I just want to thank those of you who have been reading my little blog. I started this with the hope of being able to tackle some of the day to day social care law issues and draw some attention to these often overlooked or misunderstood problems. I wanted to do this in a wayContinue reading “I’m here to help you”
Tag Archives: Basics
The thorny issue of direct payments part 2 – during COVID-19
I have already set out some basics on direct payments under the Care Act 2014 here: http://musingsoflocalauthorityasclawyer.com/2020/05/02/the-thorny-issue-of-direct-payments-part-1-pre-covid-19/I But the world is changing, at least temporarily, due to COVID-19 so I thought a separate post about direct payments specifically during the pandemic would be helpful. (If it isn’t, don’t feel the need to tell me, butContinue reading “The thorny issue of direct payments part 2 – during COVID-19”
The thorny issue of direct payments part 1 – pre-COVID-19
This is the first of 2 posts about direct payments. I have had an increase in the queries I receive about these, and it has got me thinking. Just so I am being clear from the outset, I confess that I am not a fan of direct payments. I think they are an excellent ideaContinue reading “The thorny issue of direct payments part 1 – pre-COVID-19”
I promise I am not being rude, but…
I am aware I said at the outset that I would post fortnightly, but after a flurry of posts about COVID-19, I have been quiet for a few weeks. My day job has been getting in the way. As I mentioned, we have had some new members join our team and supervising them whilst stillContinue reading “I promise I am not being rude, but…”
Contacting loved ones in the new age
You may or may not have seen the decision on the BP v Surrey County Council case discussing contact with loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic. If you haven’t seen it, it is here https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2020/17.html This raised an issue that had been nagging me, and I alluded to it in my previous posts about careContinue reading “Contacting loved ones in the new age”
When guidance isn’t really guidance
Is it just me, or does the guidance on the Care Act easements seem a bit, well, vague?! If you haven’t seen it, it is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-changes-to-the-care-act-2014/care-act-easements-guidance-for-local-authorities Now this might just be my bitterness, because I have been working flat out to get some Covid FAQs out for my local authority, and I had toContinue reading “When guidance isn’t really guidance”
It begins… COVID-19 is starting to bring everything to a grinding halt
I, like many of you, I am sure, have been monitoring the updates as to advice and guidance on how to deal with the pandemic referred to as ‘coronavirus’. I had lengthy discussions with local authority colleagues on what this means from a DoLS perspective on Friday. To complete assessments for DoLS purposes assessors areContinue reading “It begins… COVID-19 is starting to bring everything to a grinding halt”
So this has been my face today…
If success at a task is unlikely, is it madness to keep trying?
Ordinary residence: in more detail
Because nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems, let’s now take a look at the types of situation where things get complicated and where a dispute arises as to ordinary residence. I will start by saying that a lot of disputes start because one authority, or both, is misunderstanding the basic provisions discussedContinue reading “Ordinary residence: in more detail”
Ordinary residence: an introduction
No witty title for this one I am afraid. Instead I am going to get right to the point because this is a concept that many practitioners struggle with. It is also a big growth area in my work now that budget cuts are requiring increased scrutiny of every funding decision and allocation of resources.Continue reading “Ordinary residence: an introduction”