Hope Davis-McCallion

Due to the increase in the numbers of people with dementia, less support in the community and a change to the definition of a mental disorder, England has seen a rise in the number of people being detained under the Mental Health Act. Between the years 2005/06 and 2015/16, the number of detentions has risen …

Rise in number of people being detained Read More »

Following an investigation into the death of a resident, a care home owner and manager have been fined after admitting they failed to provide safe care and treatment. The prosecution was brought against the company and manager, and both have been fined. The owner was fined £16,00, plus a £170 victim surcharge and the manager …

Care home and manager fined for providing unsafe care Read More »

Due to the severe pressures NHS hospitals have been experiencing over the winter period, hospitals are being told to let care homes do more to help. Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said:- “The NHS Acute Trusts could significantly reduce winter pressures by establishing long-term relationships with independent care providers. The care sector has …

Social care leaders urge NHS bosses to let care homes do more to help with winter pressures Read More »

A recent US report called ‘Physical Activity Interventions in Preventing Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer-Type Dementia’ reviewed previous significant trials that studied the effect of exercise, vitamin supplements, cognitive training and other ‘wellness regimes’ to determine if dementia can be delayed in people. The main aim of the study was to review past research on the …

Biggest study on Dementia concludes condition is still a mystery Read More »

Due to underfunding, there is a lack of available care homes and home care for people with dementia and many are being made to spend Christmas Day in hospital, despite being fit enough to go home. The Alzheimer’s Society has said those with dementia are being delayed in hospital up to 10 times as long …

Lack of funding sees at least 1,400 people with dementia spending Christmas in hospital Read More »

A local authority has been found at fault for charging a woman for care she did not receive. The council charged her by the hour rather than for tasks completed, a local government and social care ombudsman has found. Suffolk council were found to have failed in delivering its duties under the Care Act 2014 …

Ombudsman finds local authority at fault for failing to discharge duties under Care Act Read More »

Ofsted has published their new inspection framework. It includes a formal yearly conversation with Ofsted about performance, and authorities will be asked to evaluate the quality and impact of their social work practice. The new inspection regime has been piloted over the past year, and the final plan is for: Short inspections: Authorities judged to be …

Ofsted’s new children’s services inspection regime published Read More »

With winter well and truly here, the focus on how the NHS will deal and fend off a winter crisis is high on the agenda for most politicians. Despite an immediate £335m bailout and an extra £1.6bn next year, mentioned by Philip Hammond in the Autumn budget last week, there were no extra funds for …

Philip Hammond faces backlash over failure to mention social care in budget Read More »

Yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, delivered the Autumn Budget in which social care wasn’t addressed. Instead there was a promise of a 4.4 per cent rise to the National Living Wage from April 2018, with it rising from £7.50 an hour to £7.83. Mr Hammond also promised to fund a pay rise …

Chancellor fails to mention social care in 2017 Budget Read More »

NHS Improvement states the NHS will struggle to cope with the busiest months of the year, as hospitals have failed to free up beds. With winter approaching, it is likely to prove difficult for hospitals. Jeremy Hunt has commented that since Spring there has been some success in reducing numbers of delayed discharges from hospital …

Challenging winter ahead for the NHS, watchdog warns Read More »