Tag Archives: social care

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…”

Let’s be clear on the human rights threshold

Today I joined a Department of Health and Social Care webinar on the Care Act easements. The limits of the technology were very clear. Despite the organisers trying their best, every speaker sounded like they were underwater and there was a lot of background noise (how hard is it to mute your microphone?!). Elements ofContinue reading “Let’s be clear on the human rights threshold”

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”

Case study: an update

It seems a few of you have been reading my case study about the difficulties of enforcing the social distancing guidance and regulations. It’s testament to how little guidance there is on this issue that my little blog is getting so many hits. I’m grateful and mildly intimidated. So I thought I would provide youContinue reading “Case study: an update”

Case study: a question with no clear answer

When I started this blog, I said I would provide you with case studies and practical examples of how social care law works in practice. I had in mind a few of my interesting Court cases when I first mused on this point. But then today happened. One of my philosophies for working as anContinue reading “Case study: a question with no clear answer”

Some more guidance for you

I could post here about the Court of Protection guidance, but since Alex Ruck-Keane has already shared it, I am just going to direct you to his post, in case you haven’t seen it: https://www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/covid-19-court-of-protection-guidance/ He has also written about the available guidance on COVID-19 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 here: https://www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/covid-19-and-mca-first-guidance-out/ I haveContinue reading “Some more guidance for you”

Summary of the proposed measures to support health and social care during the pandemic

I promised I would share guidance as I come across it. The latest proposals for emergency legislation are summarised here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-bill-what-it-will-do/what-the-coronavirus-bill-will-do I have to say, as short term measures, a lot of this sounds sensible and pragmatic. Suggesting delays to continuing healthcare assessments did give me pause, simply because I can’t imagine that process becomingContinue reading “Summary of the proposed measures to support health and social care during the pandemic”

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”