Care Quality Commision (CQC) findings from the 1st checks of services for people with Learning Disabilities

CQC has put out its findings from the first 5 checks it has done of 150 hospitals and care homes that look after people with learning disabilities.

Click here to see the findings from these checks.

Autism Gm Newsletter - Autumn/Winter Edition

Click here to read the latest edition of the newsletter

Inclusion North bulletin - Issue number 7

Click here for the November bulletin

Contact a Family Newsletter - Winter edition

Click here for the winter newlestter for Contact a Family

4 in 10 disabled children living in poverty

This report produced by The Children's Society highlights the key recommendations for addressing poverty in families with disabled children.

Click here to access the report.

The future of PIP - A Social Model based Approach

This report, produced by Scope reveals that the Personal Independance Plan (PIP) which the government in introducing to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will not support those with the greatest need because the assesment to test for eligibility is flawed.

Click here for the report.

The Postural Care Action Group Campaign

The Postural Care Action Group has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of good postural care for thousands of people with multiple disabilities.

The group is made up of organisations including; Mencap, PAMIS, Postural Care Skills, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the College of Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Nursing.

Click here for more details on the campaign.

Autism in children and young people - National Institiute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines

Published clinical guidelines regarding Autism in children and young people. Click here for futher information.

Warm Home discount scheme

The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides a £120 rebate on your electricity bill in winter 2011/12 if you qualify for the scheme. To find out how the scheme works and whether you may be eligible to qualify click here

Connected! Summer edition - The magazine from Contact a family

Click here to read the latest edition.

Raising your game - Mencap!

Helping young people with a learning disability reach their goals.

Raising Your Game is a project for young people aged between 14 and 25 with a learning disability or communication difficulty. Some have been in trouble with the police and some are at risk of getting into trouble.

Young people with a learning disability or communication difficulty are at a higher risk of offending because they are not getting the right support in life. With Raising Your Game we are helping them to get the support they need. Raising Your Game is working with these young people to support them to get their voices heard by big organisations, especially those within the Criminal Justice System, to ensure services provided for them truly consider their needs.

Click here to learn more about the Raising your game project.

DEMO'S Report - Coping with the cuts

Up until now, the impact of cuts to local authorities on provision for disabled people has not been measured or compared at a national level.

Coping with the Cuts reveals, for the first time, the true nature of how cuts to social care budgets are affecting disabled people up and down the country and which local councils are best managing budgetary changes.

Compiled using freedom of information (FOI) requests sent to all local Authorities in England and Wales, this research discovered a shocking dearth in local information on disabled people.

Click here for a link to the map which shows which local authorities are coping with the changes to disability budgets well and which are not. This allows us all to learn lessons from the best for the future.

Campaign launches legal letter for parents who have been refused an assesment for services

Every Disabled Child Matters, in association with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, has today (Thursday 8th September) launched a template letter to help families with disabled children to gain an assessment for social care services.

This letter is intended to help parents who have been told that their council will not assess their disabled child in relation to short breaks or any other specialist social care service.

Click here for further information about the letter and an accompanying guide

Bury's Draft Short Breaks Statement 2011 - consultation

As part of the new short break duty each local authority is required to produce a short breaks services statement so that families know what services are available, the eligibility criteria for these services, and how the range of short breaks are designed to meet the needs of local families with disabled children.

All local authorities are required to publish the statement of short breaks by 1st October 2011. The 1st draft of Bury's statement can be found here and your views are needed to ensure this is meeting the needs of parents and carers of disabled children in Bury.

The Children's Disability Team invite your comments on the short break statement document

Please click here for more information regarding the short breaks consultation.

SWAN (Syndromes without a name) UK

Click here for the latest newsletter.

Bury People First Newsletter - Summer 2011

Click here for all the information from the latest newsletter.

Learning Disability Review - Family Carer Expert by Experience

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are about to commence a review of all learning disability services (Within the next 4 - 6 months) and included in each inspection team will be a family carer expert by experience. The CBF (Challenging Behaviour Foundation) are taking responsibility for recruiting for this role.

For further information please click here

Carers Rights

Document from Carers uk on Carers rights.

Click here to access it.

Coach Services at risk

From the National Express company regarding the governments half price coach ticket scheme:

The scheme currently provides up to half price travel for over 60 year olds and disabled people through Government funding.

The Government has announced that this funding will end on 31 October 2011 as part of its spending cuts programme.

While we are looking to introduce a replacement scheme, without the government funding it is not possible to make discounts as high and the cost of travel will increase for you.

We have written to the Government to ask that they reconsider this decision. We have also written to a number of MPs to raise our concerns.

Many MPs have told us they agree and have written to ministers at the Department for Transport to ask them whether they have considered the potential impact on eligible passengers' ability to travel.

From your letters and emails, we know that many of you rely on the half price fares. Some have also expressed concern that without it, they may not be able to travel. If you share these concerns, perhaps you could write to, or email, your local MP to encourage them to raise your concern with the Department for Transport.

If you wish to write to your local MP we have included a letter template that you may want to use, simply add your details, print and send.

Click here for template letter

Individual budgets for families with disabled children

The personalisation of public services has been a consistent direction of policy over the last few years. This has been maintained by the Coalition Government, with the recent Green Paper including a clear expectation of increased choice and control for young people and families.

This report seeks to present a detailed assessment of the process related progress made by the pilot sites over the original two-year pilot programme.

Click here for details on the publication

Care Quality Commission (CQC) review of Castlebeck Group Services

Following the closure of Winterbourne Care Home run by Castlebeck Care Services, the CQC have responded to safeguarding concerns and reviewed and inspected all services for people with learning disabilities run by the service in England.

Follow this link to read the outcome of these unannounced inspections.

Working together with Parent's Network have produced a report on Parent's with learning Disabilities

This paper looks at the fact that the contribution that the wider family can play in helping parents with learning disabilities and their children stay together has been largely ignored in the past and starts to address that gap.

It outlines key issues and some strategies in the involvement of the extended family in supporting parents with learning disabilities and tbheir children.

Click here to read the full paper.

Government response to the Munro review

The Government has published its response to the Munro Review of Child Protection. The response was informed by an Implementation Working Group (IWG) drawing on expertise from local authority children’s services, the social work profession, education, police and health services.

Click here to read the full response

Working with the Care Quality Commision (CQC) - Getting involved in checking services

The Care Quality Commision is eager to work with families regarding their inspection of services. There is some urgency to this as CQC want to work with people and families on the inspections of specialist hospitals following the abuse that happened at Winterbourne View.

Click here to read the information sheet for families and for further contact details if you are interested in getting involved.

Action for Children Short Break Survey

Action for Children have developed a survey to try and understand how parents and importantly how children and young people are being supported through their short break packages of care.

They will use the results of this survey very carefully to inform their communications with disabled children and their families, decision makers and the media.

Click here for more information and to complete the survey

Pathway Associates Campaign Letter

After the Panorama Programme which showed abuse in a Care home many members of Pathway Associates have been understandably worried. They wanted to do something to ensure that things get better for themselves and their peers.

Pathway Associates have devised a letter to send to various professionals questioning whether the support given to them would be good enough for their families and if not what they propose to do about it.

Pathway Associates have asked for copies of any replies people may get.

Click here for Pathway Associates letter and details and here for a copy of the letter to send out to professionals.

"Include Me too Charter" -

Include Me TOO” has proven to be a strong medium for the disabled equality debate. It has been a process for disabled children, young people and their families, to educate their peers and communities by empowering them as individuals and groups of children to take their equal place in society.

For more information on the work 'Include Me Too' do click here to visit their website and have a look at their charter of rights.

E-bulletin for Learning Disabilities and Family Carers

The quarterly update for all staff working with family carers of people with learning disabilities

Click here to read this edition

Personal Health Budgets Updates

The Government has announced its support for the extension of personal health budgets nationally. A listening exercise, led by the NHS Future Forum, made use of the natural pause in the passage of the Health Bill to pause, listen, reflect and improve the Government’s proposals for the future of the NHS.

click here for more details

Live web chat counselling with Relate

Scope are now working with Relate - the relationship experts to provide trained counsellors throught the live web chat counselling service which is available to anyone whose family is in difficulty. The srrvice is free of charge & completely confidential.

To find out more about this service click here

Personal Health Budgets

David Cameron plans to give people personal budgets to cut back bureaucracy and control their lives

Click here to read an article from the Sunday Times.

Commissioning person-centred, cost-effective, local support for people with learning disabilities

There are concerns that a substantial number of people with learning difficulties are not receiving support in their local area. Instead they are being supported in ‘out-of area placements’. Some of these placements can be a long way from their families and friends.

The knowledge review looked at what is known about out-of-area placements. This was done by finding out about research on out-of-area placements (the ‘research review’). We also spoke to many people about their experiences of out-of-area placements (the ‘practice survey’). We asked why people were not supported locally.

We tried to find good examples of people with complex needs being supported locally.

For the findings of the report click here

Launch of ambulance communications booklet

The London Ambulance Service has helped to produce a booklet to improve the way frontline staff interact with patients who have difficulties communicating.

It is designed primarily for use with patients who have a learning disability or who find it difficult to talk

Click here for more information on the booklet and its development

Government response to the NHS Future Forum Report

The NHS will always provide free healthcare for all, based on need, not on ability to pay. This has never been in any doubt. But if we want to keep our NHS that way, it must adapt to meet the challenges of the future.

Click here for full report

Carers Matter: Everybody's Business

With the help of carers and professionals working with carers, Skills for Care and Skills for Health have produced Carers Matter - Everybody's Business, guidance to help employers and organisations support carers better through learning and development of staff. It is based on a set of Common Core Principles for Working with Carers.

Click here for more information on carers matters - everybody's business

Giving us a voice project update

The three major UK Learning Disability Charities, Mencap, Bild and ARC have recently completed the joint “Giving us a Voice” project and are pleased to inform you that the National Charter for Inclusion was launched at the Department of Health on March 21st 2011.

Click here to see a copy of the National Charter for Inclusion

The role of specialist health services in supporting the health needs of people with learning disability

Confirm & Challenge (6C’s) is a comprehensive model, outcomes framework and self assessment tool for specialist learning disability health services.

This version for Community Learning Disability Teams offers a guide, downloadable and online tools and materials and is designed to be used by commissioners and providers to enable them to review and improve services.

Click here for more info

Good practice resource on how family carers should be involved in workforce development

Here is a copy of the good practice resource on how family carers should be involved in workforce development - please click here to read a copy.

Channel 4 News are loooking for people to help

Channel 4 News is researching the use of anti-psychotic drugs to control challenging or difficult behaviour in people with learning disabilities, including children and young people.

If this is an issue which affects you (or those you care for) or if you would like to share your views or experiences, in confidence, then please do get in touch with Philip Carter on 07783-712-227 or by email at pc@pacarter.com

Autism GM Newsletter -

The spring edition of the Autism GM newsletter - Contains info on new DLA proposals, new NAS information publications, reforms to blue badge scheme and more. click here for more info

What to do if your services are cut - Factsheets for your information

In these uncertain times with many services being cut or threatened here are some factsheets produced by Mencap with information on steps to take if your service is cut. Click here and here for info.

Judges have ruled that Birmingham City Council's plans to limit social care for disabled people are unlawful

The families of four severely disabled people took the case to the High Court sitting in Birmingham. To read the story click here

Developing the participation of young disabled people

Developing the Participation of Young Disabled people is a three year research project that is exploring the most effective ways of enabling the participation of disabled children and young people in the development of services

Currently the Council for Disabled Children are undertaking a consultation which will enable us to find out how young disabled people are currently involved in the planning and development of services in England, in both generic services for children and young people and specialist services for disabled children and young people

To find out more or to fill in the online questionnaire click here

First easy read guide about Organ Donation

A pioneering clinical psychologist at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has, with a small team, created the country’s first official guide to organ donation for people with a learning disability.

The new guide is designed to help people make informed decisions about end of life care and is in an easy read format – using large print, simple language and images to illustrate the key ideas.

To read the press release for the guide click here.

To read the leaflet click here

The Play Inclusion Project (PIPS)

The Play Inclusion Project (PIP) offers strategic development, information and guidance to authorities and settings on inclusive play and childcare

Members can receive free regular, bi-monthly e-bulletins on inclusive play, childcare and leisure for disabled children and young people.

For more information on PIPS and to subscribe to the bulletin click here

The National Year of Communication - Hello Newsletter

Hello, the 2011 national year of communication, is a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills.

The campaign is run by The Communication Trust, a coalition of 40 leading voluntary sector organisations, in partnership with Jean Gross, the Government’s Communication Champion. The campaign is sponsored by BT and Pearson Assessment and is backed by the Department for Education and Department of Health.

This newsletter provides updates on current developments in the world of speech, language and communication and on Hello.

To view this months newsletter please click here

Campaign for a fairer society

Many people probably don't know that 25% of the cuts will fall on just 3% of the population - the most vulnerable people. Why isn't there more outrage about this unfairness? Probably because the media are not interested

For more information click here

Government proposes biggest reforms to special educational needs in 30 years

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather unveiled proposals which would mean the biggest programme of reform in the education and health support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities in 30 years.

Click here for more information on the proposals

Using the law to fight cuts

Steve Broach has today published a guide for campaigners to using the law to fight cuts to disabled children's services. He has done this in his capacity as a barrister, based on his understanding as to how the law can be use to strategically challenge

The intention of the paper is to provide practical guidance as to how campaigners and local groups can use the law to defend services - rather than offering a detailed guide to the law. The paper also includes contact details for some of the solicitors who specialise in cases involving disabled children - with thanks to all those who agreed to their details being included

Click here to access the guide

Save the NHS - Sign the petition

Right now, the government is pushing through changes to our health service which could spell the end of the NHS as we know it.

Click here to sign the petition

ALLFIE - The Alliance for inclusive Education

ALLFIE has made real and important progress over the past twenty years in the struggle for Inclusive Education. They need new members to carry on this good work - to see how you can help click here

Disabled people and their right to independant living

An easy read consultation of the Parliamentary Joint committee on Human Rights enquiry into Disabled People & their right to independent Living

To read, click here

The Money Saving Expert.com guide to Mental Health and Debt

This guide contains help, info, guidance and support for individuals and carers dealing with Mental Health and debt.

Click here for more info

‘Cemented to the floor by law’: Respecting legal duties in a time of cuts

Given the increasing realisation of the damage the current spending cuts are likely to do to disabled children’s services, an understanding of what the law requires in this area is more important than ever.

To view the article click here

Reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities in England 2010: A national survey of NHS Trusts

Click here for more information

Epilepsy Nurses Forum - Learning Disabilities (North West)

A group of healthcare professionals with an interest in Epilepsy meet monthly to provide a supportive learning environment for the forum to review, develop and share practice skills.

Click here for more information

Toolkit for developing father Inclusive Services

At a time of cuts in children’s services, when many dedicated father workers across the country face losing their jobs, it might be tempting for children’s services to forget dads.

But fatherhood Institute have got the perfect tool to stop this happening - helping services work with dads as a mainstream part of what they do…without breaking the bank.

Click here for more information

Take action: Email your Local Authority about their budget for disabled children

The Government announced that they will be giving local authorities £800million over four years to fund short breaks for disabled children.

However, this money is not 'ring fenced' - which means that it is just a guideline and local authorities don't have to spend the full amount on short breaks. In reality, local authorities will only spend their allocation of this money on short breaks if they believe that there is a local need.

It is essential that you let your local authority know how important it is to invest in disabled children's services in your area.

To email the local authority click here

C4EO Website - For parents

C4EO has developed a new area of the website to help parents of disabled children.
This information is useful for those parents who are actively involved, through parent forums and other participation channels, in shaping and driving improvements in the way services for disabled children and their families are developed and provided

To view the website click here

BBC Documentary

October Films are producing a film for the BBC on the issues faced by young people with Learning Disabilities at transition.

If you know of any people who might like to take part please forward your details as soon as possible and we will pass them on to the producer.

With best wishes

Bridget Fisher / Pam Smith

Email: pam.smith@arcuk.org.uk

ARC BME Unit
ARC House, Marsden Street
Chesterfield, S40 1JY

Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards implementation programme Communities of Practice network‏

As part of the legacy plan for the national Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards implementation programme, we have formed a Communities of Practice network

Membership is open to all clinicians, practitioners, managers, trainers, policy leads etc with an interest in matters relating to service user/patient consent to care and treatment and capacity to make decisions. The network provides a number of services including a library in to which we have posted a considerable number of useful reference documents including case law updates and a discussion forum. The network has been open for just over 2 weeks and has already attracted nearly 300 members.

Membership is by invitation only.

Anybody interested please email (keith.nieland@dhsocialcareprogrammes.org.uk ) to arrange the necessary invitation.

SeeAbility training courses for health and social care staff

SeeAbility are running a range of training courses for health and social care staff to address the eye care and visual impairment needs of people with a learning disability.

Visit www.seeability.org/training to book your place

Useful list of accessible medical resources

Click here to see a list of all the useful resource links

Friendly Resources - Supporting Parents with Learning Difficulties

Being a parent can be difficult at times. We know that people with learning difficulties can be great parents. Sometimes we all need help and support, but for parents with learning difficulties it can be difficult to ask for and find the right help when needed.At the Friendly Resources Company we have worked with parents from all over the country to design some very useful resources to help. Click on the link below for more information

http://www.friendlyresources.org.uk

The Autism Challenge

The Government has today sent a clear message to local authorities telling them what services we can expect them to provide for adults with autism. All thanks to three years of your campaigning on the Autism Act 2009 and the autism strategy.

But, despite all your hard work, it is not the end. Now we must make sure changes happen locally.

The guidance is clear, local authorities:

1)    Should provide autism awareness training for all staff
2)    Must provide specialist autism training for key staff, such as GPs and community care assessors
3)    Cannot refuse a community care assessment based solely on IQ
4)    Must appoint an autism lead in their area
5)    Have to develop a clear pathway to diagnosis and assessment by 2013
6)    Need to commission services based on adequate population data.

The guidance provides the perfect hook to step up our efforts to make sure local authorities deliver in these crucial areas, ensuring that the Autism Act really makes a difference to the lives of people with autism and their families.

Please take action now to ask your council what progress they are making in implementing the adult autism strategy and how they will meet their new legal duties.

Best wishes,
Mark Lever
Chief Executive

Moving Forward Together by Bury Childrens Trust

The plan for making things better for children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities in Bury

Please click here to see newsletter

CAMHS Launch of the online Tackling Stigma Toolkit

As a follow up to our recently printed toolkit we have launched the online version of Tackling Stigma: a Practical Toolkit.  

As well as taking you through the eight priority areas for action as part of the Tackling Stigma Framework, this online toolkit enables you to read up-to-date case studies, download useful tools and link to relevant resources developed by others working towards tackling stigma. New case studies and resources will be added as they are shared.

Developed by the National CAMHS Support Service (NCSS), this is an important resource for professionals, partnerships and organisations who commission and provide mental health services for children and young people.  

The web-based version of the toolkit has been developed in partnership with the national Child and Maternal Health Observatory (ChiMat).  

You can use the online toolkit or download the pdf at www.chimat.org.uk/tacklingstigma

EQual Citizens

Click here to read newsletter

NICE Guidance Nocturnal enuresis

The management of bedwetting and nocturnal enuresis in children and young people. Click here to view

Shape is a disability-led arts organisation working to improve access to culture for disabled people. We develop opportunities for disabled artists, we train cultural institutions to be more open to disabled people, and we run participatory arts and development programmes