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.