Category Archives: Carers

‘Take care complaints more seriously’ regulator says

Complaints about health and social care should be taken more seriously, says the Care Quality Commission regulator.

Its report said there was a wide variation in the way complaints were handled across the NHS, primary care and adult social care services in England.

Too often people were met with a “defensive culture”, the report said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has welcomed the move to improve care and said progress had been made.

Disabled man ‘put up for auction’ on care website

James Knight’s sister, Emma, was shocked to find his details on a website

The family of a man with a learning disability say they are horrified that their local council put him “up for auction” on a care website.

Emma Knight found Devon County Council was inviting companies to bid to look after her 45-year-old brother James.

The website listed other personal details that James’s family say could easily identify him.

New online Carer’s Allowance application system

The new online Carer’s Allowance application system has launched today, replacing an “outdated” and “difficult to complete” online system, the government has announced.

02.12.14

The new system for England, Scotland and Wales has been developed by the Government Digital Service and the Department for Work and Pensions, aimed at simplifying the process for busy carers and “built around the needs of the users”. The government says that one of the many improvements for applicants is a new way of verifying that the person they care for understands the claim – removing the need for them to sign a paper declaration.

Early trials show most people claiming the allowance (54%) are using the updated online process instead of asking for a form to be posted to them. More than 125,000 digital claims have been submitted since trials began in October 2013, with a user satisfaction rate of 90%.