Rolling out personalisation to mental health service users
A project led by Mind to tackle the low take-up of self-directed support among mental health service users has returned some positive results, writes Jeremy Dunning
05 August 2011
The future of employment support for people with disabilities
Employment support for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues is at a crossroads finds Mithran Samuel
20 August 2010
Care funding commission chair denies government pressure
The chair of the commission on the funding of long-term care, Andrew Dilnot, tells Jeremy Dunning that the government has not pressurised him to deliver the most politically convenient outcome
20 August 2010
Service users, personal budgets and Amsterdam
Does the spirit of personalisation extend to councils allowing people to spend direct payments on sexual services? Vern Pitt examines a debate that has divided social workers
10 August 2010
Joint working between health and social care in Herefordshire
Councils would be wise to look west when they draw up their plans to integrate health and social care services. As Jeremy Dunning reports, Herefordshire is already ahead of the game
10 August 2010
Still nothing to fear?
Disability minister Maria Miller tells Vern Pitt disabled people are a coalition priority despite astring of benefit cuts
23 July 2010
Health White Paper poses questions for social care sector
Although there are positives for social workers in the health White Paper, there remain many questions about power and accountability, says Richard Humphries of the King's Fund
16 July 2010
NHS lets down those with learning difficulties
A new Mencap survey confirms that people with learning disabilities receive poorer health care than others. But specialist posts are making a difference, reports Mithran Samuel
21 June 2010
Bereavement service for people with learning disabilities
A specialist bereavement service in Hertfordshire helps people with learning disabilities deal with loss and trains social care staff on how best to support clients. Vern Pitt reports
25 June 2010
Every Vote Counts a success at May 2010 general election
With dedicated support from charities, many more people with learning disabilities voted in the May general election. Natalie Valios reports
23 June 2010
Concerns raised over wrongful detentions of service users
A mental health charity has raised concerns that people who lack mental capacity are being detained in care settings inappropriately.
24 June 2010
Disabled client refuses to end holiday
None of us relish returning home from an enjoyable holiday, writes Mark Drinkwater, recalling how one disabled client decided not to
16 June 2010
Why long-term adult care funding must be reformed
As the Lib-Con coalition announces the launch of a commission on long-term adult care funding, Vern Pitt reminds the government of the gaps and a social worker, a service user and a care home manager express their concerns
21 May 2010
The impact of personalisation on adults' social workers
Personalisation is changing the face of social care, but research by Community Care and trade union Unison suggests bureaucracy and job changes mean it is yet to win the hearts and minds of social workers. Mithran Samuel reports
19 May 2010
Personalisation and the social care knowledge gap
More social workers understand the workings of personalisation than in 2008 but a big minority are still in the dark, writes Daniel Lombard
19 May 2010
Personalisation: Cuts threaten transformation agenda
While social workers fear personalisation may be at risk from impending government cuts, our survey finds the agenda is already facing pressures. Jeremy Dunning reports
19 May 2010
Personalisation: Children can benefit too
Individual budgets can be used to benefit disabled children, but only where the circumstances lend themselves to personalised services, writes Molly Garboden
19 May 2010
The advantages of specialist autism teams
The autism strategy suggests councils need only consider developing specialist teams. But some argue the evidence is there to roll them out nationally, writes Jeremy Dunning
04 May 2010
Care Quality Commission one year on
As the Care Quality Commission celebrates its first birthday, Mithran Samuel evaluates the regulator's turbulent year
01 April 2010
International Social Work Day: Russia's orphanages
Provision for disabled children and those with learning disabilities in Russia is thought by many experts to be 50-60 years behind that of the West. But stability under Putin's government has seen a concerted attempt to modernise care standards, writes Howard Amos
16 March 2010
