Government’s bedroom tax forces carers to cut back on food

July 10, 2013   Carers, disability, family, fuel poverty

Emily Dugan Author  Tuesday 09 July 2013

Carers are being forced to cut back on essentials such as food and electricity because of the so-called bedroom tax.

Despite Government promises to protect them from the under-occupancy charge, one in six carers forced to pay it are falling behind on their rent and face eviction, research by Carers UK shows.

Campaigners say the charge on ‘spare’ bedrooms in social housing has had a particularly devastating impact on those caring for disabled family members, who often need the extra room. Three quarters of carers having to pay it are being forced to cut back on essential spending on food, electricity and heating.

Heléna Herklots Chief Executive of Carers UK said: “This policy is having a shocking impact on families already struggling to care for seriously ill or disabled loved ones. Carers, whose contribution is often warmly praised by ministers, are being made to feel like they are being punished. These are carers who need an extra room just to get a few hours of sleep as they care 24/7 for a disabled child, or who are unable to share with a partner because of serious illness.”

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There is no minimum standard of training for healthcare assistants before they can work unsupervised

July 10, 2013   Carers, Social care

0 July 2013 Last updated at 10:45

 

Healthcare assistants ‘should get standard training’

By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online

 Healthcare assistants provide vital support

There is no minimum standard of training for healthcare assistants before they can work unsupervised, an independent report has found.

Workers should get at least two weeks’ training to prepare them for providing basic care in hospitals, care homes and at home in England, its author said.

Journalist Camilla Cavendish also said some staff were only given a training DVD to watch before starting work.

The review was set up in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal

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Prince’s Trust teenagers add colour to east Norfolk care home garden

July 9, 2013   Carers, Norfolk, Older care

 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013 01:04 PM

Teenagers have flexed their green fingers to make life more enjoyable for residents of an east Norfolk care home.

Students from Great Yarmouth High School’s Prince’s Trust group rallied together to spruce up the garden of Clere House care home in Pippin Close, Ormesby, near Yarmouth.

Ten teenagers took part in the community gardening project, part of their course.

Helen Hyde, the school’s Prince’s Trust coordinator, said: “The pupils worked hard sanding down existing wooden planters and giving them a fresh coat of preservative with the residents watching over the action.

“They then filled the planters with fresh compost and added a variety of colourful plants.”

The project came about after Ms Hyde went to the care home to discuss a different project, but during the visit noticed that the gardens lacked some colour.

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