Newsletters 2007: Issue 15 May 2007
The State of Social Care in England
The Commission for Social Care Inspection, are responsible for regulating and inspecting all social care providers and for assessing the performance of local councils, in delivering social services. They have published a report about the state of social care which says that councils are restricting social care services and it is families and carers who are having to take the strain.
The report finds that more services are meeting minimum standards, but despite spending more, councils are tightening local rules about who qualifies for state-funded social care.
More and more elderly and disabled people are either having to find and pay for their own private care, or rely on carers (family members or friends).
As local councils support fewer people, carers have to fill in the gaps, with inadequate support structures to help them and no system in many areas to help people find the services which they need.
The lack of respite help for people who have caring responsibilities can affect their ability to hold down a job, fulfil other family responsibilities such as looking after children, and may damage their own long term health and emotional well being.
Other key findings of the report address the type and quality of services which are being delivered.
Social care services for both adults and children in England are gradually modernizing and getting better. Some of these services exceed minimum standards and provide very good levels of care. Some services still do not meet national minimum standards and do not offer people choice and control.
For example, people often have little choice as to who provides care in their home and when. The marketplace for social care providers is underdeveloped, with continuing recruitment and retention problems for high quality qualified staff. The report also stated that more people are using direct payments, a scheme that allows them to control their own budgets.
Contact Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire) if you need help to challenge decisions.
Unclaimed Carer’s Benefits
An estimated £660 million of benefits go unclaimed by carers each year, and this figure only covers carer premiums and the Carer’s Allowance. Carer premiums are not a benefit in their own right, they are simply an additional top-up on some means-tested benefits. So if you receive benefits such as Income Support, Housing Benefit or Child Tax Credits, as well as Carer’s Allowance you may be entitled to the top-up amounts.
Disability Equality Duty
The introduction of the Disability Equality Duty on 4th December 2006 requires public authorities to promote equality for disabled people in everything they do.
The publication of a Disability Equality Scheme is just the start of the process. Over the next three years, public bodies must carry out their action plans and monitor their progress towards equality for disabled people. But the real test for the new duty will be whether it can start to change the culture in these organisations, so that getting it right for disabled people becomes normal practice.
A better understanding of disabled people’s needs can improve the standard of public services across the board. For example, more accessible vehicles and audio and visual announcements on public transport not only benefit disabled people, but also parents with buggies, older people and tourists.
A selection of key announcements from the Pre-Budget Report include:
- from April 2009 every mother-to-be will be eligible for Child Benefit from week 29 of their pregnancy;
- improving enforcement of the National Minimum Wage by increasing by 50 per cent the resources allocated to tackle non-compliance;
- making Individual Savings Accounts permanent to provide greater certainty for providers and savers;
- extending the support offered to help lone parents into employment with the continuation of the In-Work Credit in current pilot areas;
- a rise of £80 in the child element of the Child Tax Credit from April 2007, in line with the commitment to increase it at least in line with average earnings to the end of the Parliament;
- an extension of the Warm Front programme, providing insulation and heating at the lowest possible cost to vulnerable households and pensioners.
The RADAR Change Makers
Do you want:
- An end to discrimination and ignorance?
To change people’s attitudes and behaviour towards disabled people?
Your voice heard by legislators and policy-makers?
Full social inclusion of all disabled people?
To campaign locally and nationally on issues that matter?
If you have answered yes to any of the above, RADAR invites you to join the new RADAR Change Makers and work with other like-minded people to bring about change and to improve the lives of all disabled people.
The network was launched on 1st April 2007. It links people with common interests together to campaign. It is open to everyone, not just RADAR members. If you are passionate about improving the lives of disabled people, this network is for you.
If you would like to join the network or want more information, email scott.mclew@radar.org.uk or phone 020 7566 0117
OWL Bikes
The OWL charity has launched OWL Bikes, a community based social enterprise project, with the help of the Big Lottery Funds Community Recycling Economic Development (CRED) Programme. They have set up a 3,666 sq ft workshop and sales area, all under one roof where bikes in good condition are refurbished for sale and reuse and not wasted. The rest are stripped down for reusable parts for other bikes, scrap steel, aluminium, rubber and plastic for recycling. Minimum waste material will go to landfill.
All bikes for resale will receive a full workshop check by OWL’s qualified bike mechanic and repaired to BSI standard.
For more information contact:
OWL Bikes at Opportunities Without Limits, Sawston Village College, New Road, Sawston, Cambridge CB2 4BP Tel: 01223 83958
Email: owlbikes@owlgroup.org.uk Website: owlgroup.org.uk
The Mobility Roadshow 2007
The mobility Roadshow, the UK’s major consumer mobility and lifestyle event, returns to Kemble Airfield near Cirencester, Gloucestershire from 19th – 21st July with a bumber event that will appeal to everyone.
The sort of products you will see are:-
Latest cars and converted vehicles fitted with adaptations; lightweight, sports, power and manual wheelchairs; hand controls; hoists; car seats; commercial vehicles; battery chargers; trikes and scooters; walkers; rotating car seats; specialist wheels and tyres; suspension systems; ramps; seat clamps; wheelchair restraints; floor tracking; lifts; independent living aids and numerous gismos and gadgets to make life easier for anyone with a mobility problem. New for 2007: Holiday Village, sports demonstration area, flying opportunities and lifestyle ‘extras’.
This is a ‘hands-on’ event. There are opportunities to test drive adapted vehicles, scooters and wheelchairs and to try products out before you even think about buying, so you can compare all the available options. As well as test driving vehicles, you can try out wheelchairs and scooters on a dedicated Mobility Test Track, and try out off-road vehicles too.
For more information visit:-
www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk
Digital TV Switch
The Government has published plans that will make it easier for disabled people to benefit from the switch from analogue to digital television. The scheme outlined in the digital switchover (disclosure of information bill), will provide the equipment to convert one TV set in a disabled persons house to digital, and support to install and use it.
Support will be free to households receiving attendance allowance, disability living allowance or equivalent benefits, with other households having to pay a modest fee.
Digital television will be rolled out across the UK between the end of 2007 and 2012.
When will my area go digital?
Switchover is happening in different TV regions between 2008 and 2012. The Government has set a schedule for when the analogue signal will be switched off in each part of the country.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t go digital now. But it does give an ultimate deadline for when you’ll have to.
Border: 2008
Westcountry, Wales, Granada: 2009
West, Grampian, Scottish: 2010
Central, Yorkshire, Anglia: 2011
Meridian, London, Tyne Tees, Ulster: 2012
These are start dates for each region. The closer your region gets to switchover, the more information you will get on television and locally – such as advertising and public meetings.
Contact: www.digitaluk.co.uk
Cambridge Deaf Association – new project
The Cambridgeshire Deaf Association has been given funding for a new Project set up to support deaf people within Cambridgeshire. The support they offer gives the deaf community the independence to manage their own money to pay bills. They translate letters from English to BSL (British Sign Language) so it is more accessible. They also organise interpreters for various situations for example Doctor appointments, Hospital appointments, Council meetings etc. They also attend drop in centres for clients who live outside of the Cambridgeshire area who have issues they would like to discuss and need support or if they would appreciate a phone call made on their behalf.
Contact: Address: Deaf Centre, 8, Romsey Terrace, Cambridge. CB1 3NH
Tel: 01223 246237 Fax: 01223 411701 Minicom/Text: 01223 411801
Email: cambsdeaf@btconnect.com
How safe is your scooter?
There are two main classes of scooter:
- Class 2 scooters may be used only on the pavement. These have a maximum speed of 4mph.
- Class 3 scooters may travel on the road. These have a maximum speed of 8mph. They may be used on the pavement when fitted with a restrictor switch that limits the speed to 4mph – the same speed as a Class 2.
Only a person affected by a physical disability may use a scooter. Additionally, you must be over 14 years of age to use a Class 3 scooter.
Remember to wear bright clothing or a high visibility fluorescent jacket. There are also legal requirements. In order to use a Class 3 scooter on the road, you need front and rear lights so that you can be seen when using it between sunset and sunrise. Reflectors and direction indicators must be used as appropriate. The horn, rear-view mirror and brakes must all be fitted and working properly. The horn should be used to warn other road users that you are there. However, don’t sound the horn between the hours of 11.30pm and 7.00am.
The horn should not be used when the scooter is sitting stationary on a road. Only use the horn if other moving vehicles pose a danger to you.
Remember that it is common sense and legally necessary to have your scooter regularly checked and serviced. Steering and braking need to be maintained.
There is no requirement for the user of a Class 3 scooter to have a driving licence.
Although there is no legal requirement to take out insurance, it is strongly advisable to do so. Policies are available for around £50 a year, which covers loss, damage and theft as well as third party claims.
A report commissioned by the Department of Transport has recommended that compulsory third party insurance should apply to motorised wheelchairs and scooters used on pavements at speeds up to 6.4kph and on roads at up to 12.8kph.
Remember the Highway Code applies to you and pedestrians have the right of way. However, you are able to use pelican and zebra crossings to cross from one pavement to another when in 4mph mode.
Class 3 scooters have to obey normal parking restrictions on a road. A blue Badge may be used on the scooter which should not be parked on the pavement where it could cause obstruction to pedestrians.
Changes to the Disabled Person’s Railcard
Changes have been made to the Disabled Person’s Railcard. The price has risen to £18 with a three-year card available for £48. The eligibility criteria have been expanded to include those in receipt of the lower-rate component of Disability Living Allowance and long-term Incapacity Benefit, resulting in an extra 160,000 people now able to qualify.
www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/
Red Cross Transport Cambridgeshire
With a bit of notice, Red Cross Transport, Cambridgeshire can offer door to door transport to individuals from all around the Cambridge area to all parts of the county and beyond. They have a wheelchair accessible vehicle and the use of 7 cars. They charge 50p per mile. Respite, hospital visits, Christmas visits, attendance at meetings, airport transfers and family occasions are all catered for.
For information, please contact:
Mrs Oriel Laws Tel: 01480 811099 Mobile: 07932 405541
Email: o.laws@btopenworld.com
You can leave a message if no-one is available.
Children’s Society Accessible Website
The Children’s Society have launched a new website for children with disabilities. The Askability website is designed to give disabled children access to news, sport, film and music reviews and other fun stuff that they would normally be excluded from because of the way most websites are designed.
Using a language called Symbol, information is accessed using pictures rather than words. Children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia are also able to use the site.
The future could be brighter for both these young people and older disabled people as the system can convert any website into Symbol. There is even a browser that uses this technology.
www.computeractive.co.uk/2170687
Funky Flamingo Success
The Funky Flamingo Club has been busy working in partnership with the BBC and CSV(Community Service Volunteers) on a film project. Have a look at the BBC website (below) for some amazing footage of the film they produced, which was premiered at the Arts Picture House in Cambridge and shown on the BBC Look East’s local news programme in November.
www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2006/11/09/funky_flamingo_film_feature.shtml
Unwanted or Unaddressed Junk Mail
You can opt out of receiving unaddressed mail by ringing helpline number 08457 950 950 to receive a form or write a letter to Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs, Royal Mail, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1RX.
You can also opt out of receiving addressed junk mail by contacting the Mailing Preference Service www.mpsonline.org.uk or telephone 0845 703 4599 ( there may, of course, be some addressed mail that you do wish to receive)
Useful Publications
The British Institute of Human Rights have released a free guide entitled “Your human rights – a guide to people living with mental health problems.” The booklet, which explains the relevance of human rights to the mental health sector, will be useful for people living with mental health problems or anyone working within this area. To receive the guide, telephone 0207 848 1818 or visit www.bihr.org.
RADAR and Mobility Operations have launched a new guide for disabled motorists. “Get Motoring” covers everything that a disabled driver should know, from driving lessons to vehicle maintenance. With support from Motability, they have also produced a guide specifically designed to help people choose the right scooters and powered wheelchairs for themselves. Entitled “Get Mobile”, this provides all the information a buyer could wish for, including step-by-step advice for finding the right financial support.
For a copy, telephone 020 6250 3222 or visit the RADAR website at www.radar.org.uk
Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire) can help you look for funding and know a company that will provide reasonable HP rates to people on disability related benefits.
Useful Websites
Rail maps for [people with reduced mobility are downloadable from the national rail website at www.nationalrail.co.uk. The maps show which stations have access to platforms without the use of steps and also give an idea of staffing levels. Paper copies of the maps are also available – phone 08457 484950 for more details.
Wheelchair-users who like to socialise by meeting friends and family in pubs or restaurants should visit www.yourlevelbest.com – a website created by a wheelchair-user. Typing in your postcode will bring up a list of places that are disabled-accessible with toilets that are wheelchair-accessible, too. Venues listed claim to meet these criteria.
Contact: Email - info@yourlevelbest.com Tel – 0208 355 4328
Many people don’t realise that there are many phone providers offering cheaper calls to standard telephone numbers (those beginning with 01 or 02), which don’t apply to 0844, 0845, 0870 or 0871 telephone numbers. By using multiple providers, you can reduce your call cost on standard telephone numbers. Some companies that use these numbers are actually receiving a cut of the phone call costs.
Many companies advertise a separate number that can be used when calling from abroad – This usually begins in the format +44 – There is nothing to stop you using this number from the UK (as it is a normal rate telephone call), and will be included in any inclusive minutes provided by your landline or mobile phone provider. Many others will give you a standard number if you ask.
Contact: www.saynoto0870.com
Buy flowers from Charity Flowers Direct
Disability Forums
Cambridge Forum of Disabled People
Campaigning for equality of opportunity for people in Cambridge.
Contact: Gerri Bird E-mail: thecfdp@yahoo.co.uk Contact us
If you are interested in joining the Cambridge Forum please contact Gerri.
South Cambridgeshire Forum of Disabled People
Sawston Branch
- Contact: Gerri Bird gerri_directionsplus@yahoo.co.uk Contact us
- Gerri Bird has set up a forum in Sawston with the help of local residents.
The forum, which meets once a month, has been running since February 05. If you have a disability, are a carer or are an older person or an organisation working with or for disabled/older people or carers and are interested in joining, please contact Gerri. - One of the things the forum is involved with is campaigning for better access in all areas.
Cambourne Forum of Disabled People
- Coming soon: Cambourne forum – if you know an older or disabled person who may be interested – please contact Gerri.
- Contact: Gerri Bird E-mail: gerri_directionsplus@yahoo.co.uk Contact us
East Cambridgeshire Access Group
- The group looks at all issues to do with disability e.g. access to shops, buildings etc.They also have a sub group for plan vetting of new buildings and alterations to older buildings. If you are interested in joining or would like more information – please contact Gerri.
- Contact: Gerri Bird E-mail: gerri_directionsplus@yahoo.co.uk Contact us
Fenland
- Gerri is looking into setting up a forum for the Chatteris/Littleport area. Anyone interested should contact her as above.