Monthly Archives: April 2014

How will the care bill affect social care

The new legislation will bring huge changes, so it is important to be prepared for the forthcoming reforms to practice

‘Legislation changes of this magnitude do not happen often, so it is important that we take the time to engage with the reforms.’ Photograph: Christopher Thomond

The legislative framework for social care services in England has remained unchanged for the past 40 years. Back in 2003, Andrew Cozens, then president of the Association of Directors of Social Services, spoke of “the long shadow of the Poor Law that has remained over social care to its detriment – that long shadow brings with it the armoury of measures we are still familiar with: rationing, eligibility criteria and means testing to sort out the deserving from the undeserving.” The language enshrined in current acts describes disability in terms that are uncomfortable in today’s world.

‘If my disabled son still lived at home, I wouldn’t be here now’

In the summer of 1999, I was sitting on Whitby beach with my husband, Andrew, and our two-year-old toddler, Tom. There was a strong breeze that kept blowing sand into our ice creams, but the sky was bright blue, and the sun danced on the surface of the sea.

I didn’t know that the next day would bring a tsunami with it, one that would destroy the life I knew and leave me to rebuild a completely different one. I was only 24 weeks pregnant and my waters broke. Three days later, James was born weighing just 1lb 12oz, with extensive brain damage.

War veteran opens new carers’ facility Wells Hospital

War veteran who was one of the first British soldiers to meet the Russians after the Battle of Berlin opens new carers’ facility at Wells Community Hospital

The latest feature of an ambitious project to develop a dementia hub in Wells has been officially opened by a World War Two veteran and charity trustee.

John Utting, 91, who served with the Royal Artillery 25th Field Regiment and was one of the first British soldiers to meet the Russians on the day Berlin surrendered to Soviet forces on May 2, 1945, officially opened The Harold Moorhouse Room at the hospital yesterday.

The facility will be used as a social meeting place for anyone involved in care work.