Social care reform — alarm at Tory proposals

At Prime Minister’s Questions on 15 January, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Boris Johnson why the delay on reform of social care addressing the crisis.  Watch video here. What some Conservatives have suggested so far, is even worse than now: A class-biased two-tier system, whereby low-income people continue to get poor-quality care, while those who … Read more

Greenwich care charges — fight goes on

Reposted from News Shopper: “Our lives are being put at risk”: Disability advocate hits out at new proposed care costs By Lachlan Leeming  @LeemingLachie Local Democracy Reporter – Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich Greenwich’s scrutiny committee on Thursday and (inset) community opposition gathered at Wednesday’s meeting.   An activist awarded an MBE for her work fighting for the disabled … Read more

No to care charges hike — Greenwich open letter

No to care charges increases – WinVisible letter and submission Royal Borough of Greenwich     Adult social care consultation 2019 Open letter to Cllr Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health averil.lekau@royalgreenwich.gov.uk And submission to carecharges@royalgreenwich.gov.uk Dear Cllr Lekau and Naomi Alexander, RBG Adult social care consultation 2019 We write to strongly oppose … Read more

Independent living + living wage for family carers

Here is our submission to the Labour Policy Forum  to the topic, “Health and social care”.  Please comment and like our submission via this link Anyone can make a submission, as an individual or organisation, as a Labour Party member or guest.  The consultation ends today, 30 June.  https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/commissions  Women are the majority of disabled people/pensioners reliant on … Read more

Women say: reorient benefits to support us and recognise care work

Here is our submission to the Labour Policy Forum about benefits and employment, done jointly with the Global Women’s Strike.  Anyone can make a submission, as an individual or organisation, as a Labour Party member or guest.  The consultation ends tomorrow 30 June.  https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/commissions Labour policy review – Work, pensions and equality Joint submission from … Read more

Disabled mum won compensation vs Ealing refusal of child care support

It’s a fantastic victory that a disabled mum, Ms B, won against Ealing Council for not providing enough support for her to take care of her son. She took her case to the Local Government Ombudsman. Under the Care Act 2014 section 12, Councils have a duty to assess the needs of the family, not … Read more

Costs of disability

Scope’s report ‘The Disability Price Tag 2019‘ shows how disability benefits are much too low to live on (as well as the DWP cutting off and sanctioning people like Jodey Whiting). At the same time, councils and other authorities are wildly undercounting people’s disability expenses, and making people pay more charges for homecare and support services from … Read more

Response to Local Government Association social care consultation

We have just sent in a response to the Local Government Association (LGA) Green Paper on Adult Social Care. The LGA says ‘We are the national voice of local government, working with councils to support, promote and improve local government’. They represent 415 local authorities across England and Wales. They issued their Green Paper to influence the … Read more

Entitled to free support services under aftercare?

  A volunteer writes: “If you have ever been sectioned on a section 3 of the Mental Health Act (and other sections below) once you are discharged back to the community and have needs relating to healthcare, social care or supported accommodation, then these should be provided by what is called Section 117 aftercare. A … Read more

Disabled people transforming Hammersmith & Fulham policy

The unusual combination of active local people and accountable councillors has made the way for Hammersmith & Fulham to be the only Council in England to abolish homecare charges, abolish bailiffs for debt, get housing estates back from private developers, and set out to change many other things. On 20 June 2018 we were thrilled … Read more