The Social Care Experts Blog

by Simon Stevens

An old TV courtroom drama brings into focus the way in which the disabled were treated in a less enlightened decade

by Andrew Holman

Listening to the BBC news over the weekend I was left wondering what our care services Minister Ivan Lewis was up to. And more importantly whether he would be moving on from his job.

by Andrew Holman

Question:
What’s more cruel than having your child removed at birth?

Answer:
Living in Nottingham and having it done twice in as many days.

by Andrew Holman

I hadn’t really held out much hope with a recent request for an artist with a learning disability who would be interested in exhibiting at a disabled artist’s erotic art exhibition.

by William Mill

Finding that special person can be very trying for many. So, for them, Valentine's Day holds a particular significance

by Andrew Holman

The headlines in Friday’s papers about the 2 “Downs Syndrome bombers” missed the point. These women were not committing suicide and they were not bombers. They were as much victims of the act as those others killed around them and should at least be given that respect.

by Andrew Holman

Valuing People Now always runs the risk of turning into a top down approach rather than listening to what the users of services think and want. Let’s face it, most people with learning disabilities haven’t heard and know nothing about Valuing People – and most don't want to know either. People want a good life and good support, most do not want to become involved in politics, government policies and practices or to have to fight at local levels to get the life or support they want and need, and to be honest, who does? That seems a totally artificial concept of ordinary living, fine for those who want to be involved, but not for the majority.

by Andrew Holman

As before, there is little one can disagree with in principle with Valuing People Now. The difficulty seems to come in the detail and implementation. We know only too well the lack of progress in some areas since the original was published nearly 7 years ago and it is a pleasant change to see this fundamentally acknowledged rather than have anyone who dared point it out pilloried for being in some way anti Valuing People.

by Andrew Holman

Last night's meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Learning Disability was not as packed as I had expected, especially with the Minister speaking. Perhaps others knew the Valuing People refresh was still not ready to be launched.

by Andrew Holman

Note: This blog was first posted on the 29 October

Yesterdays voluminous newsletter from the Valuing People Support Team on health care must be the first one I have ever found interesting enough to print off. For years we have argued for major changes if people with learning disabilities are to get anything like equality in health. The subject is important, I have seen first hand how people’s health is ignored, eye sight left to deteriorate, or health interventions or procedures are not offered to someone because they have a learning disability. We are, of course, talking life and death here and I have seen people die far too early as a result of late diagnosis or complete lack of treatment.