Sector must be prepared for individual care budgets, says report

By John Plummer, Third Sector Online, 16 November 2009

Acevo convenes commission on the personalisation of public services

A group of leaders from the voluntary and public sectors have called for the creation of a powerful new Cabinet Office unit to oversee the personalisation of public services. The Government has proposed giving people individual budgets to spend on their care as part of a reform of public services. The move could have huge implications for all service-providing organisations, including charities.

Chief executives body Acevo convened a Commission on Personalisation to consider the way forward. Its interim report, published this week, includes a series of recommendations that it says would lead to a "revolution in public service delivery".

The report urges ministers to set out a five-year timetable for the personalisation of services, to create a Cabinet Office personalisation delivery unit to oversee the transition and to legislate for a new "right to control", which would ensure people could choose the services they wanted.

It says local authorities should convene task forces to plan for the change, and urges trusts and foundations to prioritise funding to organisations that develop personalisation products, such as savings schemes that help people to manage their personal budgets.

Social entrepreneur Matthew Pike, who chaired the 14-person commission, told Third Sector the implications of personalisation for charities were profound.

"We have spoken to hundreds of organisations and many see this as liberating the third sector to serve the people it exists to serve," he said.

But a survey by the commission found that many charities were ignorant of personalisation and ill-prepared for change. Only 29 per cent said they were ready for personalisation and 11 per cent strongly desired it.

The report also acknowledges that many providers "might not have the capacity to respond to change".

The commission will present its final report to the Cabinet Office in autumn 2010.

Third Sector online, 16th November 2009

DisabledGo-Health - Empowering Disabled People in Hertfordshire

Launch of UK's first online national disabled access guide to healthcare services

DisabledGo, the UK's foremost provider of disabled access information, has launched a new initiative aimed at transforming patient satisfaction amongst disabled people.  DisabledGo-Health is the UK's first comprehensive online national disabled-access guide to healthcare services providing free, detailed access information to, for example, local hospitals, dentists and GPs.

This new online guide comes after years of research that documents how difficult it is for the UK's 11 million disabled people to find access to healthcare that is appropriate to their specific requirements. How to find a dentist with step free access or a GP surgery with a hearing loop are among many of the features that the service offers on www.disabledgo.com, helping to benefit the estimated 258,000 disabled people and those with a direct link to disability in Hertfordshire.

The aim is to empower disabled people to make an informed choice about where they go for their healthcare, with anticipated results including a better patient experience, enhanced clinical outcomes, reduced waste and higher patient satisfaction levels.

Developed by disabled people for disabled people, DisabledGo-Health provides a cost effective, highly targeted service for NHS Trusts. Once signed up, surveyors trained in evaluating accessibility compile detailed guides to every patient service within the listed Trusts, including GP practices, dental surgeries, opticians, pharmacies, walk-in centres and hospital departments. Access information is then collected, collated and published online at www.disabledgo.com. All information provided on the site is developed with the continual involvement of disabled people across the UK, ensuring the most useful, comprehensive and up-to-date service.

NHS Trusts have a responsibility to all patients. The DisabledGo-Health initiative encourages Trusts to sign up as part of their commitment to involving and engaging with disabled people at a local level. It extends patient choice along the lines of Lord Darzi's initiative to provide 'High Quality Care for All'[1], enabling Trusts to invest in patient satisfaction.

Martha Lane Fox, Champion for Digital Inclusion comments "This is a great initiative which gives disabled people more freedom and more opportunities with which to have a fuller life".

DisabledGo-Health is a significant achievement for those concerned with patient choice and equality for disabled people. "We want to empower disabled people and their families, carers and friends to make the sort of autonomous choices regarding healthcare that non-disabled people take for granted. We already have over 20 NHS Trusts as partners, and the feedback from Trusts suggests the majority will participate in the Project by 2010," said Dr. Gregory Burke, Founder and Chief Executive of DisabledGo.

The availability of the online access guide will help to increase patient choice for disabled people; improve the clinical experience for patients by informing them of access in advance, reducing agitation and distress at the time of examination or treatment and cutting the number of missed appointments by those patients discouraged by access uncertainty; and widen staff perception and understanding of disability.

Justin Spencer, Assistant Director Estates and Facilities, West, East and North Hertfordshire PCT – the first PCT to sign up to DisabledGo-Health – supports this initiative and applauds the depth of information available to disabled patients; "Our partnership with DisabledGo has enabled us to identify and inform members of the public regarding issues related to disabled access, allowing them to assess the accessibility of a building and make appropriate choices and arrangements in advance. Furthermore, the surveys undertaken provide invaluable information for the development of a programme of accessibility improvement works across our clinics and community hospitals".

For the first time, disabled patients now have a real choice about where they go for their healthcare. DisabledGo-Health is part of DisabledGo's commitment to empower disabled people to be included within their communities, by providing the highest quality information.

DisabledGo, 17th November 2009

New grants aim to get more disabled people volunteering

Applications are now open for grants designed to help organisations enable more disabled people to volunteer. Grants of between £250 and £5,000, are available to help overcome barriers that stop disabled people volunteering, such as specific equipment, a lack of suitable access and understanding of disability issues.

These grants are part of the £2 million 'Access to Volunteering Fund', which was developed by the Office of the Third Sector as a pilot scheme in Greater London, the West Midlands and the North West.

The fund operates between Autumn 2009 and Spring 2011 over five grant rounds. The first deadline for applications is 1 December 2009. However, organisations unable to submit an application by this date will have their applications considered in future grant rounds.

In addition to supporting disabled volunteers, the pilot will test different ways to apply for funds such as video applications and face-to-face pitches.

The grant fund is being managed by a consortium comprising Charities Aid Foundation, RNIB and Digital Public.

Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector, said: "Volunteering is an unbeatable way to build confidence and skills and we want to get as many people as possible volunteering with or without a disability. We know that there are many barriers stopping disabled people volunteering and this targeted fund aims to overcome these limits."

www.accesstovolunteering.org

 

Disabled people's groups give stark warning

Managers of vital services for disabled people say more Portsmouth residents must make use of them or they will be cut.

 

Dial-a-Ride and Shopmobility help people who struggle to move get out and about in the community by offering mini-bus rides and mobility scooters.

Community Transport provides cheap bus hire for any group to go on day trips out of the city.

But the services, which are subsidised by Portsmouth City Council, rely on small fees paid by users to cover costs.

And managers say many people don't know they exist, meaning they struggle to make ends meet.

Craig Beetlestone, transport manager for Dial-a-Ride and Community First, said: 'The benefits of these services are enormous – they give people freedom and independence.

'We want people to realise we are here, and the message is use us or lose us.'

Any disabled person who struggles with public transport can use Dial-a-Ride to pick them up from their front door and take them anywhere in Portsmouth for £2.

And for another £1.50 they can be met at a time of their choosing and taken home to their front door.

Bus tokens are accepted.

Trained and CRB-checked drivers help people get into the fully-adapted buses, make sure they are strapped in and offer friendly conversation.

Mr Beetlestone added: 'It gives people the chance to interact socially, and get out in the community rather than sitting in their flats.

'Safety is our priority - and giving people dignity as well.'

Shopmobility offers scooters for hire by the day, week – or for longer – and people are trained how to use them.

Youngsters with temporary disabilities, such as a broken leg, can use them as well as older and permanently disabled people.

One mother even hired one after a caesarean section left her struggling to get around.

Co-ordinator Traci-Ann Haynes said: 'People think it is just about shopping, but just 10 minutes of training can provide people with a lifetime of independence to get into the community – some people use them to go up and down the seafront, just to get out.

'It allows them to be part of the community rather than stuck behind closed doors.

'We have people come along who say they will never be able to do it – we are there to give them confidence to get some independence back.'

INFORMATION

- To contact Portsmouth Shopmobility phone (023) 9281 6973 or email shopmobility@community1st.org.uk. Scooters can also be provided for events, functions and festivals.

- For Dial-a-Ride, phone (023) 9287 7146 and for Community Transport - cheap group travel - phone (023) 9287 7308.

The News (Portsmouth), 17th November 2009

Intel Launches Text Reading Device

Chip giant Intel has shown-off a device designed to give vision-impaired and dyslexic people access to printed text.

The device, known as the Reader, captures text and then reads it aloud and displays it on its built-in screen.

The development is unusual because so-called “assistive technologies” are normally manufactured by specialist companies rather than global giants.

The Reader is the size of a paperback book and uses a high-resolution camera and Intel’s Atom processor.

The 600g (1.3lb) device was developed by Intel access technology director, Ben Foss, who is dyslexic himself.

“As someone who is part of the dyslexic community, I am thrilled to be able to help level the playing field for people who, like me, do not have easy access to the printed word,” he said.

‘Tactile scanner’

The Reader is being launched in the UK on 17 November at an event in London, after being unveiled in the US last week.

It is expected to sell for around £1,000.

Intel estimates that this technology could benefit as many as eight million people in the UK – if the six million people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties and the two million people with impaired vision are added together.

“The Intel Reader is a tool that can help give people with dyslexia, low-vision and blindness – or other reading-based disabilities – access to the resources they need to be successful in school, work and life,” according to Mr Foss.

So much information is delivered in a print format and a device like this will help to break down barriers to accessing information Steve Tyler RNIB

The Reader is being sold alongside a portable scanner – called the Portable Capture Station – which will process several pages at a time, or even an entire book.

The scanner is contained within a hard-shell briefcase.

The Reader is capable of playing back a variety of content including MP3 files, DAISY books – a special format used for blind, dyslexic and other disabled people – and text files transferred from a computer.

It can also generate audio versions of printed material that can be listened to using a standard MP3 player or computer.

The device is fitted with tactile buttons, to make them easy to identify, and the text menus are read out so that it is easily used by people with little or no vision.

Intel says that the Reader will have enough battery power for a typical day’s use.

The company’s move into the disability market has been welcomed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the British Dyslexia Association (BDA).

“This device has the potential to offer a great deal of independence to people who have a difficulty with reading,” said BDA chief executive, Judi Stewart.

“So much information is delivered in a print format and a device like this will help to break down barriers to accessing information,” added RNIB’s Steve Tyler.

The Reader will be available from the specialist assistive technology suppliers like HumanWare and Inclusive Technology as well as mainstream retailers like Amazon.co.uk.

What a brilliant idea!

Samedifference, 17th November 2009

Your chance to enjoy "Deacon"

For most of this year Barbara Jones has been involved in promoting the new musicals for cochlear implant users, "The Farmer's Cheese" and "Deacon".  Both will soon be available on CD and DVD and there will be more performances in 2010.
 
In the meantime, please either join our facebook groups - We love the Farmer's Cheese and Deacon 4 the Edinburgh Festival to add your support.  Also there are now extracts from Deacon on Youtube.  The composer is Zack A. Moir - the musical is called Deacon and there are about 9 tracks available.
 
Please, please, please support this initiative - without projects like this, this sector of the deaf community would derive much less enjoyment from music - something most of us take for granted on a daily basis.

www.ci-music-scene.co.uk

RADAR recognises PA Pool for “Doing Care & Support Differently”!

www.papool.co.uk, the website where PA Users (disabled people) can recruit PAs and PAs (carers) can find employment, was named as one of six finalists in the Doing Care and Support Differently category in RADAR’s People of the Year Awards 2009.

RADAR's People of the Year Awards, celebrates excellence and achievement by both disabled people and those organisations with a commitment to furthering the equality agenda for disabled people.

Director/founder Katy Etherington is a PA user and has employed PAs for 12 years;

“Currently there is a massive push towards giving disabled people more control, especially over their care and support, but most methods of recruitment don’t actually facilitate that. I developed PA Pool to make the recruitment process more accessible, interactive and more empowering not only for the thousands of people who need support to live independently or are looking for work in the care field, but also the increasing number of families who need help to care for elderly relatives.”

Since PA Pool's launch in June 2007 the member base has grown to over 4500 PAs and PA users, and each month these figures are growing. People all over the UK are benefiting from the service, the reduced effort of finding a PA, or PA employment, and the peace of mind having a dedicated resource brings. Becoming a PA does not always require qualifications or experience, so PA Pool provides opportunities to many job seekers who might otherwise find it difficult to find employment, as well as encouraging students studying medical or care related courses to gain valuable work experience by undertaking temporary PA jobs during their holidays. PA Pool provides the resource to enable independence or gain experience, ultimately helping people to make a greater contribution to society.

The finalists will attend a black tie dinner to be held at held at Battersea Evolution on the 28th November. “It's great when you find an idea that enables you to personally overcome a particular problem. When that idea solves the same problem for others too - its even better! If you get recognition and someone actually tells you that your idea is good - it's fantastic! This is the 4th award nomination PA Pool has received since its launch, I feel very proud!”

www.papool.co.uk

More secrecy around National Care Service

The government has gone back on a pledge to reveal the true cost of its proposed National Care Service before the green paper consultation period ends on November 13th, prompting further suspicions about the honesty of the whole consultation process.

As reported by Benefits and Work, (£20,000 shock birthday tax for all) the green paper rules out using general taxation to pay for everyone's care and instead offers three options for funding the service, one of which is sending everyone a tax bill for £20,000 on their 65th birthday.

As soon as the green paper was produced, a number of charities asked for the figures that lay behind the government's funding options so that they could make a proper judgement about which was the best.  Having promised several times to release the figures, the government has now said they are not yet complete and so can't be released.Community Care magazine reports that a coalition of charities – the Care and Support Alliance - is now set to make a Freedom of Information request to try to obtain the documents.The continued lack of candour from the government about funding, including which benefits are to be cut to pay for the National Care Service, can only increase the impression that this is a deeply dishonest consultation exercise in which the true cost to individuals is being kept carefully hidden.For the full story:

Adult green paper: Campaigners slam delay to financial model

Campaigners threaten FoI to reveal green paper finance data

Benefits & Work, 5th November 2009

Gloucester Cathedral gets thumbs up

 

Thursday, November 05, 2009, 06:55 Disabled visitors gave disability services at Gloucester Cathedral the thumbs up after carrying out a survey on access at the historic building. Seven people who use Leonard Cheshire Disability Services took a trip to the city landmark for their annual Make a Difference Day. Andrew Wood co-ordinator of the Can Do project which is part of Leonard Cheshire Disability said: "Every year at Leonard Cheshire we run Make a Difference Day where we survey some aspect of community life and in this case it was about shopping. "We had already booked a community visit to the Cathedral so we doubled up and surveyed the Cathedral shop at the same time. "It was surveyed by disabled people and I am glad to report that it passed with flying colours." Leonard Cheshire Disability currently supports more than 21,000 disabled people in the UK. Mr Wood added: " Everyone really enjoyed it. The seven people surveying had come from the Star College, St Rose's School and The Leonard Cheshire Care Home of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham. "All the facilities were excellent at the Cathedral, they had ramps and easy access for everyone and the shop even had most of its shelves at wheelchair height, where most shops you can't reach the counter. So it was very good. "The chairman of Leonard Cheshire, Ilyas Khan also came to visit for the day and then we visited The Comfy Pew restaurant in College Street which was also very good." The findings of the survey can now be used by other disabled users before visiting the Cathedral. Mark Beckett, Chapter Steward at Gloucester Cathedral, said: "We think welcoming everyone to the Cathedral is very important and that includes people that have difficulties with mobility. "We have spent quite a bit of money over the last few years to improve the access, with wheelchair lifts in parts of the Cathedral and things like that. "We take access very seriously and we want to welcome everybody whatever their position."   Stroud and District Access Group

Fundraising News - November

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	The days are getting colder, you have just started to put on your warm wooly coat and yes - it's that time again! Christmas is approaching… We have launched our 2009 Christmas card collection , which you can see online. Order by calling Phillip our lovely card co-ordinator on 01736 33 33 12. If you have any questions about the cards or any comments on our fundraising e-newsletter please call me on 0117 930 7293 or send me a quick e-mail. Best wishes Nic Your Community and Events Fundraiser
	Raise £1 get £1 free! One of our much valued, family trust supporters has pledged to match your fundraising efforts up to a fantastic £25,000! This family recognises commitment, hard work and determination. For every £1 you raise through your fundraising efforts – such as taking a trek, selling our wristbands or running for Action for M.E., they will donate another pound. Now doesn't that just inspire you to raise some more?! Read how this pledge has inspired others online.
	Rajasthan Tiger Challenge This biking trip explores the rich and diverse country of India. You will begin the hustle and bustle of Delhi, move onto Agra to see the Taj Mahal and then discover the idyllic region of Rajasthan – which has stunning wildlife and a dramatic desert landscape. To find out more e-mail me quoting 'India' or explore more overseas adventures. See our brochure Dinner 4 good.com Raise money for us simply by doing something you enjoy - having your friends round for dinner! This new website allows you to create pretty e-invites to friends, which they can then accept and donate to Action for M.E. You can keep track of whose coming and how much money has been raised so far – leaving the rest of your time dedicated to getting that dinner spot on! Get started!
			Can you stand the heat? Fancy walking on fire? One of our members calls to the bold and the brave to join her in this exciting challenge. It only costs £60. E-mail us or call 0117 930 7293 for more information.
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Charity takes legal action against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council

Guide Dogs issues Judicial Review over Council's 'unlawful' plans for shared surface street in Exhibition Road, part funded by the Mayor of London

 

Solicitors acting for Guide Dogs have issued a Judicial Review challenge in the High Court to the legality of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's (RBKC) plans for a dangerous shared surface street in Exhibition Road.

 

In taking this action, Guide Dogs wants to ensure the safe and independent mobility of thousands of local blind and partially sighted people, disabled and elderly people, and young children. The charity supports any development that encourages reduced clutter, lower traffic speeds and greater freedom of movement for pedestrians but not at the expense of vulnerable pedestrians through the arbitrary removal of kerbs, without an acceptable, proven alternative. It is estimated the redevelopment will cost £25m, partly funded by the Mayor of London.

 

Under the current plans, the road and pavement would be built at the same level only separated by untested corduroy paving rather than using the traffic sign required by legislation. Guide Dogs – supported by research in the UK - has found no suitable alternative to a kerb to delineate a road.

 

The essence of the Judicial Review is that the scheme adopted by RBKC is unlawful and puts the 19m visitors per year to Exhibition Road and other pedestrians at serious risk. 

 

The current legislation requires the edge of a carriageway to be marked with a white line. Guide Dogs does not think that a white line on its own would provide the same safety as a kerb. Without a white line and a kerb, Guide Dogs considers the only lawful approach by RBKC is to approach the Department for Transport (DfT) for special authorisation for this scheme.
This is the first time in the charity's 77 year history that it has taken legal action in this way.

 

Tom Pey, Guide Dogs' Director of External Affairs commented: "We regret that we have had to take this action but we have to highlight the impact of RBKC's proposals on the mobility of blind and partially sighted people and other vulnerable pedestrians.

 

"The Council has repeatedly ignored our research, and representations from other organisations as well as our 'Say NO to shared streets' campaign which is supported by 30 UK wide disability organisations. 67% of Londoners agree the road's design will negatively impact on disabled people .

 

"The Secretary of State for Transport has said there is no evidence that these schemes offer any greater benefit than traditional traffic calming techniques. The Mayor of London has said he won't support any scheme which is unsafe for blind and partially sighted people, yet he is supporting this scheme before Transport for London's research is known.

 

"Blind and partially sighted people need consistency in the design of streets. If they can't tell where the road begins and the pavement ends, how can they feel safe?"

 

Andrew Lockley, Partner and Head of Public Law at Irwin Mitchell, which is representing the charity, said: "These legal proceedings highlight the lack of clear guidance on this issue from the Department for Transport. The Department has declined to comment on this street design and instead, are awaiting the results of their research in to shared surface streets before issuing their guidance. This has left RBKC free to press ahead with this deceptive scheme."

 

These legal proceedings also highlight that the current regulatory framework does not address effective delineation in these schemes.

 

Stroud & District Access Group

News from the South West

 

Barbecue 'ban' for Down's student

The mother of a Down's syndrome woman has called for an apology from a Devon college after her daughter was excluded from a barbecue.

Shirley Pidner, from Umberleigh, is angry staff at Petroc college in Barnstaple allowed 20-year-old Lisa's classmates not to invite her.

She believes the students did not want Lisa at the barbecue because she has a compulsion to hide people's things.

The college has declined to talk about the matter.

Petroc spokesman Huw Davies said the college provided a "caring, flexible and considered environment" where all its students were treated fairly.

"Whilst I cannot talk about the specifics of this case, my colleagues are working with a vulnerable group of adult learners," he said

"It can sometimes be extremely difficult to balance the needs of individual students with those of their classmates and other learners.

"On the rare occasions where issues like this arise, we are not always able to resolve them to everyone's satisfaction, but we always have the best interests of our learners at heart."

Lisa, who attends Petroc's four days a week and works in a local restaurant one day, was diagnosed with a compulsion addiction which means she often picks things up and hides them.

Ms Pidner said while she accepts Lisa's behaviour could annoy her classmates, she feels the college should have handled matters differently.

'Cruel and barbaric'

Lisa said she wanted to go to the end of term barbecue and it had been upsetting to be excluded.

"I felt terrible. All my friends were going to the barbecue and they voted for me not to go,"

Ms Pidner said not only does she wants the college to explain why it chose this "cruel and barbaric" course of action, she wants an apology for her daughter.

"If the college didn't want her to go, that's on thing, but to actually get the students involved and get them to vote just seems so cruel and unfair."

She has written to the college twice, but has received no reply.

www.disabledsouthwest.co.uk