Care Support Independence

General

Dame Jo Williams, co-chair of the Learning Disability Coalition, writes to The Times. She highlights the gap between the NHS and social care budget. (14 May)

In response to the new minimum wage, Martin Green of ECCA says that the higher rate would ‘place significant strain on providers.’  (13 May)

According to a YouGov survey carried out for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, 53 per cent of 1,512 people aged between 49 and 63 believe they will receive inferior standards of healthcare as they get older.  (11 May)

National Centre for Independent Living has published a Review of Peer Support Activity in the Context of Self-Directed Support and the Personalisation of Adult Social Care. (13 May)

Carers UK have launched Caring with Confidence, a free course for carers in England. The programme will be delivered through 32 providers across the country. (12 May)

Learning Disability Coalition has drawn attention to a study conducted by the London School of Economics, which suggests that £27bn is spent annually on care and support for people with autism in the UK. (22 May)

Carers UK has launched a Carers’ Poverty Charter. The Charter calls upon the Government ‘to set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers’ benefits and income.’ (22 May)

National Care Forum

The National Care Forum reports David Behan’s comments to Community Care Live. He said that the limited growth in public spending would offer only limited potential for state funding for the care and support system.  (14 May)

The Forum draws attention to the first prosecution brought about by the Care Quality Commission. The CQC took action against the Coventry care home after it failed to correct problems relating to the management of its medicines. (26 May)

The Forum also mentions the National Skills Academy for Social Care, supported by the Department of Health, which is introducing a Graduate Trainee Scheme to attract some of the executives of the future into the adult social care workforce. (22 May)

Response to ippr-PricewaterhouseCoopers report on attitudes towards social care (29 May)

ippr and PricewaterhouseCoopers have published the report Expectations & Aspirations: Public attitudes towards social care. Of approximately 2,000 people questioned in a survey, 16% thought that social care was funded through tax and national insurance, and more than 50% favoured free personal care based on need. 69% of those questioned desired to know more about social care. The full report can be found here.

Caroline Bernard of Counsel and Care says that the report ’clearly shows that there is still a great deal to do to inform the general public about social care, both in advance of and beyond publication of the Green Paper on social care funding.’