SCIL joins Campaigners from across Europe on Freedom Drive

Between the 14th and the 17th September, Robert Droy and Michael Grimmett from SCIL joined 440 people from 21 European countries in Strasbourg for the Freedom Drive 2009 to campaign for the rights of Disabled People. 

The Freedom Drive concentrates on Independent Living subjects such as deinstitutionalisation, the right to personal assistance and the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.

 

The Freedom Drivers came up with 8 key demands that they felt the European Parliament should be working on and these demands were handed over to EU Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and to Richard Howitt MEP following a march through the streets of Strasbourg to the Parliament building.  

 

Jerzy Buzek and Richard Howitt said they were committed to fight for the rights of Disabled People and encouraged Freedom Drivers to keep lobbying their national MEPs to promote Independent Living in their countries.

Michael Grimmett from SCIL commented ‘ I found the 2009 Freedom Drive to be an inspiring experience.  To be around other Disabled People, who are fighting for a common goal was uplifting and gave me further impetus to carry on the campaign for independent living and equal rights. ’.

Following a meeting with some of the UK MEPs, Robert Droy pledged that SCIL would invite the MEPs in the South East area to a seminar in early 2010 to continue the dialogue further. More details to follow…..   

Freedom Drive Finalises Its Demands

On 16 Sep 09, 3 delegates from SCIL will join more than 400 Freedom Drivers from more than 20 countries as they march through Strasbourg to the EU Parliament. Regardless of their impairment, they are unified by one goal: Independent Living.

They will hand over the following demands to the President of the EU Parliament. 

1. We call on the European Community to ensure that Independent Living is central in the disability policies of the European Union, as expressed in the EU Disability Strategy, the Disability Action Plan and Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

2. We encourage the European Community to continue to assist the development of community-based services to achieve de-institutionalization across Europe.

3. We call for the implementation of our human right to a personal assistance service, fundamental to guarantee the enjoyment of Independent Living.

4. We call for the opportunity to equally enjoy the right to freedom of movement with the portability of personal assistance services.

5. We call for an earmarking of 5% of EU development funding to go to the development of Independent Living programs in developing countries.

6. We call on the European Community to fully ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to sign and ratify its Optional Protocol and for its articles to be implemented in EU legislation and policy. Incumbent in this is the application of pressure by the Institutions and representatives on member states to transpose the convention into law domestically as soon as possible

7. We call for a disability specific directive to uphold and protect the full rights and entitlements of people with disabilities across Europe.

8. Disabled people and our organisations must be decisively involved at all levels of policy-making including planning, producing and implementation.

Whilst in Strasbourg, the Freedom Drive participants will be meeting with many MEPs who have an interest in this area to look at how we can all work together to ensure these demands are taken seriously.

You can read more about the Freedom Drive on our blog over the coming weeks.                                           

 

Shaping the Future of Care Together

The long awaited green paper on the future of social care was finally released on the 14th July 2009 and received less then enthusiastic reception from many organisations of Disabled People. Many commentators felt the Green Paper focussed too heavily on the funding of long term support for older people and ignored the needs of younger Disabled People.

The Green Paper sets out the government’s vision for a ‘National Care Service’.

The National Care Service will create a level playing field and end the postcode lottery of care services. Everyone in England will be guaranteed:

• Prevention services – the right support to stay independent and well for as long as possible and to delay your support needs increasing. 

• National assessment – Your support needs will be assessed and paid for in the same way across the country.

• Joined-up services – all the services will work together smoothly.

• Information and advice – the system will be easy to understand and navigate.

• Personalised care and support – services will be based on personal circumstances and need.

• Fair funding – money will be spent wisely and everyone will get some help meeting the high cost of support needs.

All very worthy aims however there is less detail on how they can achieve these aims.

Although the government appears to now acknowledge that funding for long term support is in crisis, and that there are inequalities in different areas in England, over criteria and means testing, the government has not brought forward one particular strategy to combat this.

When it comes to the thorny issue of funding for older people’s support, there seems to be 3 possible options which have been proposed:

1) A partnership model

The state would pay for a proportion of the care costs of any individual – for example, a quarter or a third – ensuring that everyone gets some support free. People would have to pay towards the rest of the cost dependent on means. 

 2) An insurance model

The state would pay for a proportion of the care costs of any individual – for example, a quarter or a third – ensuring that everyone gets some support free, just as in the Partnership model. In addition people could choose to pay into a private insurance or state insurance scheme that would cover the rest of the costs. This could be paid in instalments, as a lump sum on retirement or after death if preferred.

3) A comprehensive model

Everyone over retirement age would be required to pay into an insurance scheme depending on means and care would all be free once this requirement is met. The insurance could be paid during their working life, during their retirement or after they died.

There now follows a consultation period that lasts until the 13th November 2009 which is called rather brashly ‘The Big Care Debate’. There are no ‘official’ Government consultation events being held in Southampton however SCIL is considering holding a consultation event sometime in the Autumn.

More info is at http://www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/

Or you can order a copy to be mailed to you by phoning 0300 123 1002 or minicom number is 0300 123 1003

Quote the reference, 295936 ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ for the full Green Paper and, for the shorter version, 295936/ER ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together – Easy Read.’

 

If You Employ A PA, This is for You!

SCIL are holding an exciting workshop on Tuesday 14th July between 10am and 1pm which would benefit you with understanding PA employment and it is free to all SCIL Members and Disabled People on the ILSS register.

The workshop morning is an exciting way to open your mind to various employment issues and to raise the issues that Disabled People encounter everyday and enabling you to reach your maximum potential as a Personal Assistant employer.  You will also have the chance to meet various support workers at SCIL.

On the same day, Personal Assistants on the ILSS register have been invited to a Disability Equality Training session. Personal Assistants have been strongly advised to attend DET Training as part of their development as a Personal Assistant. 

If you employ a Personal Assistant from the ILSS register, you should be aware that your Personal Assistant may also be attending on the same date as yourself.  It is worth noting that the Personal Assistants will be in a separate room.

As this is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed, so complete the booking form below:

PA Employers Workshop

Or contact Michael on 023 8020 2636 or email Michael@southamptoncil.co.uk

Consultation on the Right to Control

The Office of Disability Issues has just launched a consultation to ask Disabled People how to make choice and control a reality in their lives.

The consultation, launched on 11 June, invites stakeholders to give their views on the best way to deliver the Right to Control.

The ODI encourages responses from Disabled People, their organisations, public bodies, commissioners and service providers.

The consultation runs from 11 June – 30 September 2009.

• Consultation on Right to Control (PDF, 78 pages, 3.71 MB)

• Consultation on Right to Control – Easy Read (PDF, 92 pages, 2.12 MB)

To request a copy of the consultation in Braille, audio CD or BSL DVD email right.control@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 020 7449 5093.

What is the right to control?

The Right to Control is about shifting the balance of power from the state to the individual and recognising that disabled people are the experts in their own lives.

Why is the right needed?

At the moment, many Disabled People do not have the sort of choice and control over their lives that Non-Disabled people take for granted. The Government is therefore committed to providing greater choice and control over the support they receive from the State.

How will the right be introduced?

From 2010, we will test how the Right to Control will work. We will do this by trying out the Right to Control for Disabled Adults in a number of local authority areas in England. These will be called trailblazer sites.

How does the right fit with the Welfare Reform Bill?

The Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament enables the Secretary of State to make regulations to give Disabled People greater choice and control over support provided by the state. The Right to Control is part 2 of the Bill.

The Bill has completed its passage through the House of Commons. There was strong support across the House, with members on both sides warmly welcoming the increased choice and control this policy will deliver. As of June 2009, the Bill is before the House of Lords.

The Hansard page on the Welfare Reform Bill can be found on the Parliament website and includes the full text of the Bill, explanatory notes and reports from the debates.

 

Direct Newsletter Dec 2008 now online

SCIL is pleased to announce that you can now download the latest Direct Newsletter produced by HCIL straight from the blog.

Full of articles of interest to Direct Payments users and  employers of personal assistants, this monthly newsletter is packed full of useful information.

Click on the link below for December’s issue.

direct-178-december-20082

Mixed Feedback to HCC Personalisation Commission

Ian Loynes and Robert Droy from SCIL recently attended the first session of the Hampshire Personalisation Commission. Throughout the day, we discussed with members of the audience how they felt about the Commission and their observations of the first session.

 

Firstly without wishing to be overly negative, the format and acoustics of the venue was not particularly accessible for many of the participants. There was no sign language interpreter at the session but we presume this would have been provided if an participant had requested it. We were also disappointed with the lack of diversity amongst both the commissioners, witnesses, and the audience in general. ‘White, middle aged, and middle class’ was one comment we heard.

 

Despite the session being entitled ‘People and Carers’, out of the 7 people who gave evidence, 3 people were actually ‘professionals’ who gave lengthy presentations which were followed up by questions. Their evidence, whilst useful, may have been better suited to a later session.

 

In contrast, the ‘people’ and ‘carers’ were asked to give very brief presentations with no opportunity for the commissioners to question them further. We feel this was a missed opportunity to really capture from the ‘users’ themselves why personalisation was so important. This part of the evidence was summed up by the Commission Chair as ‘moving’ and ‘uplifting’. Whilst these comments were well meaning, they were construed by many as slightly patronising and not viewing the evidence on an equal level as the evidence given by the other witnesses.

 

The round table discussions in the afternoon were found to be much more successful but unfortunately were only open to a ‘select’ group of invited guests. Some of the common themes have however been summarised in a document on the Hampshire Personalisation Commission website, along with much of the other evidence and presentations at each session.

 

The next session is on June 12 and you can apply for tickets for that session until May 20 by visiting the website or by calling 01962 833 040. Leave your name, telephone number and address and they will post an application form to you

 

Challenging Charges For Social Care Services

Thanks to NCIL for passing on this information.

 

The Coalition on Charging is a group of organisations chaired by the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL). The coalition was established to campaign against the current system of charging for community care services.

 

The Coalition members include: NCIL, Age Concern, Scope, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Disability Alliance, Alzheimer’s Society, People First, Mind, Radar, the Alliance for Inclusive Education, Counsel and Care, United Kingdom Disabled Peoples Council (UKDPC), Action for Blind People, Royal National Institute for the Deaf, Arthritis Care, British Polio Fellowship, Carers UK, Equalities, Help the Aged, the Parkinson’s Disease Society, Mencap.

 

The Coalition is writing an up to date report, highlighting the current situation with charging for care, to ensure that the issue is on the government’s agenda when looking at the future of social care.

 

Our survey:

 

As part of the report we want to include feedback from people who are affected by charging. We have developed a survey that will be used to help the Coalition on Charging produce good information.

 

The report is aimed at the Department of Health and Government. A Government consultation (‘green’) paper on reform is due out sometime in 2008.  The Government has said that it ‘believes that there are real opportunities for reform within a system that shares the cost between the individual and the state’.

 

However, in our view, it is very important that they look at the effects on people of the current charging system and hear the views of people who are currently being charged for their support.

 

In order that we can include your views please can you respond to this survey by May 1 2008.

 

Please fill in the question on personal details. It is important for us to know your age as adult services are often provided for ‘adults’ and ‘older people’. We will not pass on any personal information and will make all responses anonymous in the report.

 

The Coalition has one set of survey questions for individual people who need support and their carers. There is a separate set of survey questions for organisations representing people who need support and representing carers. Please fill in the right survey.

 

You can download them here:

 

charging-survey-for-individuals

 

charging-survey-for-organisations

 

If you are involved in a forum or network, if you were able to discuss this issue that would be very useful.

 

The survey is for all adults in England who use (or have used) local authority social services for support in their own home. This includes people who use (or have used) direct payments. It does not include people who use residential care services.

 

This survey is aimed at all disabled and older people who use community care services.

 

We apologise for the short amount of time given to return the survey but we hope you will be able to give us your views.

 

Please send your completed survey by May 1 2008 to NCIL,  Fourth Floor, Hampton House, 20 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ or to policy@ncil.org.uk or fax to 0207 587 1663

 

 

Unhappy New Year for Independent Living Fund

Both Disabled People and Local Authorities were shocked by the Independent Living Funds’ decision to raise the amount that local authorities have to contribute towards a person’s support package before they are entitled to ILF funding.

From April 1 2008, new applicants will need to be receiving at least £320 per week of local authority input. This is an increase from the current threshold of £200 per week.

Existing applicants will not be affected unless they request an increase in their support needs. In this case the ILF will expect the local authority to increase their input to at least £320 per week. Existing applicants will be able to request an increase due to an increase in the cost of the support e.g. a change in the hourly rate without being subject to the new £320 per week threshold.

The ILF are also tightening up their rules on backdating payments as well as prioritising applicants in paid employment and applicants on Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance and Pension Credit Guarantee.

 Of course, many Disabled People are asking why the ILF has made this sudden decision. According to the ILF, since summer 2006, there has been a 27% rise in applications and therefore a change in policy was necessary, The ILF also claim that 53% of current applications already meet the new £320 per week threshold. They also point out that the threshold of £200 per week has remained the same for the past 15 years. 

Local authorities have been sent reeling from the news and some local authorities have prioritised new ILF applications in the hope of beating the April 1 deadline.

SCIL’s Annual Report 2006 – 2007

With SCIL’s AGM just around the corner, SCIL are pleased to release their annual report for 2006/2007. As you will see, it has been yet another rollercoaster of a year with some low points but also some real signs of optimism for the future.

We are just about to start phase 2 of our redevelopment of Unity 12. Once completed, we will have fully accessible conference room facilities, in addition to extra office space that will be let to like-minded organisations.

Anyway, I don’t want to reveal all the hidden gems you will find in the annual report. Give it a read, you might find it more interesting than you thought – just click the link below.

SCIL’s Annual Report 2006 - 2007

The above file is a PDF file so you will need Adobe Acrobat on your computer and it may take a few seconds to download.