The Care Quality Commission was due to publish its annual performance assessment (APA) of council adult social care departments on Wednesday.
That was until it got locked into a row in recent days about the quality and validity of its assessments of NHS hospital trusts.
The APA has now been delayed until a date which will be specified shortly.
Innocuous looking guidance published last week on the role of the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales in adult protection cases was published on the day of the screening of a BBC investigation which criticised its role, it seems.
Late payers are the bane of every businessman and no-one doubts there are problems on the issue of late payment by governments on procurement contracts.The Department of Health has finally published guidance for primary care trusts on "world class commissioning" for people with learning disabilities.
This was originally due in the Spring and promised in the Valuing People Now strategy, published in January.
The Welsh government has produced a supplement to its In Safe Hands guidance on adult protection on the role of the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.
It stresses that local authorities retain lead responsibility for adult protection investigations but defines how CSSIW should get involved where there are allegations of abuse involving regulated services.
Haven't got a link as yet but will stick it in when we get one.
Welsh carers can expect to receive better information and a more joined-up approach from the agencies they deal with under plans. 
By Bronagh Miskelly
by Adam McCullochToday's announcement of free personal care for those most in need is admirable but ill timed. Today the Welsh Assembly government has launched a consultation on the
future of adult social care. The Assembly hopes to influence nationwide
legislation set to emerge following consultation on the social care green paper for England, which closed last Friday. But it appears to me that
the late timing of this document could endanger any reform of the
system before the next election.
by Adam McCulloch
Labour MP Terry Rooney
has thrown his backing behind a taxation funding model for social care,
which was ruled out in the government's adult care green paper.As of yesterday, England has its first law for a specific disability in the shape of the Autism Act 2009. The last day of the latest parliamentary session also confirmed the passage of legislation to introduce direct payments for healthcare (the Health Act 2009) and encourage more disabled people, people who misuse substances and lone parents to take steps to enter work (the Welfare Reform Act 2009).
The Department in Health is celebrating the success of its Dignity in Care campaign which has so far attracted 10,000 Dignity Champions. The department credits the rise in applications to be champions to the involvement of Sir Michael Parkinson who has spearheaded the call for volunteers.
The RNID has paid tribute to its vice president and former chair Lady Winifred Tumim, who died earlier this month. She chaired the organisation from 1985 and 1992 before becoming vice president and was also chair of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations for six years.
This has happened to me before. I'm presently sat at home typing this rather than in the office because in my attempt to be Kobe Bryant I ended up sprawled on the floor clutching a badly sprained ankle. That's not what has happened before though. It's becoming obvious that reform of the adult social care system has now become wrapped up in pre-electioneering by the political parties. Justice secretary Jack Straw has been forced to defend the Office of the Public Guardian and the Court of Protection following media attacks on the two institutions, whose role is to protect the interests of those who lack capacity.
It may sound a dry topic but the financial modelling underpinning the government's green paper - or rather the non-appearance of said modelling - has all of a sudden become the hottest issue in adult social care at the moment.
On any given day on the internet you can find a whole load of tweets, blogs or news about the grooviest gadgets. They all have one thing in common - they look sexy. Care products on the other hand, don't.
The shadow secretary of state for communities and local government, Caroline Spelman, has ignited the debate over the quality of care delivered to those with muscular dystrophy. She criticised the government saying many in her constituency had trouble getting access to various therapies from the "overstretched, unco-ordinated" services.A couple that sent a letter to the BBC criticising assisted suicide laws have been found dead. They said in their letter to the broadcaster that they could no longer attain the quality of life they desired.
The other day I met a social worker. I know, big news for a social work journalist, eh?! But, given that we meet outside work, the surprising thing was she admitted to me that she was a social worker in the first place. I have seen people get verbally harangued by ordinarily reasonable strangers at parties for simply admitting that fact.
The Adult Care blog looks behind the policies, practices and personalities involved in the care of older and disabled people for any hidden truths, helpful tips or humour. It is written by Community Care’s adults’ services beat editor Mithran Samuel. |
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