Author: Inspiring On

Home sought for ‘sweetheart’ dog with unusual eating disorder

A rescue dog who eats toys, bedding and other objects due to an unusual disorder is looking for a special home with owners who can help manage her condition. Four-year-old crossbreed Ruby has cropped ears and RSPCA staff were concerned that the cruel procedure – illegal in the UK due to the lifelong health, welfare […]

CQC examination reveals South East hardest hit by care home coronavirus deaths

A woman who lost her father in the worst days of the covid pandemic has welcomed a new report by the Care Quality Commission into the deaths in residential homes. The CQC admitted that the virus has been ‘devastating’ for so many homes and said that lessons have been learned. Jean Adamson, whose father Aldrick […]

Green light for third phase of housing project

The next phase of a multi-million pound project to deliver improved independent supported living accommodation across Leeds has been given the go ahead. Planning permission was granted for a £12.5m extra care scheme to be built in Woodlesford and forms part of Leeds City Council’s housing programme to construct over 1,000 new homes by 2028. […]

FUNDING SUPPORTS CARE PROVIDER’S DOUBLE ACQUISITION

A community care provider headquartered in Tamworth has acquired two supported living services after securing a funding package from Leicestershire-based alternative finance provider ThinCats. Established in 2001 by brothers Samir and Deepesh Patel, Radis Community Care is a provider of community-based social care and support for thousands of vulnerable adults and children in England and Wales. […]

New charity takes the lead to empower young adults with learning disabilities

An exciting new charity is taking the lead to empower young adults with learning disabilities to choose where and how they live. Alessandra Morelli, daughter of Charity Chairman, Roberto Morelli Where I Want to Live has been set up by a group of like-minded parents and professionals with experience in the sector.  The charity has strong links with Shropshire and the West Midlands. […]

‘Prison Break’ star Wentworth Miller reveals ‘gift’ of adult autism diagnosis

‘Prison Break’ actor opens up about autism diagnosis Wentworth Miller has revealed he was formally diagnosed with autism last year – and called the diagnosis a “gift”. The Prison Break star said it came as a “shock but not a surprise”, adding that the diagnosis had been a long, flawed process that he felt needed updating. Miller, 49, revealed in […]

We need your help…

You may have seen news about the upcoming Borders Bill, which if passed, will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without permission to be here. Hope for Justice has major concerns about what these proposals could mean for survivors, as the safe routes to the UK will now be rendered illegal. This Bill will mean criminals […]

Nursing homes face essential worker shortage

Skyland Care Center staff members pose for a picture with a resident. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities were among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they are facing another problem, one whose roots stem from pre-COVID times — staffing shortages. An analysis by the American Health Care Association and the National Center […]

New accessible toilet signage unveiled to support people living with hidden illnesses

New signage to be used on accessible public toilets in Wales has been unveiled by Pelican & Respond Healthcare to support people living with hidden illnesses. Cardiff Council is the first local authority in the country to pilot the signage, designed and developed by students at Cardiff Metropolitan University studying BA Graphic Communication, as part […]

Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman on Raising a Child with Autism

Boyz II Men founding member Shawn Stockman is opening up about his support for other families raising kids who are on the autism spectrum. The 48-year-old musician shares three kids with his wife Sharhonda, whom he wed in 2001: twin sons Micah and Ty, 18, and younger daughter Brooklyn. After Micah was diagnosed with autism at 2 years […]

Understanding the power of restorative justice

There are countless beautiful initiatives paving the path of peace all over the world that we never hear about. Even in the most wretchedly troubled places on the face of the earth, there are those who are courageously working towards the shalom, the salaam, the peace, the síochaín of their people. As people of faith, […]

Queen awards George Cross to NHS to mark 70 years of public service

The Queen has awarded the George Cross, the UK’s highest award for gallantry and heroism, to the NHS to mark its public service over seven decades, Buckingham Palace has announced. The NHS marks its 73rd birthday on Monday following a year of unprecedented challenges. It is only the third time the award has been given to a […]

Skills bill: calls for inclusion of SEND provision

The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill must be amended to include clauses around provision for students with special and education needs, says Lord Addington The Post-16 Education and Skills Bill must be amended to include clauses around provision for students with special educational needs, Lord Addington has said. In the most recent list of amendments tabled by the […]

Exclusive: Reform Ofsted post Covid ‘battle’, say heads

A commission involving heads should be set up to review accountability structures in wake of pandemic, say school leaders In 1942, the Liberal politician William Beveridge presented a report to Parliament containing a detailed plan for post-war recovery. “Now, when the war is abolishing landmarks of every kind, is the opportunity for using experience in a […]

Call for action as Shropshire patients struggle to arrange GP appointments

Patients in Shropshire are struggling to arrange GP appointments while remote meetings threaten to ‘shut out’ the elderly and those lacking technical skills, a health watchdog has found. Healthwatch Shropshire has made a series of recommendations to health and social care services in the county after a survey on the impact of the pandemic revealed […]

The 7 Kent care homes rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission

The seven Kent care homes that have been rated the worst by a watchdog can be revealed. Independent inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regularly visit care homes to find out whether the service is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. There are four ratings given to health and social care services – these are […]

Concerns for vulnerable Scottish children as support available slumps dramatically

AN alliance of independent and third sector organisations has called for greater resourcing to support children and young people with additional support needs (ASN), such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems. The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC) has made the call as new figures contained in a parliamentary answer revealed that spend per pupil […]

9 Ways Schools Can Boost Inclusion For Special Needs Children

Creating a fully inclusive learning environment is one of the biggest challenges facing schools, but that doesn’t mean it’s an impossible task. Find out how schools can boost inclusion for special needs children, here. There are plenty of practical and logistical challenges facing schools, especially in relation to catering for the needs of any special […]

CQC Announces Detail Of New Inspection Strategy

As a result of COVID-19, routine inspections were suspended in March 2020. Since that time CQC has been adapting to the problems caused by this and reviewing the way they inspect. On 14 June 2021 CQC announced further changes to the way they monitor regulated services by issuing the following statement: “The developments we’re announcing […]

Painting by Suffolk artist to be raffled off for special needs children’s charity

The oil on canvas painting, Sunrise, was painted by Hambling in 2020, and measures 10 x 12 inches, with framed dimensions 14 ¼ x 16 inches. Credit: Maggi Hambling. A painting by Suffolk artist Maggi Hambling is to be raffled off to raise funds for a charity which helps support children with special educational needs. The […]

Plans to build ‘retirement village’ in AONB approved following appeal

A planning inspector has approved an appeal for 133 units of housing offering assisted living for older people on a site within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), after concluding that “exceptional circumstances” existed to justify the consent. Senior Living (Sonning Common) Ltd and Investfront Ltd had previously had their plans rejected by […]

Livi becomes first online GP provider rated ‘outstanding’ by CQC

Livi has become the first online GP provider to be rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In 2020, just 5% of GP practices were awarded the ‘outstanding’ label and only one other digital healthcare provider has previously been given an overall rating of ‘outstanding’ – paediatric service The Children’s e-Hospital. Livi enables patients […]

Actually, Hugo Hammond Isn’t The First Love Island Contestant With A Disability

Last week, the cast of the new series of Love Island was announced with much focus on this years’ line-up including the ‘first contestant with a disability’. Hugo Hammond, a PE teacher from Hampshire, was born with club foot – which causes the foot to twist downwards and inwards. TV’s effort towards inclusion was celebrated by many, […]

Wall Street Rides FAR (For Autism Research) announced the appointments of Marc Wyatt

Wall Street Rides FAR (For Autism Research), the annual charity cycling and walking event benefitting the Autism Science Foundation (ASF), today announced the appointments of Marc Wyatt, Head of Global Trading at T. Rowe Price, and Jos Schmitt, President & CEO of the NEO Exchange, a Tier 1 Canadian stock exchange, to its Board of […]

One in every twenty Isle of Wight pupils has an Education and Care Health Plan

The percentage of Isle of Wight pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans has risen over the last year five years, but a study warns that many vulnerable pupils are likely to be SEND “under-identified” Latest statistics show yet another rise in pupils needing SEN support. The percentage of pupils with an Education, Health and […]

Heartbreak as lockdown forces club to close

A popular club set up to bridge the gap between children with and without disabilities is closing due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Telford’s thriving My Friend and Me (MyFAM) project was set up three years ago to create a safe space for children of all abilities to socialise and have fun. It […]

Virtual Care Home Open Week gets up and running

Care Home Open Week launches this week with a packed agenda of virtual activities celebrating residents, staff and their role in local communities. Over 500 cares homes in the UK will take part in the event which includes virtual tours, fundraising dance-a-thons, karaoke, fashion shows, art projects, community service days and much more. The event, […]

Ten new children’s homes could be opened in Somerset by 2026

Somerset County Council wants to prevent further sharp rises in the cost of residential placements Ten new children’s homes could be opened across Somerset by 2026 to provide better support for the county’s most vulnerable children. Somerset County Council’s children’s services team has seen the cost of residential placement for children in its care rise […]

Is the DfE deliberately ignoring pupils with SEND?

The experiences of pupils with special educational needs and disability are consistently overlooked – there’s no greater disadvantage than being ignored, says Christopher Rossiter The latest research from Ofsted on the experience of young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) and their families through the pandemic has a familiar air. Children and families have once […]

GUEST COLUMN: Everything you need to know about the registration process

Abi Spence, a Registration and Inspection specialist for Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), offers guidance for new provides on the registration process. For new providers seeking to open a service, registration is a mandatory first step. Providers cannot open without it. But often it is not an easy hurdle to negotiate. It can be a long […]

Tommy Hilfiger: Fashion can’t ignore people with disabilities any more

His children Kathleen and Sebastian were diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum when they were young children. As Kathleen is now in her 20s, Hilfiger has witnessed her needs and seen how they’ve evolved from childhood into adult life. “Having first hand experience with children with special needs, my wife [Dee] and I realised […]

Council invests £5.9m in providing Real Living Wage for carers

Wirral Council has provided £5.9m in funding to ensure carers receive the Real Living Wage (RLW). The decision comes after the council introduced an opportunity to incentivise care providers to pay the RLW last year through the use of national funding. Cllr Yvonne Nolan, Chair of Wirral Council’s Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, […]

Pepper the robot joins school to support children with autism

Pepper, the friendly humanoid robot from SoftBank Robotics, is lending a helping hand to pupils at a special needs school in Somerset, as part of a project led by researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Currently based at The Mendip School near Shepton Mallet, the approachable-looking robot is supporting pupils […]

A Step Forward In The Provision Of Education To Pupils With Down’s Syndrome

All efforts to raise awareness and strengthen the rights and entitlements of children and young people with Down’s syndrome, who often experience marginalisation, and whose parents have to fight the system to get their children’s needs met, should be wholeheartedly welcomed. The proposals contained in The Down’s Syndrome Bill, promoted by former cabinet member Liam […]

Is A Vegan Diet Healthy? What You Need To Know

The health benefits of a vegan diet are wide-ranging but planning appropriately is essential to avoid nutrient deficiencies. Experts advise that a vegan diet can be nutritionally adequate and help to prevent chronic diseases. However, someone must plan a vegan diet appropriately to gain the health benefits and avoid nutrient deficiencies. The percentage of vegans […]

45% of Nursing Home Staff Still Unvaccinated Against COVID-19

Data shows challenge of keeping the coronavirus out of facilities. In the nation’s nursing homes, an average of only 55 percent of workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to new federal data, even though these long-term care facilities have witnessed massive carnage from the pandemic, including almost 135,000 COVID-19 deaths among residents and staff. Vaccination rates […]

Jeremy Hunt: Now or never to fix social care

Boris Johnson promised to reform the sector upon his election to Downing Street in 2019. The UK is facing a “now or never” moment to fix the social care system, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned. There has been frustration at the sector’s lack of reforms, which were promised almost two years ago by Boris Johnson on […]

Mastercard Announces $10 Million in Aid to Combat Covid Crisis in India

Mastercard has recently announced a $10 million (approximately 75 crore rupees) commitment to directly address critical Covid-related needs in India. Over the past few weeks, the country has seen a spike in both Covid diagnoses and deaths, with the healthcare system being stretched to its limits as more than 350,000 new cases are identified each day. […]

Doctors are thinking of leaving the NHS due to pandemic pressures, says BMA

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, says it is a ‘deeply worrying’ situation involving experienced professionals who the NHS needs more than ever. Thousands of exhausted doctors in the UK are planning to leave the NHS in the next year as they battle stress and burnout due to the demands of the pandemic. Of 2,099 […]

Elderly couple used Morse Code to escape care home

An elderly couple with dementia managed to escape from a care home by using Morse code skills the husband learned in the military. The husband and wife duo went on the run from the Elmcroft assisted living facility in Lebanon, near Nashville, Tennessee, after the man used his armed forces training to crack the home’s […]

Low Pay, Bad Working Conditions, COVID Burnout Spark Likely Global Nursing Shortage

GENEVA – The International Council of Nurses warned Thursday that the world was facing a nursing crisis and could expect a significant shortage — perhaps a reduction by half — in the global nursing workforce of 27 million in the next few years. The council said its latest survey of 64 national nursing associations found […]

Housing with care safeguarded lives during COVID pandemic, research finds

A ground breaking research project has revealed how housing with care safeguarded the lives of residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The RE-COV study, which was led by the St Monica Trust, funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust and supported by the Housing LIN, showed retirement village and extra care housing schemes in England […]

ENVIVO BRINGS SPECIALIST NURSING CARE PROVIDER INTO THE FOLD

Cheltenham-headquartered Envivo Group has expanded with the acquisition of a specialist nursing care provider based in Wales. Crusader Medical Care provides care for those with highly acute, complex care needs and challenging behaviours, including mental illness and acquired brain injury. It employs more than 100 staff members and operates two care homes in the Cardiff […]

Plans for new children’s home in Seaford approved

PROPOSALS to open a new children’s home in Seaford have been given the go ahead. On Wednesday (April 21), Lewes District Council’s planning committee approved proposals to convert a house in Beacon Drive into a residential home providing therapeutic care for five vulnerable children. Before making a decision, the committee heard how there was a national shortage […]

Essex Council signs £9m deal for health and care technology

Essex County Council has signed a £9m deal to deliver a countywide care technology service to support collaboration between health and social care. The three year call off agreement, valued at £8.9m, will use technology to support adults in their own home in a bid to reduce reliance on hospital services. After a successful tendering […]

CIVITAS ACQUIRES SOUTH WALES CARE FACILITIES FOR £10.9M

Civitas Social Housing, a care-based social housing REIT, has acquired 15 supported living and care facilities in South Wales for a total of £10.9m. The portfolio comprises 51 beds and long-term support for individuals with learning disabilities and mental health care needs along with dedicated facilities to develop and enhance independent living skills, such as […]

Carer abused and tormented elderly care home resident

A CARER who abused and tormented an elderly care home resident in her final weeks of life has been spared jail. Valentina Baghiu, from Appleton, filmed herself poking the 84-year-old dementia sufferer with a broom and shouting at her to stay awake on one occasion. In another video, the 24-year-old laughed and taunted her frail […]

Prince Philip’s humorous Norfolk care home visit remembered

As the nation mourns the death of Prince Philip, in Norfolk, stories are being recalled of his cheeky sense of humour from visits to venues across the county. And the duke certainly raised a smile among residents of one Aylsham care home. On October 8, 2013, the Prince Philip visited the ACT Centre at St Michael’s Care […]

Nursing home staff told to re-use PPE due to shortage, report claims

Nursing home staff were told to re-use PPE during lockdown due to stock shortages, a report has claimed. It is alleged that staff at Ridgeway Nursing Home, in Crich Lane, Belper, said they felt residents were being “neglected” as they could not provide them with the quality of care they needed. The claims are made in a […]

End of year start for new 50-bed nursing unit

The HSE has said it hopes to start work on the new 50-bed Community Nursing Unit in Clonbrusk to replace St Vincent’s Care Centre in Athlone towards the end of 2021, it’s been revealed – which if it comes to pass represents a big breakthrough for this major project. The latest news emerged following the […]

Decade of social care cuts in UK leaves many elderly £1,000 worse off

A decade of real-terms cuts means the tests deciding who receives state-funded adult care are less generous than nearly a quarter of a century ago, with other cuts leaving some care users more than £1,000 a year worse off, the Observer can reveal. The government has frozen the thresholds on who qualifies for state-funded care for 11 consecutive years, […]

Special guardianship helps thousands of children to leave care. It needs more support

Judith Harwin, Professor in socio-legal studies and co-director of the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, Lancaster University The pandemic has brought with it yet more hardship for families across the nation. But amid increases in domestic abuse, parental and child mental health difficulties as well as deprivation and poverty, the impact on family courts has yet […]

Telford store raises £1,850 to help youngster who needs special wheelchair

A Telford business has raised £1,850 to help buy a special wheelchair for a youngster who has a condition affecting his muscles. The funds raised by Jule’s Convenience store in Telford will contribute towards the purchase of a powered wheelchair for nine-year-old Noah Stevenson-Lea, from Lawley. Noah was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy at the […]

Nurse work environment influences stroke outcomes

Stroke remains a leading cause of death worldwide and one of the most common reasons for disability. While a wide variety of factors influence stroke outcomes, data show that avoiding readmissions and long lengths of stay among ischemic stroke patients has benefits for patients and health care systems alike. Although reduced readmission rates among various […]

Dinosaurs are coming to Catch A Smile in Gloucester

The fishing lakes at Catch A Smile in Gloucester will be home to some new dinosaurs when it reopens – including a Tyrannosaurus rex, as well as a dodo and a sabre-toothed tiger. Families going fishing in Gloucester might end up catching something a bit bigger than they were expecting – as dinosaurs have started […]

How To Provide Quality Caregiving To Your Elderly Loved Ones

Countries around the world are having more and more older people, thanks to improvements in the standard of living and medical care. While this isn’t inherently bad, it could bring a challenge for many people as regards how to take proper care of their elderly loved ones. This even makes some of such persons view […]

Teen with Covid symptoms coughed at children’s home staff, court told

A teenager coughed in the faces of staff and repeatedly spat on the floor of a Sunderland children’s home after experiencing Covid symptoms. Jude Carradice Lamond subjected staff to verbal and physical abuse while living at Forever Care Supported Living in Sunderland. The 19-year-old threatened to kill one worker and told another he wanted to […]

How to make helpful adjustments for autistic teachers

Most schools are likely to have autistic staff but may not be making reasonable adjustments for them – these can be simple but make a world of difference, writes Victoria Morris I was diagnosed with autism as an adult, when I had already been teaching for several years. Since then, I have become aware of […]

Work starts on special needs schools as investment continues

Four Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) schools in Lincolnshire are set to be expanded as part of Lincolnshire County Council’s £86m investment programme to improve and develop special schools across the county. Working alongside contractor Willmott Dixon, Newark-based landscape architect Influence is providing landscape design services to Willoughby School in Bourne, Eresby School in Spilsby, St Bernard’s […]

Bartley Green care home manager stole £130,000 from nursing home and elderly resident

While working as a manager at Oakview Care Home in Bartley Green, Tammy Foster stole £130,000, taking money from a vulnerable resident, inflating amounts owed to suppliers and paying herself additional wages A manager at a care home in Birmingham plundered £130,000 from the home where she worked and from a vulnerable resident. Tammy Foster […]

First look at supported living homes planned for Nuneaton

Supported living homes could be built off land on a major arterial road in Nuneaton. The homes, which will be within two, two storey blocks, are set to be built off Heath End Road. It will also include access, parking and landscaping as well as the demolition of the existing home at 187 Heath End […]

National group acquires specialist care business

A national group has swooped for a specialist care business based in Herefordshire. The corporate finance team at audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe advised the owners of Inspiration Care on its sale to Choice Care. Inspiration Care, based in Leominster, was established in June 2007 by Martyn Titcombe and Karen Kenny and provides […]

New autism strategy aims to radically improve support services in Northern Ireland

AUTISM services must be improved as a “priority” while society needs to do more by supporting individuals and families, Robin Swann has said. The health minister yesterday launched a new autism strategy for the next two years, in the wake of a dramatic downturn in vital services during the pandemic. During the first Covid wave, […]

Gavin Williamson urges transformation as English schools return

Williamson confirmed that the government would examine ideas including a five-term school year, or longer school days, as schools in England fully reopen on Monday. The education secretary said efforts to help pupils catch up could be a catalyst for revolutionising schools, likening it to the 1944 Education Act, which created the postwar system of local education authorities […]

‘It’s degrading’: nurses speak out about NHS pay offer

The Royal College of Nursing is preparing for strike action after members expressed anger over the 1% pay increase proposed by the government for NHS staff in England and Wales. ‘I will support industrial action if the unions think it’s the only viable option’ Working as a staff nurse on ITU at a hospital in Sheffield, 41-year-old […]

Collapse of social care could force more elderly people out of their own homes

Exclusive: Chancellor urged to be brave in this week’s Budget to avoid ‘catastrophic failures’ in social care Elderly and vulnerable people could be forced to move out of their own homes into institutional care unless the chancellor invests billions of pounds to shore up social services and reform England’s broken care model, The Independent has been told. In […]

UK’s largest care homes provider to sell off 52 facilities

Move by HC-One comes amid warnings Covid crisis threatens viability of private operators. The UK’s largest care homes company is to sell dozens of its homes and focus on more specialised care, amid warnings that some operators are being pushed to the brink of closure. HC-One will sell 52 homes – almost one in six […]

Bottleneck in supported housing with young people unable to move on, says YMCA

Young people are struggling to save and face a lack of affordable housing and discrimination in the private sector, the YMCA says. Seven in 10 young people living in supported housing want to move on but are unable to do so due to “overwhelming financial and social barriers”, research suggests. Young people are struggling to […]

Dognapping of Lady Gaga’s dogs & the restorative justice movement

If  the dastardly deed that sent a 19-pound Bichon Fise named Leo to his death happened today in San Jose instead of in February 2000 and George Gascon was the Santa Clara District Attorney would the man convicted for the crime ever have seen  the inside of a jail let alone state prison? The dog’s […]

Regular Coronavirus testing for staff in supported living settings

Staff testing within supported living environments will help protect residents and staff, and is an important part of the national effort to tackle coronavirus. This is part of the National testing programme where no symptoms are present. Staff will be asked to test themselves every 7 days. Supported Living managers You should have received an email from […]

Sadiq Khan backs UK’s first retirement community designed for LGBT+ people

The first UK retirement community designed for LGBT+ people is set to open this year in London after securing funding from City Hall. Sadiq Khan, the mayor, has backed the project with a £5.7m loan, which will be put towards buying 19 flats in Vauxhall that will be made available on a shared-ownership basis from late […]

50K walk for Autism by father and son

THROUGHOUT February, an Enniskillen man and his autistic son were taking part in a 50K challenge to raise money for Autism NI. As part of Autism NI’s ‘Fit February’ challenge, Carl Morrison and his four-year-old son, Hayden, have been out walking around Enniskillen, aiming to walk 50K in total to help fundraise for the charity. […]

Identifying autism blood biomarkers with machine learning

Researchers have identified a group of blood biomarkers that could help lead to an earlier diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The UT Southwestern team has used machine learning tools to analyse hundreds of proteins that has led to the identification of nine serum proteins that predict the disorder. The researchers hope this will help […]

Exeter pub becoming children’s home

Helping youngsters with complex difficulties Plans to transform a closed down pub in Exeter into a children’s home have been approved. The Globe Inn in Clifton Road, which dates back to 1844, closed in July 2019 following a licence review which imposed conditions that the pub tenant stated they were unable to comply with and […]

London home care branch becomes first in UK to receive three consecutive outstanding ratings

Home Instead Wimbledon and Kingston has become the first home care provider in the country to have received three consecutive CQC outstanding ratings. Home Instead has maintained its rating from its last inspection in 2018 with achieving ‘outstanding’ for being effective, responsive and well-led. In its report, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted how well-led […]

‘A fantastic opportunity’ – Work to start on new Norfolk nursing school

Work is set to start soon on a new school of nursing in west Norfolk. The £600,000 facility will be run at the College of West Anglia in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King’s Lynn. Mick Ward Demolition is about to begin demolishing the print room at the college to make space […]

England: Integration of mental health and supported housing could save NHS £1bn a year

A ground-breaking report which shows that the NHS could save nearly £1 billion a year through integrated mental health and supported housing services in England has received the backing of parliamentarians. The report, commissioned by housing and support services provider Look Ahead, outlines that if integrated mental health and supported housing systems currently used in parts of London […]

Children put under more pressure due to ‘catch-up’ narrative, psychologists warn

Children are being put under a “huge” pressure due to the narrative that pupils need to catch up with lost learning, educational psychologists have warned. Young people should be supported through socialisation and play if the Government decides to extend the amount of time that they spend in school, the British Psychological Society (BPS) has […]

Why does COVID-19 kill so many seniors in long-term care?

COVID-19 has killed more people in long-term care homes than anywhere else in British Columbia. Now, a sweeping new study is setting out to answer the question: Why them? The study, which involves over a dozen of B.C.’s leading virologists, immunologists and lab researchers, hinges on how elderly immune systems respond to a coronavirus infection. From there, […]

CQC sets out plans to scrap routine on-site GP practice inspections

The CQC has set out plans to move away from routine on-site inspections of GP practices, as part of a consultation process to improve how the it assesses primary care services. Changes proposed the CQC could see practices assessed less frequently, with on-site inspections only triggered by ‘changes in quality’ as opposed to happening within […]

Partial vaccination of ASN staff ‘puts pupils at risk’

Some school staff working with complex-needs children are being passed over for vaccination, says EIS general secretary. Scotland’s biggest teaching union is calling for a “broader interpretation” of government guidance when it comes to special needs staff receiving vaccinations, warning that sometimes staff working in the same buildings and classrooms are being refused the jab while their […]

Is Restorative Justice the Future of the Juvenile Justice System?

This article is the second part of a special report on the juvenile justice system in Berkeley and beyond. Read part one here.  Thousands of hours of research have been devoted to understanding the school-to-prison pipeline. Many now recognize that harsh disciplinary actions such as zero-tolerance policies, as well as high levels of suspension and expulsions […]

Care homes in England: what’s going to change from 8 March?

Care home residents in England will be allowed to receive indoor visits from one person from 8 March as lockdown restrictions start to be eased, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said. The announcement came after a growing campaign by families and residents to be able to see their relatives. How have care homes and their […]

Plans for Carlisle care home with 80 rooms approved

PROPOSALS to build a Carlisle care home with 80 ensuite rooms has been approved. The Angela Swift Development Group, a builder based in Harrogate, has got planning permission for the site of the former Langrigg House care home, on Langrigg Road, Morton. The £7m development will provide residential, dementia and respite care for elderly people and about […]

Special needs pupils in England ‘pushed to one side’ in Covid crisis

A special message from Microsoft News UK: With so many young people grappling with the challenges of lockdown and homeschooling, mental health problems are on the rise. Help us get them the vital support they need. Our appeal, in partnership with The Children’s Society, connects the vulnerable to professional services. Join us or donate here. Children […]

Unregulated accommodation for vulnerable children under 16 will be banned

It will be illegal for children in care to be placed in unregulated settings from September, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says. Placing vulnerable children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation will become illegal from September, the Education Secretary has announced. Ofsted will be given extra powers to take enforcement action against illegal unregistered […]

Work starts on £5.1m specialist children’s care home

Work to deliver a purpose-built residential care home for children has now started on site in Nuneaton, including four stand-alone residential care homes and associated facilities. The £5.1m build, named The Forge, has been designed to cater for up to 20 children who are experiencing emotional and behavioural disorders or recovering from early childhood trauma. […]

CQC to explore ‘longstanding concerns’ over potential ratings bias against BAME GPs

The CQC is planning to investigate ‘longstanding concerns’ that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) GP partners may be more likely to score lower in practice ratings. CQC primary care chief inspector Dr Rosie Benneyworth said the regulator is looking to collect and monitor ethnicity data on partners as part of its registration process to […]

Children’s Commissioner attacks Government for failing vulnerable children

Anne Longfield said the uncertainty about the UC uplift remaining in place and talk of ‘educational catch-up’ are not ‘compatible’. Boris Johnson must show he is serious about vulnerable children by placing them at the heart of his plans to ‘build back better’ post-Covid, England’s children’s commissioner has said. Anne Longfield warned that the Prime […]

Jersey to offer on-island mental health nursing degree

A new degree launched in Jersey will allow mental health nurses to complete their studies without leaving the island. The three-year Bachelors degree will be awarded by the University of Chester. Students will be taught by nursing tutors on the island and will complete their clinical practice in Jersey’s hospital and community settings. Chief Nurse […]

Start-up secures support for AI robotic glove to aid muscle grip

A robotic glove based on AI technology could soon help people recover muscle grip in their hands after securing support from the Edinburgh Business School’s (EBS) Incubator, based at Heriot-Watt University. The glove is aimed at the 2.5 million people living in the UK who suffer from hand weakness because of muscle mass loss as […]

How TECS have supported the NHS pre, during and post-COVID

Zillah Moore, Director at Tunstall Healthcare, discusses the role of technology-enabled care services and remote patient monitoring in reducing delayed discharge from hospitals and providing much-needed assistance to the NHS The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on the services provided by the NHS and the challenges that it faces on a daily basis. When deployed correctly, […]

Sia: ‘My heart has always been in the right place’

The 45-year-old star has faced a huge backlash over her film because she cast Maddie Ziegler in the titular role of an autistic teenager, instead of someone neuroatypical, but she strongly believed before the criticism that she’d researched the project and represented the condition well. She said: “I wasn’t able to talk to everybody that’s […]

Students take starring roles in new app to help those with special needs

The young people at the specialist further education college Derwen College in Gobowen near Oswestry supported Starfish Labs in the production of ‘Covid-19: Staying Safe’. The college provided actors for the app, and helped with Makaton signs and symbols to help people with communication difficulties. Part funded by the Welsh government it is now live […]

Christine and Paddy McGuinness to feature in BBC autism documentary

Christine and Paddy McGuinness are set to open up their family life and show what it’s like to have three children diagnosed with autism in a new BBC documentary. The one-off programme, Autism and Our Family, will follow comedian and presenter Paddy, his wife Christine, and their three young children to lift the lid on what multiple […]

CORONAVIRUS: ISLE OF WIGHT YOUNGSTERS CREATIVELY SUPPORT THE ELDERLY

Youngsters on the Isle of Wight have been supporting the elderly through the lockdown by getting creative and staying in touch – the old fashioned way. Students from three Island primary schools have been making cards, writing letters and creating paintings for elderly care home residents. Before the lockdown, some of the youngsters spent their […]

OPINION: Why regulators are right to re-assess complaint handling frameworks

In a CHP exclusive, Philippa Shirtcliffe, QCS’s Head of Care Quality, says the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for the CQC to readdress its complaints handling approach. According to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2019, there were 11,593 complaints, while in 2020, with the country in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic, the CQC received […]

Restorative Justice and Cannabis

“Have you ever met the funny reefer man? If he takes a sudden mania He’ll want to give you Pennsylvania Oh, you know you’re talking to the reefer man.” Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong were all jazz prodigies, bringing swing into the 1930s. Marijuana was illegal in 29 states when “Reefer […]

‘Stay single’ – care home residents share their relationship advice

The pensioners, with the help of staff, wrote their advice on boards to share with others during a session at the home. Elderly care home residents have shared their relationship advice ahead of Valentine’s Day, with a 103-year-old woman simply advising people to stay single. Razvan Stanbeca, manager of Care UK’s Colne View in Halstead, […]

‘ADHD, autism, and the elevated risk of later depression’ In conversation with Professor Anita Thapar

In this podcast we talk to Professor Anita Thapar, Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University. A researcher and a clinician, Anita is also on the board of the UK national neurodiversity charity ADHD Foundation. Anita talks about the relationship between disorders, such as, ADHD and autism, the elevated risk of later depression, and what […]

Further £8.9m of support for freelancers in Wales’ creative sector

A further £8.9m of support for freelancers in Wales’ creative sector has been announced as of today, 10 February 2021. This new round of the Cultural Recovery Fund will see creative freelancers receive an additional £2,500 of support whilst they are inactive due to the current lockdown restrictions. It has provided £63m worth of support […]

Vatican seeks elder care rethink after COVID-19 ‘massacre’

The Vatican is calling for a new paradigm of care for the elderly after what it calls the “massacre” wrought by the coronavirus pandemic ROME — The Vatican is calling for a new paradigm of care for the elderly after what it calls the “massacre” wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately killed elderly people living […]

Covid vaccine: tens of thousands of UK nurses yet to receive first dose

Tens of thousands of nurses across the UK have not had their first coronavirus vaccine, sparking fears that they could contract Covid-19 or infect patients. A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey of 24,370 nurses found that 85% had had at least one dose, with the remaining 15% unvaccinated. The findings show that the government is in […]

Only councils can support greater independent living under new reforms, report finds

Tens of thousands more adults could be supported to live independently in their own homes each year, but only if councils are able to continue to deliver social care services under government reforms, according to a new report. The Future of Adult Social Care report, conducted by care specialist Newton and commissioned by the County Councils […]

Welsh Tech Startup Launches Covid App to Support Learning Difficulties

Welsh tech startup Starfish Labs, based at Aberystwyth University’s Innovation Centre, has launched the first of a suite of apps to support people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The ‘COVID-19 – Staying Safe’ app features simple instructions for wearing different types of face coverings, hand washing, sanitising and […]

Coronavirus: Care home bans on visits ‘breach’ human rights

New laws are needed to allow face to face visits in England’s care homes, according to a cross-party group of MPs and peers. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has written to the health secretary warning people are being “denied meaningful visits” contrary to their right to family life. Chair of the committee, Harriet Harman […]

Denver successfully sent mental health professionals, not police, to hundreds of calls

Another U.S. city is reporting early success with a program that replaces traditional law enforcement responders with health care workers for some emergency calls. Previously, Denver 911 operators only directed calls to police or fire department first responders. But the Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) pilot program created a third track for directing emergency calls to […]

Restorative justice provides accountability, healing, and justice

It demands honest acknowledgement of wrongs done and meaningful accountability — prerequisites for healing both the victim and the wrongdoer. Fifteen years as a judge have shown me that healing, humanity, and hope are in short supply in the criminal justice system. Restorative justice principles address this shortage by asking often ignored questions: Who has […]

Police and school work together to launch additional learning needs initiative

A new scheme to help police deal with emergencies involving people with additional learning needs (ALN) has been launched. Trinity Fields School, which is based in Ystrad Mynach and caters for ALN pupils, has worked closely with Gwent Police as part of ‘The Trinity Protocol’. The scheme will allow family members and carers to register someone with […]

Children with special needs suffered ‘profound disruption’ during first lockdown

Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) experienced “profound disruption” to their well-being and family life during the first lockdown, according to new research. The study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, paints a “concerning picture” of teachers and professionals struggling to support pupils and their families. Almost all (98%) providers said they had […]

Boris Johnson planning NHS England overhaul, leaked paper shows

Plans would put end to David Cameron policies seen as step towards privatisation of the NHS Boris Johnson is planning a radical overhaul of NHS England, as he reverses controversial privatisation policies introduced by David Cameron, a leaked document suggests. According to the draft white paper, the government is planning to reduce the role of the […]

Meet the 6 Amazing Special Needs Dogs Competing in the 2021 Puppy Bowl

We’re counting down the days to the big game — that’s right, Puppy Bowl! Puppy Bowl XVII is set to air on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, led by two truly spectacular co-hosts and some astoundingly cute competitors. Among the pups making up 2021’s Team Ruff and Team Fluff are six special needs dogs that will be hitting […]

New website explores use of restorative justice in Ireland

A new website exploring the use of restorative justice and practices in the Irish criminal justice system has been launched with funding from the Department of Justice. The restorativejustice.ie website has been launched by the Restorative Justice: Strategies for Change (RJS4C) project and hosts the initial findings of its mapping exercise and its first tranche of case studies. The website […]

Students will have access to extra £50m Government hardship fund due to Covid-19

It comes as the majority of undergraduates in England have been told to stay at home and not return to campus. University students facing financial pressures due to the pandemic will have access to an additional £50 million support fund from the Government. Universities will be able to use the extra funding to help students […]

Swedish Covid nurse to watch entire film festival alone in lighthouse

A Swedish nurse has won a competition to watch the entire 60-movie programme of the Goteborg Film Festival from a lighthouse on an isolated island off the coast of Sweden. Lisa Enroth beat 12,000 film fans from around the world who applied. The nurse, who has worked on Covid-19 wards during the pandemic, said she […]

Children’s social care is in crisis. What’s needed is more cash, not privatisation

The government’s review of England’s children’s services must look at funding to improve the life chances of those in care. In 2011 there were 65,520 looked-after children in England; that had risen to more than 80,000 by the end of March 2020. Photograph: Ian West/PA Wed 27 Jan 2021 07.00 GMT The recent ministerial announcement of […]

Vegan Doctors Launch UK’s First-Ever Online Plant-Based Healthcare Service

Two vegan doctors have created an online plant-based healthcare service. Dr. Laura Freeman and Dr. Shireen Kassam launched Plant Based Health Online (PBHO) earlier this year. They describe it as the ‘UK’s first CQC registered online multidisciplinary lifestyle medicine service’. PBHO aims to ‘improve the health of the nation and reduce the impact of COVID-19’. It offers […]

Jacobs develops new tool to transport for SEND children

Jacobs has developed a new service, the Travel Service Optimisation (TSO) tool, which it says will help to transform transport for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) children. The TSO tool is set to transform the home-to-school travel experience for SEND children and young people, helping to advance social inclusion, while also supporting broader environmental […]

Son’s concern for elderly father after his care home takes on ex-Covid patients

THE family member of a care home resident has expressed safety concerns as he claims ex-Covid patients have been brought in without enough consideration. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has said he is concerned for the welfare of his 93-year-old father who lives in Wyndham Manor care home, Cleator Moor. He is concerned […]

Green light for new supported living development in Stanningley

A former funeral directors’ building will be demolished and replaced with a supported living complex in Stanningley. Plans for the demolition of the existing building and outbuildings and construction of a specialist complex comprising of 12 flats and eight bungalows at The Homestead, at Wheater’s Fold, off Stanningley Town Street, have been given the green light. […]

Restorative Justice is a positive choice for victims of crime

Last Fridays episode of 999: What’s Your Emergency? focused on pathways to crime – how incidents that can initially seem very minor may sometimes lead to criminality further down the line. In one segment, officers PC Tabitha Rumney and PC Pete Ellard were called to a block of flats in Rotherham. On arrival, it was clear […]

Teacher training: More than 600 get new FE bursary

Bursary scheme is a step forward – but more must be done on teacher recruitment and retention, say industry leaders More than 600 further education teacher trainees have received a bursary worth up to £26,000 in the 2020-21 academic year, Tes can reveal. The government’s FE Initial Teacher Education (ITE) bursaries were awarded from a pot of £11 million, varied from […]

Event to help disabled young people

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce is running an event to encourage more help for young people with disabilities. The online event on Thursday, January 28 has the title ‘Education to Employment – narrowing the gap for young people with additional needs and disabilities’. It is running from 10am to 12 noon and ifs free […]

Only one per cent of elderly at home have had vaccine says home care firm

Thousands of elderly people reliant on care at home are either ‘unable or unwilling’ to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the chief executive of home care firm Cera has said. Fear or frailty means the vaccine is not reaching people reliant on home care. Credit: Shutterstock The home care provider has revealed only one per cent […]

Thinking about students with disabilities in the pandemic

Ayse sounded very happy on the phone. “Now my friends are getting online education like me! Now I’m also a class member…” Ayse had a genetic disorder called epidermolysis bullosa, a rare and serious skin disorder. Getting the right environment for her to do a two-year computer programming course was a challenge. The director of her […]

Doubts raised over NHS target for care home vaccinations

NHS England wrote to GP surgeries earlier this month saying it ‘expects’ care home residents and staff to be vaccinated by January 24. Care groups have expressed doubts that the NHS will meet a target set out in a letter to GPs to have elderly care home residents and staff given a coronavirus vaccine by […]

Surrey man receives prestigious restorative justice award

Gurinder Mann. (Submitted photo) East Newton resident Gurinder Mann one of five to receive a Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award East Newton resident Gurinder Mann has received a prestigious Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award from the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The executive director of CERA, or Communities Embracing Restorative Action, […]

Pupils with additional needs ‘should be seen as assets’

Schools should welcome the skills and attributes of ASN pupils and their families, MSPs are told Pupils with additional support needs should be seen as assets to a school first rather than as a barrier to be overcome, MSPs have been told. Too often children with ASN are viewed through the idea of “deficit”, said Eileen Prior, executive director […]

Covid-19: Nurses call for better masks to protect all staff

Nurses are calling for all UK staff to be given a higher grade of face mask to protect them against new variants of coronavirus. The Royal College of Nursing warns that inadequate PPE may be putting the lives of nursing staff at risk. It has written to the workplace safety watchdog detailing its concerns, soon […]

Ramsgate covid vaccination programme completes all elderly care home residents and staff jabs

An update has been given on covid vaccination progress for people registered with Ramsgate GP surgeries. The five Ramsgate practices, Dashwood, East Cliff, The Grange, Newington and Summerhill, are working together to deliver the vaccine programme. Between the five practices they care for over 51,000 patients across Ramsgate. The Montefiore Medical Centre, which houses both East […]

The Coronavirus is Mutating: What We Know About the New Variants

The virus that causes COVID-19 has mutated, as expected. Two mutations of the virus called variants are worrying health experts. There’s currently no evidence the variants will affect the efficacy of the vaccines or cause a more severe illness. Drugmaker plans to ask U.S. health regulators to expand bamlanivimab’s use to protect nursing-home residents and […]

UK’s only gender identity service for children rated inadequate by CQC

The CQC found more than 4,600 young people on the waiting list for treatment at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. An NHS mental health trust which provides treatment to transgender children has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), after inspectors found vulnerable young people “were waiting too long for treatment”. Tavistock […]

Calling all unpaid carers: CQC want to hear your feedback

Both positive and negative feedback is welcome from unpaid carers who provide care and support to family members, friends and neighbours, that may be affected by a disability, physical or mental ill-health, frailty or substance misuse. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthwatch England are making a call for feedback from carers across the south […]

Education chiefs ‘failing’ children with special needs claims mum

A West Cumbrian mother says she will be forced to home school her son because of a lack of places at special schools in the county. Emma Harry and Darren Hendren, of Thornhill, applied for a place at Mayfield Special School for their son Noah Hendren, who has complex needs. The couple received a letter […]

Covid vaccination: 24-hour vaccines ‘aren’t suitable for vulnerable, elderly people’ says union

Unison said: ‘When it’s the turn of younger people, 24/7 clinics may well be appropriate’ Launching a 24-hour vaccination programme may not be the best use of healthcare staff who are currently already overburdened during the coronavirus pandemic, the UK’s largest healthcare union has said. Unison, which represents NHS staff members including nurses, said round-the-clock vaccinating would be […]

Lockdowns unlock innovation

Counterintuitive creativity Tough as it is, the lockdowns have not stopped social care professionals, organisations and services finding ways to provide amazing support. The lockdowns have been hard for everyone involved in social care, but they have also brought opportunities and innovations which have inspired and supported others. I was lucky enough recently to facilitate […]

PPE Portal ships 1 billionth item of PPE as DHSC thanks partners

By Chris Dawson January 13, 2021 – 8:38 pm Today, DHSC thanked eBay, Royal Mail, Clipper, Unipart and Volo Commerce for their support as they announced one billion items of PPE have now been delivered through the PPE Portal. DHSC worked with industry and the military with eBay stepping up to build the platform and Unipart offering customer […]

The vaccine isn’t a silver bullet for longstanding pressures in elderly care

Jitesh Patel, Project Director at Kajima Partnerships,  discusses why the vaccine is not a silver bullet for longstanding pressures in elderly care and how the sector must adapt post-pandemic The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted long-standing pressures on elderly living in the UK. Whilst the recent rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is a promising step in relieving the impacts […]

Almost 40% of care home residents in England have had coronavirus vaccine – PM

Almost 40% of care home residents in England have received a coronavirus vaccine, the Prime Minister has said. Boris Johnson said 45% of the over-80s and almost 40% of care home residents have received at least one dose. Mr Johnson paid particular tribute to vaccine teams in north-west Lincolnshire, Sunderland and Morecambe Bay, where more […]

Autistic teenager to write cards in bid to thank as many NHS staff as possible

Patrick Joyce wants nurses and doctors to ‘know that he supports them and appreciates them’. An autistic teenager is asking for the names and hospital addresses of NHS workers so he can send them a thank-you card. Patrick Joyce, 16, from Glasgow, wants to thank nurses and doctors for their efforts to help Covid-19 patients, […]

Lives that Bind: Restorative Justice Installation on Virtual View

An exciting new art exhibit curated by former California African American Museum curator jill moniz is now installed on the first floor of Santa Monica’s new City Hall East. The exhibit spans works from major names such as Kerry James Marshall, Alfredo Ramos-Martinez, and Alison Saar, and other local emerging and established BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists, such as Umar Rashid (featured in the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. 2020 exhibit) and Emma Robbins (Director of the Navajo Water Project). While City Hall […]

Special needs services improving after damning report, council says

Services for children with additional needs in Shropshire have been improved since a damning report last year, council and health bosses have said. A raft of measures have been put in place in the last 12 months in an effort to turn around special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision across the county, which was […]

Wheatley Group steps up its support for homeless people

Wheatley Group has helped almost 1800 homeless people put a roof over their heads throughout the coronavirus crisis. The housing, care and property management group has worked with the Scottish Government, local authority partners and other agencies to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. Since the start of the pandemic, Wheatley Group has handed over 468 homes to local authorities […]

Staff Council hears university plans to improve diversity training

Texas State will implement new efforts this spring aimed to broaden knowledge and improve its voice on diversity issues, the university’s interim chief diversity officer announced in a Jan. 12 Staff Council meeting. As part of Dr. Stella Silva’s updates, Texas State has contracted Life Anew, a restorative justice consultation agency dedicated to employing restorative […]

Government White Paper sets out Mental Health Act reforms

A package of reforms has been set out in a wide-ranging White Paper that builds on recommendations made by Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act in 2018. The Reforming the Mental Health Act White Paper is designed to tackle the racial disparities in mental health services, better meet the needs of people with […]

How Ideas About Autism Were Shaped in the Early USSR

Pioneering psychologists Grunya Sukhareva and Lev Vygotsky make history. During Josef Stalin’s “Great Break,” the Soviet approach to autism, and disability as a whole, became defined by integration. Most special schools were sentenced to closure, and those with disabilities put back into normal society (except in the most extreme cases of disability) in 1929. The […]

Ladder for the Black Country helping to include all young people

The Ladder for the Black Country is working closely with another organisation to support young people across the area with special educational needs and disabilities and those educated in pupil referral units and alternative provision. The hope is to encourage employers to adopt an inclusive approach to taking on apprentices and consider giving opportunites to […]

The Reason I Jump: behind a groundbreaking film on autism

The cinematic language of The Reason I Jump, an ambitious documentary which attempts to simulate the sensory experience of non-verbal autism, is elemental, building up one isolated detail at a time. A living room, for example, emerges from the cascading, metallic tide of an electric fan, from the frisson of sizzling oil in a frying […]

CQC launches formal consultation on new strategy

The CQC is asking care home providers for their thoughts on its new strategy in a formal consultation which was published yesterday. In its new document, the CQC sets out four themes designed to enable more effective regulation and help it become more flexible in managing risk and uncertainty. The four themes are: 1: People and […]

Why are France’s elderly not queuing up to get the Covid vaccine?

France launched its Covid vaccination campaign with the aim of prioritising elderly people and staff in nursing homes: a total of close to a million people. The campaign has been slow to take off and, despite the vulnerablility of such elderly residents, many are not keen to get the jab. How come? France’s decision to […]

Thousands invited to new NHS vaccination centre at Stevenage

One of the country’s first seven centres for mass vaccination against Coronavirus will open in Stevenage this week. The centre at Robertson House will initially be used to inoculate people from part of our region who are aged 80 and over. Thousands of letters are currently being sent to those eligible at this stage and […]

All adults to be offered a Covid jab ‘by the autumn’

MATT HANCOCK REVEALS MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN THE UK AS OF SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 All adults are expected to be offered a Covid vaccine by the autumn, Matt Hancock has said. The Health Secretary said the UK had more than 350 million doses on order and vaccinations are being rolled […]

UK Rare Diseases Framework – Published 9 January 2021

A framework setting out a coherent, national vision on how the UK will improve the lives of those living with rare diseases. The UK Rare Diseases Framework lists the priorities and underlying strategic themes that detail how the UK will address the challenges faced by those living with rare diseases. The UK Rare Diseases Framework […]

COVID-19: Updated guidance for Supported Living (Updated 6 January 2021)

Who this guidance is for This guidance is designed to update and build on the previous advice to supported living providers, which was withdrawn on 13 May 2020. It sets out: key messages to assist with planning and preparation in the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic so that local procedures can be put in […]

RCN demands honesty from PM on nursing pay

RCN general secretary challenges prime minister on misleading NHS pay comment In the House of Commons this morning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told members of parliament that: “There has been above inflation pay rises for public sector workers, and nurses in particular have had a 12.8% pay rise in the last few years.” The RCN […]

Men’s mental health under pressure as suicidal thoughts double in ten years

Mind today reveals new research into men’s mental health showing that, while some progress has been made, men feel worried or low more regularly than ten years ago and are consequently twice as likely to feel suicidal. ‘Get It Off Your Chest: Men’s mental health 10 years on’ was commissioned by Mind as part of its […]

Help your NHS this winter by giving blood

Giving blood will help hospitals through a second wave of coronavirus and with the other pressures winter places on the NHS. Our centres are open and there are extra safety measures in place. How you can help Give blood – you can travel to donate despite coronavirus restrictions Keep your appointment if you can and let us know if you […]

Laura Mooiman – Helping you create safe, positive, and restorative schools

DESCRIPTION: A quick 5 minute description of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)! I list 4 main components for your school. If you want more details on how to implement those components, check out my other videos: 1. Establish Schoolwide Expectations 2. Teach Schoolwide Expectations 3. Positive Reinforcement 4. Consistent Restorative Consequences Information about PBIS […]

Wellbeing counsellor gives advice to children and parents on their mental health in September return, saying: “It would be strange to NOT feel anxious or concerned”

A wellbeing counsellor has given advice to parents and families about children’s mental health as they approach a return to school in September. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service’s (CAMHS) interim report, released in July, found “serious concerns” about the impact lockdown has had on the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and school […]

NatWest introduces bespoke banking service for vulnerable customers

NatWest is launching a new service which will allow customers to request how they want to be served. The “Banking My Way” service helps customers who need additional support by enabling them to request bespoke assistance to make banking easier. Customers can make specific requests which could include requesting a quiet space when they visit […]

Why education needs to throw off the shackles of data

One of the most egregious misjudgements arising from political responses to the pandemic has been what happened to annual school examinations. A system whose only goal is the education of individual children forgot its entire purpose. That the SNP were the first to acknowledge this mistake is hardly to their credit, but it signals something […]

BAGS OF HELP: EMERGENCY GRANT HELPS YOUTH CHARITY RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR ALL

Restorative Justice for All, a charity helping young people in Southwark, says demand for its support services increased by 400% during the pandemic. The charity is one of many in the borough given an emergency grant of £500 by Tesco and to receive donated food for its work supporting those struggling with food insecurity. has […]

LEGAL VIEW: Safeguarding referrals – to notify or not to notify the CQC?

Maddi Gaunt, solicitor at Ridouts, looks at when care home providers should make a statutory notification to the CQC. All providers will (we hope) be familiar with safeguarding referrals. These need to be made to the relevant safeguarding authority when certain incidents, events, or near misses arise in the provision of care services. Many events […]

NHS to receive access to £588m funding to cover adult social care

From September 1, the NHS will be able to access a £588m fund to help cover adult social care provisions or the immediate costs of care in a patient’s home for those requiring additional follow-on care after being discharged from hospital – including older people and those with disabilities. The health service will be able […]

Celebration as superheroes hand over thousands to Calaiswood

WEST FIFE superheroes have celebrated their fundraising efforts by handing over a huge cheque to Calaiswood School in Duloch! After months of hard work and hundreds of miles run, the colourful characters were able to gift the special needs school that serves West Fife with £12,200. It was Duloch Spiderman, aka Dave Roper, that started […]

NHS warned to brace for ‘rising tide’ of patients needing mental health support

The NHS should brace itself for a rising tide of patients in need of mental health support as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, health leaders have warned. But the NHS Confederation said there are “constraints” in what the service can deliver. It warned that people requiring support and treatment are at risk of not […]

Support Group for Dads of Special Needs Children

A support group for dads of children or adults with special needs is now available in Acadiana. The D.R.E.A.M.S. Foundation of Acadiana launched this support group to give dads a place to gather and discuss topics that impact daily living related to caring for a loved one with simple or complex medical conditions, including epilepsy, […]

Researchers see progress in pilot restorative justice program in S.A. schools

AUGUST 10, 2020 — After one academic year, eight out of nine campuses that participated in My Brother’s Keeper San Antonio’s pilot restorative justice initiative have shown progress on first-year implementation indicators, according to an evaluation by UTSA. Restorative justice is a whole school approach to building a positive school climate and addressing harm. “Though […]

COVID-19 ‘a catalyst’ for greater use of technology in supported housing

The large majority (85%) of housing associations and sheltered housing providers believe their organisations’ perceptions on using technology to support resident’s wellbeing has changed for the better during COVID-19. Research undertaken by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (HLIN) found that 74% of housing providers claiming that their requirements for wellbeing technology have changed as […]

Trans and gender-diverse individuals more likely to be autistic

The Autism Research Centre found that trans and gender diverse adults are three to six times more likely to be diagnosed autistic With awareness of non-binary identities slightly increasing in mainstream society, there is also a need to examine how these identities intersect with healthcare. Researchers are beginning to look at minorities, such as BAME […]

‘Embarrassing shambles’ as Care Workers & NHS excluded from new immigration rules

Care home staff will be excluded from the government’s post-Brexit fast-track visa system for health workers, the government has confirmed, which has been labelled an ‘embarrassing shambles’. The 130-page paper, which was published by the Home Office on Monday, also sets out the stringent English-language conditions for overseas nationals from both EU and non-EU countries […]

Finding new hope with Supported Independent Living

HAPPY PLACE: Yvonne with Challenge SIL supervisor Dianne Sharpe. Supported Independent Living has given Yvonne a new lease on life, with great housemates, a supportive community around her and compassionate, empathic staff that she loves. After more than three decades spent in various rehabilitation facilities throughout her life, Yvonne had expected to move into an […]

Dalhousie law school houses the first International Restorative Justice lab

Lab aims to transform the justice system, safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of Canadians The Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab (RRIELab), described by the school as the first ever international lab to concentrate on restorative justice, is located at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. Dalhousie University, supported by the Donald R. Sobey Foundation, […]

Coventry band The Notables raising funds to survive lockdown

This money will help the group get back to the position where they can give back to the community A Coventry band that supports people with learning disabilities has launched a fundraiser to ensure they can survive lockdown. The Notables are a vital community group in Coventry, but have had their operations put on hold […]

How the autistic population could solve the tech industry’s biggest challenge

The neurodiverse population might not only help fill the skills gap, but bring a raft of unprecedented benefits – and big names like SAP and IBM are already taking note While technology is transforming the way we work at what feels like an ever increasing pace, there’s one seemingly intractable problem holding it back: the […]

E-learning platform for autistic children launched

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Monday launched an E-learning platform targeting parents and caregivers of children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The platform has been launched in partnership with the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Child Development and Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre, Qatar Foundation, Al Shafallah Centre for Persons with Disabilities and Qatar […]

Autistic Kids – The Difference Between Arguing and Seeking Understanding

After spending a significant amount of time with Autistic students over the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn things about them I’d have never known otherwise. One of the things I’ve learned is… they can’t all be lumped into one category! They’re unique individuals whose interests, abilities, and personalities are as varied […]