Learning Disability Alliance Scotland

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Making Connections - Making A Difference

A failure to use information properly

New reports from City of Edinburgh Council were heard on the 31st of August.  They included a report on Consultation and Engagement during the competitive tendering process for care and support services.  It must have made for uncomfortable reading for those in charge of the council.

It made clear that those in charge used information not intended for that use in the Equality  Impact  Assessment, taking responses from a Care At Home Survey.  People were not aware of what their comments would be used for, were unaware of the proposed changes, and so were not really commenting on them! This was very much a case of information being used to support the case for tendering not a genuine attempt to consult.


What will these reports be used for - we will have to wait and see.  We wouldn’t be surprised if there were still people within the council who thought that the worst anxieties the people went through were created by provider groups protecting their own interests rather than the result of a "Council led mess".   While there is a genuine wish amongst some council officials to improve their performance in the future, we do not know how much is about real people and how much is about “restoring Edinburgh’s reputation”. 

You can read the report here

 

More concerns over the Independent Living Fund

Fresh from the concerns earlier this year over the restriction of new applications to the Independent Living Fund to those in work, it now seems the whole future of the fund is in doubt.  

As part of the review of governmental spending, the question of whether the fund should remain with the DWP.  At first sight this makes sense as the ILF is a legacy fund which was set up as part of an ad hoc development of community care.   However one of the suggested solutions is a nightmare!

First the sufficient money will be transferred to local authorities to administer on the basis of existing applicants 

Second the money will be ring fenced for 4-5 years

Third as existing applicants surrender their claims then the money will be retained by the government gradually reducing the value of the scheme

Fourth at the end of the ring fencing period then the fund will cease and local authorities will be expected to make alternative provision.

Huge financial pressures will be placed on local authorities - individuals will lose an important element of control over their lives - services will be reduced and many vulnerable people will lose out.   Over a third of ILF applicants have a severe learning disability.  About £61 million will be stolen from vulnderable adults in Scotland and there will be untold consequences on their services and support structures.  

We urge you now to write to David Cameron at 10 Downing Street or Iain Duncan Smith at the Department of Work & Pensions.  Download a draft letter here

 

Sign the Charter for Carers

 

This Monday saw the launch of the Scottish Government's Carers Strategy.  There are many things in the strategy but it is worth noting that it makes clear  "that frail elderly carers might be considered to be in greatest need: a preventative approach would mean early identification of these carers and the availability of the necessary supports to enable quality-of-life and in turn to prevent crises.  [As a result] There needs to be more focus on early intervention, with crisis support available too. In times of financial constraint the imperative is usually to take action when there is a crisis that needs tackling. However, a greater emphasis on anticipatory and preventative support in relation to both the carer and cared-for person - which does not have to be complex or expensive - can delay or prevent the need for crisis intervention, and is therefore more cost-effective."

Our Charter For Change which calls for 5 simple steps to make life easier for older families still caring for an adult son or daughter with learning disabilities.  For more information on the Charter visit www.charterforchange.com

The five points of the charter cover

 

  1. Accurate research on numbers

  2. Person Centred Planning

  3. Dedicated Lead Officers

  4. Emergency Planning

  5. A right to advocacy

 

 

 

The Independent Budget Review

The review has outlined the financial challenges facing the Scottish Government over the next few years.  Or at least it tried to but from the start it was hampered by a lack of clear figures.  No one knows yet what the scale of the cuts will be.  There is some indication that the review will aim to reduce costs by 3.3% per year in real terms.  But the complexity of the Barnett formula means that no one really understands yet what Scotland's grant next year will be.  For example, the review points out that as the Health Service is likely to be protected in England, then that might mean that slightly more money will come into Scotland than expected. 

The second thing to point out is that the Review is only a review - it has no legal status - it is done hurriedly - it was limited in its scope.  Ministers are both free and able to reject its contents altogether.  The review's limitation are important - it was not allowed to consider the implications of raising taxes to raise further money - although at COSLA's request it appears to have suggested that it would be a good idea to raise the Council Tax for the next few years. The decisions will be in the hands of the politicians and next year is Scottish election year

Read more...
 

Festival of Politics

Tickets are now avaliable for the Cross Party Group on Learning Disability's event as part of the 2010 Festival of Politics.  The event is scheduled for Saturday 21 August at 11am in the Scottish Parliament and is titled "The Trouble with Transition - Moving into Adulthood and getting older with a learning disability." 

 

There are only a limited number of tickets avaliable for the event - so make sure you book early! Tickets are free (with a £1 booking fee if you book online) and you can get them:

 

 
More Articles...
  • «
  •  Start 
  •  Prev 
  •  1 
  •  2 
  •  3 
  •  4 
  •  5 
  •  6 
  •  7 
  •  8 
  •  9 
  •  10 
  •  Next 
  •  End 
  • »
Page 1 of 16

Main Menu

Donate to the Learning Disability Alliance

Donate using PayPal
Amount:

Specialist News

Login

Registering with us will allow you access to minutes of our meetings and to contribute in the discussion forum

Our Message

Individuals have a learning disability. Individuals with a learning disability water ski, play backgammon, get married and have children. Individuals with a learning disability can also need help 24 hours a day to eat, drink and go to the toilet. Don't assume! Everybody is an indvidual.