The Care Bill was given a second reading. The Bill was designed to:
Introduce a cap on the cost of social care in England, and give carers the legal right to support from their local council.
Provide protection to people whose care provider went out of business.
Set out provision for local authorities to assess the care and support needs of children, and young carers, who may need support after they reach the age of 18, to facilitate the transition to adult social care.
Set out entitlements to personal care budgets and provisions for deferred payments for care.
Introduce a rating system for hospitals and care homes, and give new powers of intervention to the chief inspector of hospitals.
Create two new public bodies, Health Education England and the Health Research Authority, designed to provide additional training and support for health professionals.
Source: Care Bill, Department of Health, TSO | Debate 16 December 2013, columns 487-580, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HoC briefing paper | Summary | Carers UK briefing
Date: 2013-Dec
A paper examined changes in local spending on, and provision of, adult social care in England between 2005-06 and 2012-13. It indicated that there had been significant, and almost certainly unprecedented, reductions in spending and service provision, particularly for older people. It noted some caveats about the data.
Source: Jose-Luis Fernandez, Tom Snell, and Gerald Wistow, Changes in the Patterns of Social Care Provision in England: 2005/6 to 2012/13, Discussion Paper 2867, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent/London School of Economics
Links: Paper | Care and Support Alliance press release
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined how individual budgets for adult social care impacted on carers and the caring role in England and Wales. It said that receipt of the individual budget had positive impacts on carers' reported quality of life and on social care outcomes.
Source: Karen Jones, Ann Netten, Parvaneh Rabiee, Caroline Glendinning, Hilary Arksey, and Nicola Moran, 'Can individual budgets have an impact on carers and the caring role?', Ageing and Society, Volume 34 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
The Scottish Government published a Bill designed to make it lawful, in certain circumstances, to assist another to commit suicide.
Source: Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the right (under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) of people with disabilities to live independently, and whether people were able to realize that right through the English administrative justice system. It examined practical examples of the use of discretion in social care decision-making, administration and delivery. It noted that discretion was present in the processes and tools of decision-making, and concluded that practice was not yet wholly aligned with meaningful, Convention-compliant change.
Source: Tabitha Collingbourne, 'Administrative justice? Realising the right to independent living in England: power, systems, identities', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the views of people with intellectual disabilities regarding abuse. It said that they expressed a range of views and some revealed strong emotions. It concluded that people with intellectual disabilities could discuss their feelings on the topic, and could recognize its impact, but there was a need to improve further the approaches to disclosure and its consequences.
Source: Ruth Northway, Melissa Melsome, Samantha Flood, Davey Bennett, Joyce Howarth, and Becki Thomas, 'How do people with intellectual disabilities view abuse and abusers?', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 17 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the use of the care programme approach (CPA) for people with mental health problems and concurrent intellectual disability (dual diagnosis) in one National Health Service foundation trust in England. The study found that progress in implementing CPA was limited. It identified six key contextual challenges that had obstructed progress.
Source: Michael Kelly and Charlotte Humphrey, 'Implementation of the care programme approach across health and social services for dual diagnosis clients', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 17 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report prepared for the Northern Ireland Assembly examined the health inequalities affecting people with a learning disability. It said that, despite two action plans and a service framework for learning disability, progress to reduce health inequalities had been slow. It suggested actions including: the identification of people who were not known to services; collection of appropriate learning disability population data; ensuring all family doctors were involved in the health check scheme; and the improvement of health promotion/screening.
Source: Health Inequalities and People with a Learning Disability, Research Paper 134/13, Research and Information Service, Northern Ireland Assembly
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the literature on physical and psychological abuse of individuals with intellectual disabilities and, in particular, the contributing factors. The article highlighted a lack of recent empirical evidence on the incidence of abuse, potential causes and the long-term impact of prevention training, and discussed the need for more research.
Source: Sally Wright, 'How do we prevent another Winterbourne? A literature review', Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 7 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report provided an update on local areas' progress against commitments in the Winterbourne View concordat.
Source: Winterbourne View Joint Improvement Programme: Stocktake of progress report, Local Government Association
Links: Report | Summary | LGA press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A survey examined attitudes to homecare. It found that time constraints, low pay, and lack of training for frontline staff were considered to be key challenges facing care workers in England. The most important factors for good care were identified as sufficient time, friendly, respectful, capable care workers, and choice about services. The main challenges identified for care providers included council commissioning and a shortage of care workers.
Source: Louise Wheeler and Stuart Newstead, Attitudes to Homecare in England, Department of Health
Links: Report | DH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Oct
An article examined how three local authorities in England facilitated personalized home care for older people, and how changes in approach were experienced by support planners and home care agency managers. The paper concluded that, overall, the changes appeared to be well intended, but the practicalities of implementing them raised challenges that meant objectives might not always be achieved.
Source: Kate Baxter, Parvaneh Rabiee, and Caroline Glendinning, 'Managed personal budgets for older people: what are English local authorities doing to facilitate personalized and flexible care?', Public Money and Management, Volume 33 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Oct
A report provided a framework upon which to develop local plans and implement personal budgets for children and young people.
Source: Support and Aspiration: Introducing personal budgets, In Control
Links: Report | In Control press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A think-tank report described a co-ordinated service delivery model – the 'house of care' – that aimed to deliver proactive, holistic, and patient-centred care for people with long-term conditions. Incorporating learning from a number of sites in England, the report made recommendations on how key stakeholders could work together to improve care for people with long-term conditions.
Source: Angela Coulter, Sue Roberts, and Anna Dixon, Delivering Better Services for People with Long-Term Conditions: Building the house of care, King s Fund
Links: Report | Kings Fund press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report said that two-thirds of local councils were commissioning 15-minute care visits despite major concerns that they deprived disabled people of essential care. It called for government to use the Care Bill to change commissioning practice.
Source: Ending 15-Minute Care, Leonard Cheshire
Links: Report | Leonard Cheshire press release | UKHCA press release | LGA press release | Daily Mail report | Guardian report | BBC report | ADASS press release | Alzheimer's Society press release
Date: 2013-Oct
The Welsh Government published a framework for action on independent living, outlining the steps it would take to ensure that disabled people had the same access to services and opportunities as the rest of society. Measures in the plan included increasing the number of disabled people who were able to use the internet, and strengthening the tenancy rights of people with learning disabilities.
Source: Framework for Action on Independent Living, Welsh Government
Links: Framework | Welsh Government press release | Disability Wales press release
Date: 2013-Sep
The watchdog in Scotland for the rights of children and young people said that services for disabled young people and their families had declined significantly as the impact of public sector cuts was felt. There was evidence of cuts in local authority budgets leading to tighter eligibility criteria, support being removed without review or reassessment, and a lack of consultation.
Source: Kirsten Stalker, Charlotte MacDonald, Caroline King, Francis McFaul, Colin Young, Moyra Hawthorn, and Louis Patrizio, 'It Always Comes Down to Money': Recent changes in service provision to disabled children, young people and their families in Scotland, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
Links: Report | SCCYP press release
Date: 2013-Sep
A report said that the potential for mainstream technology to transform the lives of disabled people remained largely untapped. Disabled people still faced a huge digital divide, and many still had to choose between expensive specialist equipment or inaccessible mainstream gadgets.
Source: Sam Jewell and Ross Atkin, Enabling Technology, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (Royal College of Art)
Links: Report | Scope press release
Date: 2013-Sep
An evaluation found that official pilots under which disabled people were given personal budgets integrating a number of funding streams had not increased choice or quality of life, and had been undermined by inadequate support planning. No evidence was found of a positive impact on disabled people, in terms of either their experiences of applying for/organizing services or their day-to-day lives.
Source: Trinh Tu, Claire Lambert, Jayesh Navin Shah, Phil Westwood, Caroline Bryson, Susan Purdon, Jacque Mallender, Evelina Bertranou, Tracey Jhita, and Sarah Roberts, Evaluation of the Right to Control Trailblazers: Synthesis Report, Office for Disability Issues (Department for Work and Pensions)
Links: Report | Disability Rights UK press release | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Aug
The coalition government published a cross-departmental strategy for supporting disabled people. It included a set of outcomes and indicators to measure progress in disabled people s opportunities.
Source: Fulfilling Potential: Making It Happen, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Strategy | Action plan | Technical annex | Hansard | DWP press release | Scope press release | Radar press release
Date: 2013-Jul
An article examined the epistemological underpinnings of social work research and disability studies research. It considered the tensions, possibilities, and power dynamics of collaboration between the two research disciplines, and outlined possibilities for social model approaches to social work research.
Source: Kathy Boxall and Peter Beresford, 'Service user research in social work and disability studies in the United Kingdom', Disability & Society, Volume 28 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jul
A report said that investing in social care prevented disabled people falling into crisis and, as a result, led to substantial economic benefits. Every pound spent on preventative and community services generated benefits to people, carers, and local and central government worth an average of at least £1.30.
Source: Hardeep Aiden and Marc Bush, Ending the Other Care Crisis: Making the case for investment in preventative care and support for disabled adults, Scope/National Autistic Society/Mencap/Sense/Leonard Cheshire Disability
Links: Report | Leonard Cheshire press release | Scope press release
Date: 2013-Jun
A report by two all-party groups of MPs examined ways to promote social care reform for working-age disabled people. There was widespread concern that the existing social care system was too often focused on the 'nuts and bolts' of provision, and was not yet able to ensure that disabled people could live truly independent lives. The growing social care funding problem had resulted in local authorities raising their eligibility criteria: with fewer disabled people captured in the formal care system, this could result in an escalation of need and have a damaging effect on the independence and well-being of disabled people. It also placed additional strain on local authority budgets as they became focused on providing expensive, crisis care.
Source: Promoting Independence, Preventing Crisis: Making social care reform work for disabled adults, All Party Parliamentary Group on Local Government/All Party Parliamentary Disability Group
Links: Report | Scope press release
Date: 2013-May
An article examined empirical evidence from a longitudinal, qualitative study of support-related choices for disabled people in relation to health, social care, employment, and housing. It said that if people were expected to make emotion-laden choices, and to minimize negative aspects associated with the process of making a choice, they needed to be supported in doing so.
Source: Kate Baxter and Caroline Glendinning, 'The role of emotions in the process of making choices about welfare services: the experiences of disabled people in England', Social Policy and Society, Volume 12 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
A report said that disabled young people were being denied the right to have a say in how local services, such as education, health, and leisure were being developed and delivered.
Source: Catherine Shaw, Natasha Willmott, Chloe Gill, Joanna Lea, and Anita Franklin, The VIPER Project: What We Found, Children s Society/Alliance for Inclusive Education/Council for Disabled Children/NCB Research Centre
Links: Report | Summary | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2013-Feb
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that the youth work offered to disabled young people was inconsistent across local authorities in England. Too much of the provision was largely historical, often including a portfolio of inherited clubs, centres, and programmes originally founded by parents, support groups, or youth workers. Insufficient attention was given to the needs of individuals and groups who did not access opportunities. There were only a few instances where sufficient consideration was being given to accommodating the cultural needs of minority ethnic families.
Source: Critical Issues in the Provision of Youth Work for Young Disabled People: Survey findings, HMI 130018, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined the implications of the personalization agenda for disability politics. Personalization was insufficiently aligned with collective aspects of empowerment: it disproportionately emphasized improvements in individual autonomy through personalized support, and lacked reference to structural oppression or the need for collective forms of action that brought about structural change. Personalization also lacked a multi-faceted analysis of disability and disempowerment, and therefore any vision of a positive alternative society.
Source: Steven Dodd, 'Personalisation, individualism and the politics of disablement', Disability & Society, Volume 28 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
An article said that in order to effectively implement the governing principles in the Mental Capacity Act and promote the autonomy of people whose capacities were impaired, health and social welfare professionals needed to go beyond a primarily cognitive approach to capacity assessment: they needed to refer to a range of more demanding autonomy conditions relating to authenticity, diachronic coherence and consistency, accountability to others, and affective attitudes towards oneself.
Source: Catriona Mackenzie and Wendy Rogers, 'Autonomy, vulnerability and capacity: a philosophical appraisal of the Mental Capacity Act', International Journal of Law in Context, Volume 9 Special Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
A report highlighted a social care 'crisis' for disabled people. Almost 40 per cent of disabled people receiving social care support were not having their basic needs met, including eating, washing, dressing, or getting out of the house. To make matters worse, coalition government proposals risked up to 105,000 disabled people failing to get basic support for their day-to-day lives. There was a £1.2 billion funding gap in social care support for disabled people under the age of 65.
Source: Ellie Brawn, Marc Bush, Caroline Hawkings, and Robert Trotter, The Other Care Crisis: Making social care funding work for disabled adults in England, Scope//Mencap/National Autistic Society/Sense/Leonard Cheshire Disability
Links: Report | Scope press release | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2013-Jan
A study examined the effect of the economic crisis, and its consequences in terms of austerity measures, on the rights and status of people with disabilities in Europe. It focused on the impact on the delivery of social services, and income supports and allowances, particularly aimed at people with disabilities.
Source: Harald Hauben, Michael Coucheir, Jan Spooren, Donal McAnaney, and Claude Delfosse, Assessing the Impact of European Governments Austerity Plans on the Rights of People with Disabilities, European Consortium of Foundations on Human Rights and Disability
Date: 2013-Jan
A report said that the coalition government's public spending cuts were targeted at people in poverty, and at disabled people and their families. Spending on the National Health Service and pensions had been protected, leaving cuts totalling £75.2 billion in other areas. Of these cuts, over 50 per cent fell on benefits and local government, despite the fact that together they made up only 26.8 per cent of central government expenditure. Local government's primary function (over 60 per cent of its spending) was to provide social care to children and adults. The government seemed to have made no effort to understand the cumulative impact of its cuts on minority groups, especially those with the greatest needs.
Source: Simon Duffy, A Fair Society? How the cuts target disabled people, Centre for Welfare Reform
Date: 2013-Jan