BBC and Channel 4 investigate the work capability assessments

Two television programmes are set to take a look at the work capability assessments, WCA, introduced by the government to end what had been labelled the “sick note culture.” 

BBC Panorama and Channel 4 Dispatches on Monday 30 July will focus on the new assessments being carried out by private companies – to explore whether the system is value for money and if it is working. 

In Dispatches, ‘Britain on the sick’ – on Channel 4 at 8pm – “Using undercover filming, reporter Jackie Long investigates the shocking processes used to assess whether sickness and disability benefit claimants should be declared fit for work.”

While Panorama on BBC2 ‘Disabled or Faking It’ asks “is the system working? Or are new tests wrongly victimising those who deserve support the most?” It starts immediately after Dispatches at 8.30pm.

Remploy workers to stage another day of action

Remploy employes opposed to the closure of dozens of factories are due to stage their second 24-hour strike tomorrow.

The GMB and Unite members are expected to take action at all 54 Remploy factory sites.

The Unite union has criticized “the silence” of the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith in failing to offer any help to the soon-to-be made redundant 1,700 Remploy workers. Unlike the Welsh Government which the union said has pledged £2.4 million for employers who give jobs to Remploy workers when the factories in Wales close.

Unite said the Remploy workers’ hope to build on last week’s strike in the continuing fight to save the UK’s 54 Remploy factories from being closed, or sold off by the coalition government.

The government has pledged to protect the £320 million budget for specialist disability employment but concluded it should be spent in supporting more disabled people into mainstream employment, rather than supporting segregated factories employing mainly disabled people.

Responding to a statement by Maria Miller the minister for disabled people, Mark Goldring the chief executive, Mencap, said: “While Remploy factories have been of real benefit in the past, we believe that employment in the mainstream market place is key to the inclusion of people with a learning disability in all parts of society and to actively changing public attitudes towards people with a learning disability. 

“Value for money is crucial and it is sensible to reinvest funding released from less effective employment programmes into Access to Work, which is widely supported by disabled people.”

Move to encourage employers to give disabled people a chance

The government has launched a wage incentive scheme linked to young disabled people finding work. 

From today employers can claim a payment of up to £2,275 – when they recruit a young disabled person through Work Choice – a specialist programme that gives severely disabled people tailored employment support.

The minister for disabled people Maria Miller said: “This will not only help young disabled people gain practical experience in the workplace, but also showcase their talents and give them the edge in a tough jobs market.”

Also young disabled jobseekers on work experience will be able to access extra support to help them into mainstream placements through Access to Work.

Until now the scheme that can provide specially adapted equipment, support workers and interpreters has only been available to those in paid work. From the autumn it will now be extended to those doing work experience placements as well.

 To apply for the new Wage Incentive http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/workchoice

  Maria Miller the minister for disabled people

Keeping parents in the loop

A new practical resource by Mencap which includes film clips of families telling their own stories of their experiences of healthcare – aims to ensure parents and carers of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, PMLD, are involved in decision making.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires all health professionals to consult with family members when an adult lacks the mental capacity to make the relevant decision themselves.

Aimed at families which include a person with PMLD, the information equips parents to know their rights and gives practical suggestions of how they can ensure that they and their family member are involved in decisions.

Beverley Dawkins the policy manager for profound and multiple learning disabilities, at Mencap said: “Families often have invaluable knowledge about their loved one, such as how they express that they are in pain, but health professionals are failing to meet their legal duty to consult them.

“Mencap has developed this resource because it is very important that families know their rights and feel able to challenge when they are not being involved.”

The resource has been funded by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, SCIE , with families providing guidance through an advisory group.

To find out more or download the resource www.mencap.org.uk/all-about-learning-disability/health/mental-capacity-act

Training for Games Mobility volunteers

Olympic organisers haven been working with the Guide Dogs charity to train Games Mobility volunteers to help them confidently assist blind and partially sighted spectators.

 Around 1,500 volunteers were given Level 1 Community Sighted Guide training which was adapted to ensure it worked within the Games’ venues.

The training increases awareness of the impact and implications of sight loss and teaches sighted guiding techniques and best practice.

It is part of Guide Dogs’ ‘My Guide scheme’, a pilot service launched to help thousands more blind and partially sighted people become more mobile. 

 After the London 2012 Games, volunteers will also be encouraged to join a My Guide pilot scheme.

 Games Mobility volunteers will be responsible for helping spectators make use of the Games Mobility Service – a free service located inside venues which will loan out manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters as well as guide visually impaired people to their seats.

 Mark Todd, accessibility manager at London 2012 The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, LOCOG,  said: “It’s been fantastic working with Guide Dogs and I’m thrilled with the training they have provided. Our Games Mobility volunteers will be able to provide the best level of service possible to any spectator who needs assistance with mobility.”

 Kerry Tweed, sighted guide national manager at Guide Dogs said: “Becoming a sighted guide is a valuable skill for volunteers, making them an asset in their local community and workplace.”

As the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay draws to a close the preparations move into the final phase ahead of Friday’s Opening Ceremony. Photo: LOCOG

£1m for Manchester Victoria access improvement

Rail Passengers using Manchester Victoria are to benefit from a new lift and facilities that will help increase access to the station.

Under the government’s Access for All scheme, £1 million will be used to provide a new lift to the footbridge, ensuring level access across the station. The money would also fund new handrails and landings on the existing footbridge.

The rail minister Norman Baker said: “We want everyone to be able to access public transport and that is why the government has provided £1 million to make these changes.

“We have identified a further £100 million for the Access for All programme as a whole, to enable important accessibility work to be carried out at railway stations across the country.”

Manchester Victoria is one of 154 stations in Britain to receive funding to provide better access to stations through the £370 million Access for All programme. Passengers will benefit through the provision of new lifts, ramps, raised “easier access humps” on platforms as well as new accessible toilets.

New Tramper initiative is unique in the Lakes

A ‘Tramper’ mobility scooter is now available for visitors to Tarn Hows, near Coniston to borrow thanks to a National Trust initiative. This is the only circular lakeshore path in Cumbria where visitors with limited mobility have such complete access and are able to experience it in this way.

A project began in 2005 to make the footpath around the lake easier for people to use – and the wide level paths which were created are proving to be the perfect route for the new vehicle. 

Visitors will be able to use the Tramper free of charge, following a quick lesson in how it works, between 10am and 3pm daily.

The purchase of the £7,500 Tramper was made possible by funding from the GoLakes Travel sustainable visitor transport programme, the Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust and National Trust benefactors Alan and Pat Parfett.

Alan Parfett said: “We are very pleased to be associated with the purchase of a Tramper, as Pat’s mother had MS and used a wheelchair for many years. We can appreciate the pleasure and the ability to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Tarn Hows that the new Tramper will give to people with mobility problems.”

The rangers are advising visitors to prebook the Tramper to avoid disappointment. Call 07786 670202 for details.

Views sought on new rules for bus and coach passenger rights

The department for transport is inviting feedback on the new European rules for long distance coach trips that aim to bring the rights of passengers into line with those using planes and trains.

The regulation, which mainly applies to journeys over 155 miles lays out the responsibilities of operators and terminal owners in the case of delays, cancellations, accidents and other issues affecting passengers, including disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility. 

 A consultation putting forward the UK’s plans for applying Europe-wide regulations has been launched. 

The transport minister, Norman Baker, said: “We want people taking coach trips and long-distance bus journeys to get a fair deal. However, we also want to avoid tying operators up in expensive and unnecessary burdens. 

“I believe that the approach outlined in this consultation finds the right balance between passenger protection and operator competitiveness and I hope that groups likely to be affected by these changes will agree when they respond to our proposals.” 

The consultation, which closes on 11th October 2012, is on the website http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-19.

Training keeps dogs up to date with new ring tones

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been given a range of phones and telecommunications equipment by BT to update its Buckinghamshire training centre.

The new phones will be used to train dogs to recognise and respond to the wider range of modern ring tones and alert their owners.

Hearing dogs can alert their deaf recipient to a range of sounds including the doorbell, cooker timer, alarm clock, smoke alarm and telephone.  

BT offered to re-equip The Grange training centre, near Princes Risborough, so that the charity’s dogs can learn the specific sounds that they will hear in their new homes. 

Philip Biggs, access and inclusion manager at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: “The support we’ve received from BT has been fantastic. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was launched 30 years ago at Crufts. Since then, we’ve become a centre of excellence in training hearing dogs and have created more than 1,600 life-changing partnerships.”

BT has also agreed to set up a Try Before You Buy centre at the training centre, enabling deaf visitors to test BT’s phone equipment to make sure it is suitable for their needs.

Young aspiring disabled drivers on track at Donington Park

For 15 year-old George Coppen from Derby, an Olympic Torchbearer on 29th June, it’s been an amazing few weeks and he was one of several hundred young people on 14th July to have their first driving experience, at the Get Going Live! driving day at Donington Park.

The experience for young people with disabilities and anyone newly-disabled was an opportunity to get advice on the best car and adaptations to suit their special needs. As well as a chance to get more information on available schemes, find a suitable instructor and get vital, safety information such as how to position the driving seat and seat belt.

For anyone who missed Saturday’s event there are two more this year – at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate on 28th July and TRL, Wokingham on 11th August. To register for these events www.getgoingnow.org

George Coppen, 15, from Derby behind the wheel for the first time

Agreement to improve safety for adults at risk

New procedures launched today aim to improve communication between the different professionals responsible for safeguarding vulnerable adults in the West Midlands.

The initiative follows the publication last week of the White Paper on Social Care. It involves a number of organisations including West Mercia Police, NHS West Midlands and the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service. They will be working together more regularly to promote safer communities, preventing harm and abuse. They will also deal with suspected or actual cases of abuse. 

The chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence Andrea Sutcliffe, SCIE, said: “Following similar work in London, we wanted to use that good practice to protect adults further afield. We hope that more areas will follow suit shortly.”

Sandra Ashton-Jones from Wolverhampton’s Safeguarding Adults Team, and the chair of the working group which developed the new policies said: “There wasn’t anything wrong with the way that individual areas were doing things beforehand, but we want to ensure that people across the West Midlands can be confident that the way they will be treated in one area will be the same as another. ”

Increase in adult social care complaints to Ombudsmen

The Local Government Ombudsmen, LGO, has reported a 24 per cent rise in complaints and enquiries about adult social care 2011/12. In their Annual Report 2011/12 – Delivering public value, complaints and enquiries rose from 1,820 in 2010/11 to 2,256 in 2011/12. 

 In one case a disabled man had to wait 18 months for a walk-in shower to be installed. The Ombudsman recommended that the council review its arrangements with registered social landlords for processing disabled facilities grants.

In another the LGO found that care provided for an elderly man who lived on his own was poor and inconsistent – and there were at least five days when no care was provided at all. The care provider apologised, paid compensation, and put new procedures in place. 

 The LGO considers complaints from service users of all types of adult social care – whether they pay for their own care or use money provided by a council, whether the care provider is a council or a private business, and whether they receive services in a care home, their own home or somewhere else, such as a day centre.

The LGO’s new free leaflet, How to complain about a care home or care in your home, explains what to do if someone has a complaint about adult social care.

 Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman and chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England, the governing body for the LGO scheme, said: “The case studies in our annual report show that the Ombudsman can resolve complaints which affect the day-to-day experience of citizens – but many of the complaints should not have come to us in the first place and we are doing more to feed back lessons learned to councils and other bodies in jurisdiction to improve public administration and local public services.”

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman and chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England

College says measures would help social workers to take on new roles

The government's White Paper on care and support will strengthen the position of social workers as they take on the challenge of new roles in adult social care, according to the College of Social Work.

The college had previously called for social workers to be “liberated from the care management strait-jacket” to take a more creative, problem-solving approach to supporting users and carers.

“This White Paper clearly acknowledges the importance of social work as new ways of delivering personalised services continue to emerge in adult social care,” said Bernard Walker the chair of The College of Social Work adults faculty.

“We will be working with our members and their employers to ensure that the recommendations of the White Paper on the value of social work with adults are taken on board.  If the ‘one size fits all’ approach in social care is to be ended and adults who need support are to be helped to flourish in their own communities, social workers will have a vital role in making it happen.

“The White Paper says that some of the ideas in the Munro review of child protection fit adult social work too. We agree, so we expect the government to step back and trust the professionals. We look forward to the appointment of a chief social worker and of principal social workers in every adult social services department.”

Adult safeguarding boards will be put on a statutory footing and local authorities will have a duty to investigate cases of suspected abuse.

Social care proposals only a start – RCN

Commenting on today’s publication of the Social Care White Paper and the “progress report” on social care funding, Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: 

“While there is much to welcome in these proposals, nurses will be particularly disappointed that the government has failed to tackle the critical issue of social care funding. Accepting the need for a cap on the amount individuals contribute to costs without any timescale for implementation will be cold comfort to service users and patients. It also stores up major problems for the future.

 “It is nursing staff who are currently dealing with the pressures of delayed transfers between hospital and community settings. We are particularly concerned that at the moment many people face a ‘revolving door’ in care. 

For some this means ending up back in hospital soon after discharge as the support simply does not exist to care for them properly in the community.”

Care reforms – to fix a system that is fragmented

The Care and Support White Paper, together with the draft Care and Support Bill also published today, sets out how the social care system will be transformed “from a service that reacts to crises to one that focuses on prevention and is built around the needs and goals of people.”

The reforms aim to ensure people will get the care and support they need, so they don’t reach crisis point, and the draft Care and Support Bill “consolidates a mess of different laws to, for the first time, create a single modern statute for adult care and support.”

The government says it would consider a voluntary scheme that would allow people to choose to take up a government social insurance scheme, making paid contributions to ensure their care and accommodation costs would be capped. 

The report also commits to introducing a Universal Deferred Payments scheme to ensure no one will be forced to sell their home to pay for care in their lifetime. 

The health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “Too often people who need care don’t know who or where to go to, don’t know what care they will get and don’t know how it will be paid for. 

“Our plans will bring the most comprehensive overhaul of social care since 1948 and will mean that people get the care and support that they need to be safe and to live well so they don’t reach a crisis point.

“We agree that the principles of the Dilnot recommendations – financial protection through capped costs and an extended means-test – would be the right basis for any new funding model. 

“However, any proposal which includes extra public spending needs to be considered alongside other spending priorities, which of course include the demographic pressures on the social care service itself. The right place to do this is at the next Spending Review.”

Saga comments on upcoming social care plans

Speaking just before the publication of the government’s White Paper on social care the head of one of the UK’s largest providers of home care services, Saga, said “empty words will not deliver care.” 

Commenting on the government’s failure to commit to funding a cap on care costs for individuals Dr Ros Altmann the director-general of Saga, said: “Funding is the crucial missing piece of the care puzzle and the longer the system is left as it is the more families will suffer. It’s not acceptable to use the fiscal deficit as an excuse.

 “With an ageing population, the state obviously has to spend more on care. The only choice is whether to spend more in a planned way, by making reforms that increase social care provision, or to spend in an unplanned way, when more end up in hospital – at exorbitant cost – just because their care needs were not addressed earlier. This would be a lose-lose situation with people being worse off, NHS resources being overloaded and people falling into a more expensive care system.

 “A fairer partnership between state and private funding would encourage more money to be set aside for care. People accept they must pay something, but should not face losing everything.

 “If this week’s announcement doesn’t reform funding, it will fail to address the crisis. No more delays and consultations, we need action. It is time for brave leadership to ensure a better later life for us and our loved ones. A civilised society should expect no less.”

New fund to help disabled people become MPs

A £2.6 million fund to help disabled people overcome barriers to becoming councillors, police and crime commissioners or MPs has been  launched by the government.

It will offer individual grants of between £250 and £10,000 to disabled people who want to be selected as candidates for an election, or who are standing for election. 

The money will help meet the additional costs a candidate with disabilities may face in standing for election, such as extra transport or sign-language interpreters.

 The equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said: “The ten million disabled people in the UK are under-represented in public life and we are making an important step towards levelling the playing field.

“Encouraging disabled people to make their voices heard will not only help individuals fulfil their potential but will enrich and improve our politics at local and national level.”

The new support will first apply to the election of Police and Crime Commissioners in November this year.

The fund and a new online training are part of the government’s Access to Elected Office Strategy which also includes paid internships for disabled candidates on the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement scheme.

New card to improve bus journeys for scooter users

A new mobility aid card has been introduced to remove uncertainty over which mobility aids are permitted on buses.

Passengers who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters or other mobility aids can now apply for The Mobility Aid Recognition card, launched by Transport for London. 

It aims to remove doubt for both the holder and the bus driver on whether a mobility aid is permitted on the London bus network, giving passengers more freedom and confidence to travel around the capital.

With around 86 models of mobility scooters already approved, TfL hopes the new scheme will offer users peace of mind and enable them to travel more freely on the bus network.  

Mainly for passengers who use mobility scooters, the scheme may also be used by people with manual and powered wheelchairs, mobility walkers or shopping trolleys, where these are used as a mobility aid.

Travellers wishing to take part in the scheme should contact TfL’s Travel Mentoring Service on 020 3054 3461 or e-mail travelmentor@tfl.gov.uk.

Social care report values home adaption savings at £625m

A report commissioned by key members from the British Healthcare Trades Association has found that £625m of taxpayers’ money could be saved if more appropriate provision was made for people needing home adaptations. 

Produced by the LSE (London School of Economics) Personal Social Services Research Unit the study concluded that for every £1 spent on adaptive technologies there could be a net saving to the taxpayer of £1.10 – equating to an annual potential saving of £1,101 per person per year, if the government puts aids and adaptations at the heart of its adult social care reforms.

Building a business case for investing in adaptive technologies in England makes a commercial case for government putting preventative care at the heart of its healthcare policies.

Mike Lord, of the BHTA, said: “Social care is a ticking demographic time bomb – but one that can be diffused. With low cost adaptations such as grab rails or stairlifts, people retain the dignity and quality of independent living while significantly cutting costs. This is a win-win situation; we urge politicians to ensure it is at the heart of social care reform.”

The BHTA has made the following recommendations to government in light of the report’s findings:

* To prioritise the preventative role of aids and adaptations in forthcoming social care reform. 

* To increase investment in the Disabled Facilities Grant to enable longer term savings to be made to the public purse 

* To ensure local Health and Wellbeing Boards quantify unmet need for aids and adaptations in their area and have a clear plan to provide for.

Internships pilot to help young people with SEN into work

Thousands of young people with special education needs are to get help into long term paid employment through a new government programme.

Supported internships for 16 - 25 year olds who have complex learning difficulties or disabilities will be trialled at 14 colleges in England this autumn.

If successful the study scheme could be adopted by all further education colleges from September 2013.

The programme is backed by £3 million from the department for education and expert job coaches will support interns and employers. Placements, tailored to the individual needs of the young person, will be provided for example at a restaurant, library or clothes retailer. 

The aim is to give the interns the platform to break down negative attitudes and show employers what they can do. 

Sarah Teather the minister for children and families, said: “We have to be more ambitious and tap into huge potential in people with learning needs. We can’t leave the most vulnerable on the scrapheap, without a way of getting a job and being able to live as independently as they can.

“With appropriate mentoring, even young people with complex needs can shine in a successful business.”

The minister saw how this works in practice at the Rose Project at Havering College of Further & Higher Education in east London, which has operated a supported employment programme for young adults with special educational needs for several years.  

ADASS endorses community equipment code

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, ADASS, has added its name to the list of organisations supporting a code of practice to improve the provision of disability equipment.

The aim of the Code of Practice for Community Equipment – known as CECOPS – is to improve the expertise of providers and commissioners in supplying the right equipment.

It covers the provision of everything from children’s postural support chairs to daily living aids, sensory equipment, adaptations such as ramps and grab rails to wheelchairs for short term use and telecare.

CECOPS, a not for profit organisation was set up to manage registration, training and accreditation of users of the Code. To assist those who supply the equipment in bringing a high quality service to disabled children and adults, including elderly people.

The Code, a recently written handbook, is essentially a quality framework for the procurement and provision of services. It is relevant for health and social care providers, care homes, special schools, retailers and clinical and professional teams including therapists. 

Brian Donnelly the chief executive of CECOPS said: “ADASS has recognised the real value the Code will bring to service users and its member’s organisations. 

“We are already working with some local authorities, and will be contacting others in the coming weeks and months to help them register with CECOPS.”

The Code is already officially supported by the care regulator the Care Quality Commission and it fits with their Essential Standards.

For further details and to read the executive summary of the paper CECOPS sent to ADASS introducing them to the Code download a copy of the paper http://tinyurl.com/bp8juv2

Website accessibility course

The first digital accessibility training course has been developed to help business make sure that their websites are open to be used by disabled people.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has partnered with AbilityNet and BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, to develop the course.

The Equality Act 2010 sets out the legal obligation for organisations to make websites accessible but research by AbilityNet found that four out of the five most popular price comparison websites were inaccessible to disabled people. 

The short course for web developers, online editors as well as anyone who generates digital content “Digital Accessibility: Web Essentials” covers topics from what web accessibility means to practical examples of how to make websites inclusive.

 At the end of the course participants take a test to gain a certificate of achievement from BCS. It will be available online and disabled people can request accessible versions from the Commission.

Dr Jean Irvine, commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:  “Cutting out disabled consumers can be costly for businesses, not just in terms of their spending power. They also run the risk of being taken to task for failing to comply with equality law.

“We have worked with several high street retailers to help them make sure their websites and shops are accessible to all consumers.” 

Robin Christopherson the head of digital inclusion at AbilityNet said: “Disabled people such as myself love using the internet for shopping, banking, socialising or simply trying to find information – just like everyone else. Unfortunately, many well-known retail websites are inaccessible and it becomes a very frustrating experience.”

To find out more about the training and register an interest www.equalityhumanrights.com/webaccessibilityessentials.