disabilities
Council apologises for SEND failures
Suffolk CC has apologised to families who rely on special educational needs and disabilities provision after a report found the council was 'not performing well'.
HMJ: Disabled children’s conditions have worsened during COVID
Many services for disabled children and their families have been ‘slow to return’ since lockdown restrictions were lifted, according to the results of a new report.
HMJ: New national director for learning disability and autism
NHS England has appointed a new national director for learning disability and autism to help ensure people can be treated in the community, rather than in inpatient settings.
The Paralympics and public procurement for the public good
We need to make sure the principles that drove big set piece investments such as London 2012 are reflected in everyday public spending, says Patrick Thomson from the Shaw Trust Foundation.
Making high streets work for all
Councils and businesses should work with local disabled people to identify solutions to make our high streets work for everyone, argues Ben Cooper.
Call for 'radical system change' after children's home claims
A charity chief has called for ‘radical system change’ after whistleblowers claimed youngsters with autism were ‘abused’ and mistreated at a Cardiff children’s home.
Tapping into local potential
Des Murray shares his experiences of working with the DFN Project SEARCH and highlights why other local authorities and companies should get involved with the charity.
We need to reach out to disabled people in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
Dr Peter Unwin highlights the findings of a new and pioneering study into the missing voices of disabled people in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
Youth and BAME jobs hit hardest by lockdown
Young people, BAME workers and those on insecure contracts have lost out most as a result of the changing jobs market during the COVID-19 crisis, says new research from the Resolution Foundation.
Advocacy services remain crucial despite COVID pressures
Councils must ensure social care providers understand that the legal obligations to refer to advocacy services remain fully in place during COVID, says Jonathan Senker.
Seeing social care through a different lens
Social care is much more than elderly people and hospital discharges, says Cllr David Fothergill. Many people are working-age adults with severe learning disabilities, and the Government needs to widen its scope of what care encompasses.
Disabled people could be part of the answer to the fostering crisis
Thousands of disabled people could help relieve the long-standing recruitment crisis in fostering if only they are given the chance, says Dr Peter Unwin.
Streamline PPE funding for the sake of social care
COVID-19 will continue to severely stretch the financial resilience of providers like Leonard Cheshire and funding must be urgently refreshed and streamlined, says Hugh Fenn.
Fighting for everyone’s rights
Cllr Gavin Harding MBE became the first person with a learning disability to be employed by NHS England. He says councils could do more to employ learning-disabled people in ‘serious roles’. Ann McGauran reports.
Redefining what good looks like
Impower’s annual top 10 list is a celebration of strong council performance and, as Jon Ainger explains, many local authorities have stepped up to the challenge.
EXCLUSIVE: England's top 10 councils revealed
Calderdale MBC and Oxfordshire CC have clambered their way into consultancy Impower’s list of England’s most productive councils this year, The MJ can reveal.
Legal action threatens council income
North Yorkshire CC could lose annual income of £300,000 from home-to-school transport amid a legal threat from a disability rights campaigner.
Social workers have a key role in helping disabled people get more active
An evaluation of the Get Yourself Active programme, which sought to identify ways to boost participation of disabled people in sport and physical activity, has concluded that social workers have a key role to play, says Leanne Wightman
Councils may have to hand back grant
Some of the extra £55m Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) announced by the chancellor in the Budget may have to be handed back by councils.
