes, SWGfL has established commanding
and award winning partnerships with multiple
agencies including our 5 regional Police Forces,
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
http://www.ceop.gov.uk
10. Care home death: 'Nobody should die in
such a terrible, cruel way'
25 May 2008 – Telegraph
An article discussing the current social care system
and abuse of vulnerable adults.
For full report go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/
uknews/2021892/Nobody-should-die-in-such-a-terrible,-cruelway.
html
Business News
11. RBS Appoints Director of Healthcare,
London Commercial Banking
30 May 2008
The Royal Bank of Scotland (“RBS”) has appointed
Jeremy Huband as Director Healthcare, London
Commercial Banking.
Jeremy has responsibility for Healthcare within the
new expanded London Territory which encompasses
all areas within the M25 – the London Healthcare
team has also doubled in size with further significant
investment imminent.
Jeremy has been with the Bank for 23 years, joining
on the graduate scheme, and has been working on
healthcare deals since 1996. As well as years of experience
in structuring funding packages for businesses
and providers within the sector, Jeremy also
has firsthand experience of owning a care home as
he used to own a home in Norfolk. This gave him
valuable insight into the everyday issues and challenges
facing care home owners.
Ian Kay, Managing Director, London Commercial
Banking, RBS, said:
“Jeremy has a strong reputation in the industry and
I’m delighted that he will lead and grow our presence
in the Healthcare sector across London. His experience
and sector know-how will be of great value to
our customers – both existing and new – whether
they are looking to fund care homes, expansions or
new developments. As an integral part of Commercial
Banking, Jeremy and his team will work with businesses
with trading turnover of between £1m and
£25m.”
Jeremy Huband added:
“The care industry is thriving and an aging population,
rising fees and buoyant occupancy levels make this a
sector which can offer great opportunities for care
providers. My team has a wealth of experience in the
sector and I’m looking forward to continuing the success
we’ve had in the City and the expanded London
area.”
12. Nothing for Services; Nothing for Quality
28 May 2008
The English Community Care Association has
launched a report on care funding and called for local
authorities and other commissioners to behave fairly
and give care providers inflation rate increases so
that they can continue to provide quality care.
At a time when the Government is talking about personalisation
and improved quality, local commissioners
are starving services of the resources they require
to make this policy a reality.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“Many local authorities have behaved in a shameful
and totally unacceptable way. They have abused
their power as commissioners and bullied providers
with a ‘take it or leave it’ approach to fee negotiations.
Many commissioners have used as their excuse
lack of money, but at the same time that they
have been giving nil or below inflation rate increases
to the people who provide the services, they have
found money to pay their own staff salary increases
and also to put in money to their pension funds”.
Martin Green continued:
“These commissioners are putting systems before
services and acting in a way which is totally contrary
to all the rhetoric in glossy documents and policy
statements. It is time that the Government and the
regulator called these authorities to account and
made them prioritise services over systems”.
To read the ECCA Report ‘Nothing for Services;
Nothing for Quality’ go to this week’s article on page
23.
13. Raising finances for business and
groups
June 08 - Care Management Matters
Article by Christopher Axford of Druces LLP about
some of the common methods of raising finances for
business.
14. Managing the Media: Successfully Navigating
the Waters of Public Relations
June 08 - Care Management Matters
Irving Stackpole and Elizabeth Ziemba of Stackpole
Associates in the third in a series looking at how to
work with media, with a number of handy hints.
15. Who’s making the decisions in your
home?
June 08 - Care Management Matters
MyHome Life sets out the principles behind engaging
in shared decision-making and the benefits and improved
quality of live for service users which can flow
from putting the principles into effect.
Care Homes
16. Medication malfunction?
June 08 - Care Management Matters
Les Bright takes a look at the issue of the inappropriate
use of anti-psychotic medication to manage the
behaviour of people with dementia which recently hit
the headlines again following publication of ‘Keep
Taking the Medicine 4’ by Paul Burstow MP.
Case Reports
Law Reports
17. R (G) v Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust
R (N) v Secretary of State for Health
R (B) v Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust
These three cases came before the High Court by
way of judicial review – each concerned the ban on
smoking, a ban which does not become effective for
the private rooms of patients at Rampton Hospital
until 01.07.08.
High security patients brought their claim on the basis
that Government Ministers had made statements that
the smoking ban was not intended to prevent people
smoking in their own homes; that the average stay of
a patient was eight years and it was correct to view
the rooms as their home.
The court held that smoking is not a human right protected
by the law.
18. SB v X County Council
Court of Appeal held that in a contentious adoption
case, where the court was dispensing with parental
consent, the question of contact with the natural family
was for the court to resolve, not for the local authority.
19. Walton Centre for Neurology v Bewley
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has held
(overturning previous case law) that a woman's successor
in a job cannot be used as a comparator
for the purposes of an equal pay claim, either under
the Equal Pay Act 1970 or Article 141 of the EC
Treaty.
Elias P. accepted the Appellant's submission that the
1970 Act does not permit a comparison with a
woman's successor because the statute envisages a
specific person contemporaneously employed with
whom a comparison can be made.
However, this was not determinative of the appeal
because it was necessary to consider whether the Act
should be read in accordance with EU law.
Having examined the case-law at some length, the
EAT decided that comparison with a successor is not
permitted under EU law either. The logic behind
comparison with a successor was the same as that
behind allowing a hypothetical comparator; in essence,
it is an exercise in speculation as to what
would have happened if they had been employed
contemporaneously. This is not consistent with the
structure of the Equal Pay legislation, which requires
comparison with an actual comparator and not a hypothetical
comparator.
We are grateful to specialist barrister Daniel Barnett
for this. www.danielbarnett.co.uk
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
20. £97,000 payout for ‘vulnerable’ couple
tortured by an evil gang
31 May 2001—Daily Mail
For full report see Abuse—item 1
Children
21. Too middle-class, too white to adopt
1 June 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
An executive editor of BBC’s Question Time and his
wife who runs a business tried to adopt for seven
years, they didn’t mind about ethnicity. However,
over two pages they tell of their battle with political
correctness – they have managed to adopt and
sought help from their MP, Glenda Jackson, who is
said not to have bothered to reply.
There is also a comment from the editor under the
heading ‘Zealots who stop children finding love’.
22. Army of amateurs rides to the rescue of
vulnerable families
31 May 2008 - The Times
Volunteers without experience of social work have
been used in two three year trials to help families of
children who are on the ‘at risk’ register.
It is said to be a great success with 33 volunteers
helping 102 children and 43 parents.
Ed. Of course it saves a stonking great fortune –
the meetings which occur when a child goes onto
the ‘at risk’ register are reckoned to cost £40,000
each. Last year 33,000 children were placed on
the register costing £1.3bn. However, if it works,
and it does seem to, I hope that it is replicated
widely.
23. How a retired insurance broker helped a
single mother to turn her life around
31 May 2008 - The Times
Item about John Cliff, one of the volunteers for the
child protection pilot scheme and Kim, whose six children
were due to be taken into care, and how they
worked together to keep Kim and her children as a
family unit.
24. Social workers’ failings ‘put children at
risk’
28 May 2008 - The Times
A report from Ofsted, seen by The Times, discloses
that a backlog of cases leaves children at risk of
abuse.
25. Victoria Climbié Foundation Conference:
Speech by Kevin Brennan
28 May 2008 – Dept for Children, Schools & Families
A transcript of the speech by Children's Minister
Kevin Brennan at the Victoria Climbié Foundation
conference on 28 May 2008 where he talks about a
programme of reforms that has created a much
stronger framework for safeguarding children.
For full report go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/speeches/
search_detail.cfm?ID=793
Conferences & Courses
26. The HealthInvestor Annual Investing in
Healthcare Conference: “Investment Opportunities
in the UK and Overseas Markets”
will take place on 11th June 2008 at One Great
George Street, Westminster, London.
This event offers a clearer understanding of the future
direction of the domestic market and an overview of
the substantial differences and common trends applicable
to the UK, US and European market. Industry
insiders will identify how developments in the US and
Europe and Eastern markets will provide UK investors
with new avenues for innovation and exciting opportunities
for revenue growth and profitability.
Delegates attending will have the opportunity to:
• Identify new markets overseas and analyse key
trends
• Assess rapidly changing demographic need and
to match healthcare services accordingly
• Strengthen their competitive advantage through
comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of the overseas
markets.
• Identify the best prospects for 2008-2009
• Understand how to navigate the obstacles to
high performance
Network with potential future partners
Visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk for further
information and to book your place at this
conference. Alternatively, call 0207 451 7061
or email lukas.hall@healthinvestor.co.uk or
carolyn.spring@healthinvestor.co.uk
27. Tackling the Social Exclusion of Older
People
Tuesday 17th June 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on this
popular event, which is CPD Certified, supported by
Age Concern, The Age and Employment Network
and Help the Aged, and includes a keynote
address from Mike O’Brien QC MP, Minister of State
for Work and Pensions, Department for Work and
Pensions. I would be grateful if you could find the
time to read this and also forward it on to colleagues
to whom it may be relevant, especially those involved
with Adult Social Services, Social Inclusion, Older
People’s Teams and Independent Living Managers,
so that all stakeholders are given the opportunity
to attend this important event.
Please click here for further details of this conference.
If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk and
I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Chaired by Gillian Crosby, Director, Centre for Policy
on Ageing, our expert speakers include:
Ruth Eley, National Programme Lead, Older and
Disabled People, CSIP, Department of Health
Patrick South, Head of Public Affairs, Age Concern
Jacqui Hitchen, Senior Lecturer, Edge Hill University
Angela Whelan, Senior Lecturer, Edge Hill University
Paul McGarry, Principal Programme Manager, Valuing
Older People, Manchester City Council
Chris Ball, Chief Executive, The Age and Employment
Network
Paul Cann, Director of Policy and External Relations,
Help the Aged
Sylvia Brims, Housing for Older People Services
Manager, SLFHA Ltd
Jon Allen, Independent Living Facilitator, Cambridge
City Council
We offer discounts for Block Bookings of 3 delegates
or more, please call me direct on 0207 808
5309 for more details.
THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU
MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.
28. A New Strategy for Children’s Health:
Prevention, Intervention and Support
Thursday 19th June 2008 in Westminster.
In December, at the launch of the Government’s latest
long term plan for children, the Department for
Health and Department for Children, Schools and
Families announced they would jointly publish the
first ever Child Health Strategy (due to be produced
this Spring). Delegates at this Westminster Briefing
conference will consider the details contained within
the Strategy as well as the future direction of children’s
healthcare provision, funding and delivery.
Should you/your colleagues wish to attend, please
complete and return (by email or fax) the enclosed
reservation form at your earliest convenience in order
to secure your delegate place(s). I would also be
grateful if you could forward the details of this event
to relevant colleagues within your organisation. If you
require further information, have any questions, or are
interested in sponsorship or exhibition opportunities
please do not hesitate to contact me.
Nick Rotsides
T: 020 7096 2916
F: 020 7096 2946
E: nick.rotsides@westminster-briefing.com
Website: http://www.westminster-briefing.co.uk/
home.html
29. CSCI national conference
The Commission for Social Care Inspection is
holding its third national conference on Wednesday
25 June 2008 at the QEII Conference Centre,
London.
For more details click here
30. Delivering Quality Care
26 June 2008
One-day case study led conference at Hyatt Regency,
Birmingham offering insight from policy advisors,
CSCI and providers.
Cost £349 plus VAT, discounts for those who register
places before 30.05.08 and multiple bookings of three
or more.
31. The Local Government and Public Involvement
in Health Act: Delivering Localised
Health and Social Care
Thursday, 26th June 2008 to be held in Westminster.
Our confirmed speakers include:
• Trevor Hopkins, Principal Consultant – Healthy
Communities Team, Improvement and Development
Agency (IDeA);
• Tim Gilling, Health Scrutiny Programme Manager,
Centre for Public Scrutiny;
• Jenny Singleton, Head of Patient and Public
Involvement and Equalities, Islington PCT; and
Elizabeth Manero, Director, Health Link
We are delighted that Cllr Barrie Taylor, Scrutiny
Commission & Health Scrutiny Chair, Westminster
Council will be chairing this Briefing.
Should you/your colleagues wish to attend, please
complete and return (by email or fax) the reservation
form at your earliest convenience in order to secure
your delegate place(s).
For more details click here
32. Westminster eForum keynote seminar
Personal Data in the Information Age
Morning, 3rd July 2008, Westminster, SW1
This seminar is supported by Information Commissioner’s
Office
Live Agenda | Our Website | Book Online
Speakers
We are delighted that David Smith, Deputy Information
Commissioner, Information Commissioner’s Office,
will be delivering a keynote address at this seminar.
Other confirmed speakers currently include: Anna
Fielder, Senior Policy Advisor, National Consumer
Council Hazel Grant, Partner, International Privacy
and Data Protection Group, Bird & Bird; Marlene
Winfield, National Patient Lead, Connecting for
Health; Phillip Webb, Chair, Government Relations
Group, British Computer Society; and Katy Worobec,
Head of Fraud Control, APACS.
The Earl of Erroll, Secretary, All Party Parliamentary
Group for Communications has kindly agreed to chair
part this seminar. Further senior speakers are being
approached.
All delegates will receive free PDF copies and are
invited to contribute to the content.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Personal Data in the Information
Age (including refreshments and PDF copy of the
transcripts) are £190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
For those who cannot attend:
Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts
of all speeches and the question and comment
sessions and further articles from interested parties,
will be available approximately 7 days after the event
for £95 plus VAT (£111.63);
Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT.
33. Action on Elder Abuse
Achieving Justice - Supporting Victims
7th July 2008
Ort House Conference Centre, London
Action on Elder Abuse is running a major conference
on abuse, criminal justice and supporting victims in
London in early July. As policy makers and practitioners
increasingly locate their work within a criminal
justice context, this conference poses the questions:
• How do we ensure justice for victims of abuse?
• Can we put victims of abuse at the centre of the
criminal justice system?
• How do we support victims of these crimes effectively?
• Do we need greater clarity of roles and responsibilities
within this work?
With a keynote speech by Deputy Chief Constable
Richard Crompton ACPO lead on vulnerable adults
and Vulnerable and intimidated victims
Speakers have been invited from a number of organisations
including:
Crown Prosecution Service
Victim Support
MIND
The Metropolitan Police Service
£126 + VAT for members
£140 + VAT for non-members
Discussing the often complicated relationship between
abuse, safeguarding systems, policies and
procedures and the criminal justice system: This conference
is a must for professionals working with older
people, safeguarding staff and staff from criminal
justice agencies.
A full, detailed programme and booking form will be
available shortly, but to register your interest and
request a booking form, please contact Daisy Goodstien
on daisygoodstien@elderabuse.org.uk or call
us on 0208 765 7000.
If you have any queries please contact us on 0208
765 7000.
Registration will open at 10.00am, coffee will be
available
34. “Implementing the Independent Living
Strategy: Delivering Choice and Control for
Disabled People” Westminster Briefing hosted
by The House Magazine on Wednesday, 9th July
2008 held in Westminster.
The recently launched cross-governmental Independent
Living strategy underlines the Government’s commitment
to supporting disabled people. It aims to provide
more choice and control over how their needs
will be met as well as putting in place measures to
tackle barriers in accessing health, housing, transport,
and employment opportunities. It is designed to
make a real and measurable impact on the lives of
disabled people with a commitment to monitor its impact,
year-on-year, in partnership with disabled people.
Should you/your colleagues wish to attend, please
complete and return (by email or fax) the enclosed
reservation form at your earliest convenience in order
to secure your delegate place(s). I would also be
grateful if you could forward the details of this event
12.10 Daniel Blake, Policy Development Manager,
Action on Elder Abuse
12.40 Anna Bird, Mind
13.15 Lunch
14.15 Panel Discussion
Participants to be confirmed.
15.15 Rachel Griffin, Victim Support
15.45 PC Gordon Holmes, Operation Stirling,
Metropolitan Police Service
16.15 Chairs Closing Remarks
16.30 END
to relevant colleagues within your organisation. If you
require further information, have any questions, or are
interested in sponsorship or exhibition opportunities
please do not hesitate to contact me.
T: 020 7096 2916
F: 020 7096 2946
E: nick.rotsides@westminster-briefing.com
35. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Mental Health - New Horizons: after the National
Service Framework
Morning, 17th July 2008, Westminster SW1
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
This seminar will examine issues around the provision
and quality of mental health services, following
on from the National Service Framework (NSF) - and
as the Darzi Review of the NHS is published.
We are delighted that Professor Louis Appleby, National
Director for Mental Health, Department of
Health, and Kathryn Tyson, Programme Director for
Mental Health, Department of Health, will both be giving
keynote addresses at this seminar.
Dr Jo Smith, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and
Joint National Early Intervention Lead, NIMHE will
also be speaking. Further speakers are expected to
be confirmed shortly.
Output
All delegates will receive free PDF copies and are
invited to contribute to the content.
10.00 Registration opens and welcome coffee
available
10.45 Welcome and introduction - Keith Lewin,
Chair, Brunswicks LLP
11.00 Keynote Address – Deputy Chief Constable
Richard Crompton, ACPO, Lead on
vulnerable adults, and vulnerable and
intimidated victims.
11.35 Dru Sharpling, Chief Crown Prosecutor
of London, Crown Prosecution Service
© Brunswicks LLP 2008 http://www.brunswickslaw.eu Page 12
35. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Mental Health - New Horizons: after the National
Service Framework (continued…)
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible
please let me know and we may be able to make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Mental Health – New Horizons: after the
National Service Framework (including refreshments
and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus VAT
(£223.25);
36. 17th International Congress on Palliative
Care
23-26 September 2008 at the Palais des Congrès
in Montréal, Canada.
Presented by the Palliative Care Division of the Departments
of Medicine and Oncology of McGill University,
this biennial Congress has grown to become
one of the premier international events in palliative
care. Healthcare professionals, therapists, volunteers
and all those involved in care for the dying
come to renew themselves as providers of care and
to obtain the inspiration that will help them shape the
palliative care of the future. Since the first Congress
in 1976 under the leadership of palliative care pioneer
Dr. Balfour Mount, there has been increasing
agreement in the field that palliative care should be
provided from diagnosis, hence the shift to “Palliative
Care” from “Care of the Terminally Ill” in the title of
the 2008 Congress.
Poster abstracts may be submitted until May 28,
2008.
The early registration deadline is March 24,
2008. For more information, to register or to submit
an abstract, please visit www.pal2008.com or call
450-292-3456 ext. 227.
April O’Donoughue
Tel: +1 (450) 292-3456, ext. 227
Fax: +1 (450) 292-3453
E-mail: info@pal2008.com
Web : www.pal2008.com
37. Delivering effective end-of-life care: developing
partnership working
Wednesday 15 October 2008, 9.30am–4.00pm,
London
Recognition of the need for good-quality end-of-life
care has been steadily increasing, with the release of
the government's End of Life Care Strategy being
imminent. Much pioneering work has been done by a
wide range of organisations across health and social
care. There is now a move towards effective commissioning
and co-ordination of this care, in order to enable
greater choice for those at the end of their life.
Produced in partnership between the King's Fund
and Marie Curie Cancer Care, this one-day conference
will look at how best to deliver end-of-life care.
Key speakers
Professor Mike Richards CBE, Chair, End of Life
Strategy Advisory Board and National Clinical Director
for Cancer
Dr James Beattie, National Clinical Lead, NHS Heart
Improvement Programme and Consultant Cardiologist,
Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Places at this event are limited so we recommend
that you reserve a place as soon as possible by
downloading a registration form from our website or
booking online. For further information and to
download the full programme, please visit our website
or email us and we will be happy to provide you with
more details.
38. Mind the Gap! ECCA Conference, November
12, 2008. Book now and save £50!
Book now for our conference on the future of care at
the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, London WC1. Email
conference@ecca.org.uk , call 08450 577 677, or visit
www.ecca.org.uk.
Consultations
To follow next week
CSCI, CSSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
39. Care of young 'needs improvement'
28 May 2008 – BBC News
Care services for young people need to improve
28 May 2008 – SCC
The Care Commission has issued a report which recommends
improvements in over half of Scotland’s
residential care services.
The Commission said there were many examples of
good practice, but improvements were needed in
training and assessment procedures.
For full report click here
For SCC report click here
40. Placing a relative in care conference
28 May 2008 – CSCI
A free conference was held in Manchester today by
the CSCI to give information needed to assist a relative
make the decision to reside in a care home.
For full report click here
41. Complaints in the charity sector
26 May 2008 – SCC
The Scottish Consumer Council has reported that
organisations regulated by the Care Commission are
more likely to provide complaint information for consumers
(95.7% compared to 60%).
For full report click here
Find the full report at http://www.scotconsumer.org.uk/
publications/reports/reports08/rp05compfull.pdf
42. Star ratings published
June 08 - Care Management Matters
Des Kelly, OBE, comments on the launch of the new
CSCI ratings and draws attention to the comments of
The Relatives & Residents Association which says
the new system seems to be more about reducing
the number of inspections rather than safeguarding
residents.
43. New: PRM reports online
Read annual performance reports on corporate
providers
Our provider relationship manager (PRM) reports
provide an
Find a PRM report online
Ed. Unless the corporate providers have agreed
to the publication of these reports it may be that,
even though the information is almost a full 12
months out of date, there will be challenges.
CSCI is authorised to inspect care homes and
must provide reports on what they find; to use
the words of the Care Standards Act 2000,
[CSCI]... shall prepare a report on the matters inspected
and shall without delay send a copy of
the report to each person who is registered... It
seems to me that, unless there has been an
amendment to legislation that I have missed –
and lets face it, we are being bombarded with
continual change, it is hard sometimes to keep
abreast of them all – there is no power for CSCI to
publish this material in the way that it has.
Something which has the potential to affect values
and share prices!
Education
Nothing to report
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
44. Dentists' pay agreement
30 May 2008 – BBC News
A new deal has been struck to financially award dental
practices treating large numbers of NHS patients.
The agreement reached that will provide financial recognition
to a number of dental practices that do not
meet the full 'NHS Commitment' criteria but still treat
significant numbers of NHS patients.
For full report click here
45. Ambulance Chiefs Stand Down In Row
Over Bullying
30 May 2008 – The Herald
Two top managers at the Scottish Ambulance Service
yesterday announced they are standing down as an
investigation was launched into claims of harassment
and bullying.
Chief executive Kevin Doran and operations director
Grace Kennedy, who joined the service within weeks
of each other at the end of last year, have said they
are taking leave of absence while the probe is carried
out.
For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/
display.var.2306975.0.0.php?utag=28804
46. Hidden waiting lists 'abolished'
27 May 2008 – BBC News
The Scottish Government has announced that waiting
times are down and so-called “hidden” waiting lists
have been abolished.
The statistics were revealed by Health Secretary Nicola
Sturgeon during a visit to Monklands Hospital in
Airdrie as she announced that all waiting time targets
had now been effectively met.
But Labour and the Liberal Democrats said thousands
of patients had been completely removed from
waiting lists and just referred back to their GPs.
For full report click here
47. Bed blocking stats down to 'zero'
27 May 2008 – BBC News
Figures from the Scottish Government showed April
figures for Fife’s severe hospital delays for discharge
has been cut to zero. Only patients with “complex
needs” ended up waiting over six weeks to leave
hospital.
Fears were raised In January that delays to securing
home-care packages from Fife Council would lead to
an increase in bed-blocking.
For full report click here
48. Waiting time target 'will be met'
27 May 2008 – BBC News
NHS Highland has announced that it is currently on
course to meet a new Government target to reduce
waiting times for consultant appointments to 15
weeks.
According to new figures, the health authority said
that over 94% of in-patients seen in the first quarter
of this year had waited 15 weeks or under. More than
87% of outpatients had also been seen within 15
weeks.
For full report click here
49. Call for debate on NHS donations
26 May 2008 – BBC News
A Scottish MP is urging for guidelines on commercial
sector donations of health equipment to be clarified
after concerns were expressed to the possible formation
of a two-tier NHS.
The call came after a gift of one of the world’s best
CT scanners by the Royal Bank of Scotland to Edinburgh.
RBS staff will have access to the machine for
25% of the time at NHS Lothian.
For full report click here
Wales
Nothing to report
Learning Disabilities
50. The Great Autism Rip-Off
1 June 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
Special investigation report by Barney Calman focussing
on Blackpool mum Jacqui Jackson whose life
and six children, four of whom suffer from autism,
was the inspiration for the 2003 BBC documentary
‘My family and Autism’ which also became a film –
‘Magnificent 7’ tells of the lengths parents will go to in
order to try to get their children cured.
The investigation goes on to consider the approach of
doctors and others offering cures – both in the USA
and UK – and the crippling cost and no guarantee of
a successful outcome.
Mr Calman wonders how these people will be affected
by the new law protecting the public against
‘rogue traders’ which prohibits a business from making
a false claim that a product can cure illness.
51. Mental Capacity Act
June 08—Care Management Matters
Research by the Mental Health Foundation and the
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities suggests
staff are confused about mental capacity issues
– 98% said they needed more training.
52. £97,000 payout for ‘vulnerable’ couple
tortured by an evil gang
31 May 2001—Daily Mail
For full report see Abuse—item 1
Legislation Update
53. No. 1334 (C.60)The Health and Social
Care (Community Health and Standards) Act
2003 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
54. No. 1335 The Disability Discrimination
Code of Practice (Trade Organisations, Qualifications
Bodies and General Qualifications
Bodies) (Commencement) Order 2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
55. No. 1336 The Disability Discrimination
Code of Practice (Trade Organisations and
Qualifications Bodies) (Revocation) Order
2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
56. No. 200 The Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (Transitional Provisions) Order
(Northern Ireland) 2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
57. No. 201 The Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (Prescribed Criteria) (Transitional
Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
58. No. 202 The Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (Barred List Prescribed Information)
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
59. No. 203 The Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (Barring Procedure) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2008
29 May 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Health
60. Share rising mental health costs, says
King's Fund
30 May 2008 - Health Service Journal
The cost of mental health services is expected to rise
by 45% over the next 20 years, the King's Fund has
predicted.
61. Minister volunteers with Newark Mind
29 May 2008 - COI
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, joined volunteers
at Newark Mind to help prepare lunch for people
attending the charities' resource centre. As well
as pitching in with the work, the minister saw firsthand
the contribution that volunteers make to helping
people with mental health problems.
Newark Mind provides a range of social and educational
services to people who have or once had mental
health problems. Trained volunteers offer advice,
support and information.
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said:
“I can't speak highly enough of the work that Newark
Mind are doing and the achievements of their volunteers.
It's all too easy for people suffering from mental
illness to become isolated and cut off from their community,
these people stop that happening. I want to
give more people the opportunity to volunteer in all
sorts of ways. I had a great time lending a hand and
got a lot out of it myself.”
Nic Roberts, Business Manager, Newark Mind said:
“This visit was important in both acknowledging the
work of volunteers and the voluntary sector in general
and raising the profile of the work of Newark Mind
and the huge efforts of those involved.”
Newark Mind exists to provide services to people who
have had or are experiencing mental health difficulties
and to support their families and close others.
They to provide services which are relevant, accessible,
responsive, inclusive and user led.
http://www.newarkmind.org.uk/Mind02/Welcome.html
62. Mental illness in England cost £50 billion
in 2007
28 May 2008 – King’s Fund
A year-long study into the cost of meeting the mental
health needs of the nation over the next two decades
has been published by the King’s Fund.
The study is called Paying the Price and it suggests
that significant investment in evidence-based services
could help thousands back to productive work.
For full report click here
63. ECCA Responds to King’s Fund Report
28 May 2008
The English Community Care Association has responded
to the King’s Fund report ‘Paying the Price -
The Cost of Mental Health Care in England’.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“The King’s Fund report clearly identifies that there
will be a significant increase in the need for health
and social care services to meet the challenges of
dementia care.
“It is vital that the Government and local authorities
invest in and support residential care so that there is
enough capacity to meet the great challenges of the
future. At a time when this investment has never
been more needed, we are seeing local authorities
denying care providers fee increases and demanding
high quality care on unacceptably low levels of funding.
If the Government doesn’t show a lead and deal
with local authorities’ underfunding of care, it will be
the people who have dementia and their carers who
will pay the price”.
64. Response to “Paying the Price: The cost
of mental health care in England” report from
the King’s Fund
27 May 2008
Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental
Health Foundation, said: “This report shows that getting
people with mental health problems back into
work is a sure fire way to reduce the cost to the economy
due to earnings lost, which will be £41 billion by
2026. Investment by the government to support individuals
back into meaningful employment will result in
savings in the long-term and those with mental health
problems would benefit tremendously. Going to work
increases feelings of self-worth and reduces isolation.”
Commenting on the report’s assertion that the prevalence
of most mental disorders (excluding dementia)
is likely to remain stable over the next 20 years,
McCulloch said: “It is crucial that wholehearted steps
are taken to reduce the prevalence of mental health
problems including depression and anxiety. Too
many people experiencing mental distress are getting
help too late or not at all. This could be improved
if GPs received better training on mental health and
were able to prescribe a range of treatments to people
with mental health problems quickly. Work
should also be done to explain to people how to look
after their mental health - the numbers of those who
experience mental illness could be significantly reduced.
We support the recommendation made by
the King’s Fund that more research should be done
into the cost-effectiveness of mental health promotion.”
On the news that dementia is set to affect more than
900,000 individuals by 2026 due to an ageing population,
McCulloch said: “The scale of the problem
regarding old age and dementia is a serious
worry. And dementia is not just a problem for older
people - there are currently 18,000 people under the
age of 65 with dementia and this number is likely to
increase. It is vital that the government’s national
dementia strategy provides adequate care for all individuals
with the illness and their families.”
65. Mental health care 'fails Asians'
25 May 2008 – BBC News
Experts have indicated that people of South Asian
origin with mental health problems are missing out
on treatment. They warned that it is contributing to
the high suicide rate among Asian women.
For full report click here
66. Mental Capacity Act
June 08 Care Management Matters
Research by the Mental Health Foundation and the
Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities suggests
staff are confused about mental capacity issues
– 98% said they needed more training.
Miscellaneous
67. Government announces a National
School for Social Care Research with £15m
30 May 2008 - COI
The Government's commitment to improve social
care services will be given a boost with a new National
Institute for Health Research School for Social
Care Research, Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis
has announced.
This follows the launch by the Prime Minister of an
intense six month debate about the future shape of
care and support services earlier in the month, in advance
of a Green Paper.
The new School will be part of the National Institute
for Health Research (NIHR) and will receive £3 million
funding a year, for five years in the first instance.
It comes after the successful establishment of the
NIHR School for Primary Care Research in 2006.