A literature review examined interventions that were available for adults 'at risk' of abuse and harm. It looked at those relating to different types of harm against adults (physical; psychological; financial; sexual; discriminatory; and neglect). It highlighted interventions used at three different stages in relation to abuse (prevention; responding to allegations; and remedying harm). There were a number of common themes across the interventions which suggested transferability between types of abuse and stage of intervention.
Source: Halina Kalaga and Paul Kingston with Bridget Penhale and JoyAnn Andrews, A Review of Literature on Effective Interventions that Prevent and Respond to Harm Against Adults, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined some of the mechanisms underlying uneven outcomes for disabled people in different parts of the United Kingdom in respect of the use of direct payments. Local variations had been produced not only by 'local' factors, but also by different opportunity structures for policy development in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This raised questions about the impact of devolution on equity and opportunity for disabled people.
Source: Mark Priestley et al., 'Direct payments and disabled people in the UK: supply, demand and devolution', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 37 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Oct
A discussion paper (originally written in July 2006) examined what needed to happen in order that by 2010 each local social services area would have a user-led organization modelled on existing centres for independent living.
Source: Jenny Morris, Centres for Independent Living / Local User-led Organisations: A discussion paper, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2007-Sep
A survey found a lack of well co-ordinated support for disabled parents across adult and children's services, health, social care, housing, and the non-statutory sector.
Source: Jenny Morris and Michele Wates, Working Together to Support Disabled Parents, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report | Children Now report
Date: 2007-Aug
An article examined the public expenditure costs and distributional effects of potential reforms to long-term care funding. Changes to the means tests for user contributions to care costs were compared with options for the abolition of these means tests ('free' personal care). The latter generally cost more than the former and benefited higher-income groups more than those on lower incomes (measuring income in relation to the age-specific income distribution). Reforms to the means-tests target benefited those on lower incomes: but the highest-income group were net losers if free personal care was financed by a higher tax rate on higher incomes, and the effect on the whole population considered.
Source: Ruth Hancock et al., 'Winners and losers: assessing the distributional effects of long-term care funding regimes', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
A report said that hundreds of disabled people each year were prevented from moving home because of bureaucratic delays – caused by disputes between local authorities and primary care trusts over who should pay for their care.
Source: No Place Like Home: Ordinary residence, discrimination and disabled people, Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (020 7242 0476)
Links: Report | VODG press release
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined projections of receipt of informal care by disabled older people from their spouses and (adult) children to 2031 in England. Over the period, care by spouses was likely to increase substantially: but if existing patterns of care remained the same, care by children would also need to increase by nearly 60 per cent by 2031. It was not clear that the supply of care by children would rise to meet this demand.
Source: Linda Pickard, Raphael Wittenberg, Adelina Comas-Herrera, Derek King and Juliette Malley, 'Care by spouses, care by children: projections of informal care for older people in England to 2031', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
An article used the findings of a study of assessment and care management practice in one English council to examine social workers? approach to the allocation of direct payments, by reference to the concept of ?street-level bureaucracy?.
Source: Kathryn Ellis, 'Direct payments and social work practice: the significance of ?street-level bureaucracy? in determining eligibility', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 37 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
Two linked studies examined ways of supporting independent living for disabled people. The first found that savings to healthcare and social care budgets could be made by investing in housing adaptations. The second found that investment in independent living benefited individuals and wider society.
Source: Frances Heywood and Lynn Turner, Better Outcomes, Lower Costs: Implications for health and social care budgets of investment in housing adaptations, improvements and equipment - a review of the evidence, Office for Disability Issues (office-for-disability-issues@dwp.gsi.gov.uk) | Jennifer Hurstfield, Urvashi Parashar and Kerry Schofield, The Costs and Benefits of Independent Living, Office for Disability Issues
Links: Better Outcomes report | Summary | Cost-benefits report | Summary | ODI press release
Date: 2007-May
A report compared the outcomes from social care services desired by parents of disabled children with those desired by carers of disabled and older adults. It found that there were striking similarities in the range of outcomes that each group of carers desired to achieve. Differences in legislation and practice guidance for the two groups were therefore not justified by the empirical evidence.
Source: Hilary Arksey, Bryony Beresford, Caroline Glendinning, Veronica Greco and Tricia Sloper, Outcomes for Parents with Disabled Children and Carers of Disabled or Older Adults: Similarities, differences and the implications for assessment practice, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Apr
A new book examined legislation intended to protect the interests of people with disabilities or impairments. It covered the social and legal responses to the equality rights of disabled people, focusing on those responses to: the right to life; the end of life; and assisted suicide.
Source: Sheila McLean and Laura Williamson, Impairment and Disability: Law and ethics at the beginning and end of life, Taylor and Francis (020 7583 9855)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jan