Roll out the reassessments
A brief Personal Independence Payment (PIP) update from our good colleagues at the Department of Work and Pensions. From 26 January 2015, PIP natural reassessment is being extended to some existing DLA claimants living in postcode areas beginning G (Glasgow), …
New commitment to avoid police cells for young people suffering mental health crises
Detaining someone in a police cell while they are experiencing a mental health crisis ‘simply cannot be justified in a civilised society’, especially if that someone is a child or young person under 18. So said Care and Support Minister …
In praise of Dame Philippa Russell
After seven years of passionate and committed service, Dame Philippa Russell OBE is to stand down as chair of the Standing Commission on Carers (SCOC). She relinquishes the post on 31 December. The Standing Commission is an independent advisory body …
Our greatest asset is ourselves
‘It’s time to use the assets we have in our communities,’ says Ewan King, Director of Business Development and Delivery at the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). It’s time to make asset-based approaches more widespread, but what do we …
Declaration deadline imminent for crisis care plans
Monday 15 December is the date given for local areas across the country to have their mental health crisis care plans in place to ensure blanket coverage right across England by the end of the year. Care and Support Minister …
Defeating loneliness this Christmas
Have you seen the new BBC poll which draws attention once again to the plight of the lonely at Christmas? 2,000 adults were surveyed and the findings revealed '7 percent of all adults and 10 percent of those aged over …
The Concordat, the policeman and a plea for continuous crisis care
The Social Care News blog joined our esteemed events & visits and policy colleagues at the very first Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat Summit, held yesterday at the Grand Connaught Rooms in central London. This was an opportunity for Care …
How the Social Care Commitment can help you achieve quality
I’ve talked many times about the benefits of making the Social Care Commitment, but I am often asked by hard pressed employers how it fits in with other initiatives and standards they have to meet day in and day out. …
Why advocacy provides the seeds of empowerment
When service user, now mental health consultant, June Sadd was sectioned, she felt there was no support available to help her make any sense of her situation. On the eve of the first Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat summit, it …
New survey seeks views on improving mental health services for the young
The Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce (CYPMH) has not been idle in seeking valuable data and insight into how we can work together to improve mental health services for our youth. The Department of Health has …