The Family Of Six In A One-Bedroom Flat Due To Inaccessible Social Housing

The housing market in the UK is far from good and even more so in respect of Social housing for many reasons

1. social housing stock has, over many hyears been reduced through the ‘right to buy’ scheme where social housing tennents were given the right to buy on a much lower price than the current market value dependent on how long the family have resided in the property, but Local Authorities, (LAs) were not allowed to use the resulting income from the sale of the property to buld replacement stocks

2. UK social housing stock is generally old, so not as acceptable to conditions of today, especially with regards to accessiblity and other aspects in regards to disabilities, but also many others such as use of energy and suitability of current climates

3. lack of available funding at LAs due to, at least 10 years of austerity cuts to Government grants to LAs, plus increased costs related to COVID, in a very changing market. This is not only reflecting on social housing, but many other LA resourses such as, education, social care and many others

4. too long timescales toprovide required adjustments and alterations and adaptations

5. state of repair of much social housing as repairs have not been done, effectively, sufficiently and within required timescales, leading t many social housing properties to be in a poor state causing many areas relating to causes of very poor health of tennents residing in them

When a family needs improved and more suitable accomodation is it required immediately and not in a year or years time as to do so puts more stress, and inconvenience on alrady very stressful and inconvenienced families so adding much more to problems within their lives.

This was not satisfactory years ago and even more so now, but this Government and may previous Governments have and are being shown to behave like the ‘3 wise monkeys‘, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’.

This is a major crisis, in addition to all the other major crisises within the UK and should never have been allowed to occur, but mismanagement or, in reality, no management by UK Governments for more years than there should have been, out of sight, out of mind, except for those of the population who are directly concerned, but Governments who are not and never will be concerned.

Same Difference

A family of six have been living in a one-bedroom flat because the social housing they were assigned was inaccessible to their disabled child.

Seven-year-old Joel Verala uses a wheelchair and is fed by a tube due to quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

The house has three bedrooms but the family have been told the adaptations he needs could take a year.

Croydon Council said it had always informed the family the work would take “some months to complete”.

Joel’s mum, Souskay Verala, describes her son as a “happy boy” on the BBC Access All podcast.

“He likes stories read to him, he loves his siblings playing around him, as well as walks outside,” she says.

The family – Souskay, her husband and three children – were excited to be offered the three-bedroom council property in March having lived in a small flat for the previous six years.

But, though the…

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New prime minister must prioritise NHS, say doctors’ leaders | The BMJ

Liz Truss, the UK’s new prime minister, must act decisively on the key challenges facing the NHS and social care or face an “uncontrollable crisis” this winter, doctors’ leaders have warned.Truss became the fourth Conservative prime minister in six years after gaining 81 326 votes (57.4%) of Conservative party members, defeating her rival, Rishi Sunak.The most pressing item in Truss’s in-tray will be tackling soaring energy bills that will have severe health implications if people, particularly if they are elderly or clinically vulnerable, are forced to choose between food and heating.During the leadership contest the NHS received relatively little attention, but in her victory acceptance speech Truss pledged to “deliver on the …

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Yes, sorting out the NHS needs to be a priority, but also does sorting out social care for if it is not, sorting out the NHS will never be successful.

Both social care and the NHS are as important as each other and it could be said that social care even more so. For any lack of social care, as much detrimental effects on the NHS, creates more health situations and of greater degrees, leading to many more access to GPs and eventually hospitals. The hospital  says could then be longer than they should be, due, not only to the gegree of health, but when patients are ready for discharge, but are still not fully able to care for themselves, but there is then an insufficiency of social care to undertake care of themselves. Thus creating bedblocking, which in turn means A&E are unable to free areas in A&E as there are no free beds on wards due to the bed blocking. This then means there are insufficient A&E capacity for ambulances to transfer their patients into A&E, so ambulances have to wait at hospitals under acces to A&E is available. This then creates a shortage of available ambulances for picking new emergency callouts.

The problems with social care are far from new, but no government as so far done much to solve the social care crisis, in fact many, if not all have been ignoring social care for many years. This was made worse since 2010 with the introduction of Tory austerity cuts and then additional costs of COVID.

So doctors leaders, do not be as shortsighted as the Government and include social care within your campaign for funding.

 

Source: New prime minister must prioritise NHS, say doctors’ leaders | The BMJ

Council adopted ‘restrictive and wrong interpretation’ of Care Act in cutting brothers’ care, finds court – Community Care

A council wrongly stopped funding family holidays for two disabled brothers by adopting a “restrictive and wrong” intepretation of the Care Act 2014. That was the verdict of the Court of Appeal in a judgment last week, in which it rejected an appeal brought by Suffolk County Council against a High Court ruling last year that […]

 

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Local Authorities (LAs) are so poorly funded after 10 years of austerity cuts and then substantial COVID costs that many do all they can to cut costs to spread the meagre funding for social care as far as they can.

This requires that many needs are left unfunded and in doing so risk legal action, but it is far from easy to undertake legal actions against LAs, due to the Government changing Legal Aid eligibility, so many persons with unmet needs fail because of LAs underfunding and them trying to spread costs further and then the person with unmet needs not being able to bring legal remedies due to the limited eligibility criteria.

This and previous Governments doing all it can to ensure vulnerable people will have many unmet needs outstanding.

But do they care, well not for the vulnerable people.

 

Source: Council adopted ‘restrictive and wrong interpretation’ of Care Act in cutting brothers’ care, finds court – Community Care

The Brexit predictions that came true, those that didn’t—and what we didn’t see coming | The BMJ

A lot as and is being said about Brexit, some true and some not so true.

What es known is that whether the UK stayed in the EU or not changes would have to occur to one degree or another, as nothing stays still.

If we had stayed in the  EU is well known that there would be much more political union to an extent that it would become a United Stares of Europe with more and more decisions being imposed on Member countries by the European Commission, maybe that to all intensive purposes that the Member countries could cease to exist in respect of decision making in most instances.

No one in the UK agreed to any political union, except the Government of the day and especially one Prime Minister Tony Blair, who made these decisions without referring to the |UK population through a National Referendum by a direct question, only through General Elections on a lengthy Election manifesto, which included many points.

Only in 1975 and 2016 were there referendums 1975 for whether we stayed in the EEC no mention of the EU and political union and 2016 on whether we left or stayed in the EU by a simple majority. 1975 result was to stay in the EEC, but eventually it was changed through Blair and the European commission to the EU and 2016 to leave the EU. How to leave was decided by the then Tory Governments and the Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

With the NHS and social care, it was decided that doctors and nurses could still come to the UK as long as they qualified to do so and in most instances the salary requirement would be met. However, re care workers due to the abysmal pay rates the salary requirements would never be met, unless care workers were made a special case, which was promised but never materialised.

So Brexit and lack of commitment of the Tory Government meant social care was not committed to, which is not surprising for no Government to date has made the commitment to social care that is needed, hence not only the lack of care workers, but the required financing of social care.

So blaming Brexit, totally, is wrong as many Governments have to shoulder the blame to differing degrees.

 

Source: The Brexit predictions that came true, those that didn’t—and what we didn’t see coming | The BMJ

My baby was taken into care – then murdered – BBC News

Laura Corkill’s son Leiland-James was put in care from birth – and killed by the woman who wanted to adopt him.

============================================It is my belief this is not the full story, but not sure from whom.

Laura’s past has certainly been very troubled, but it appears due to an abusive partner and not Laura, but it appears all the blame is being heaped on Laura, with insufficient understanding and maybe a willingness not to from Cumbria County Council.

Yes, Cumbria County Council have a ‘Duty of Care’ for baby Leiland-James, but, also for Laura and from what is said in the article insufficient Duty of Care for Laura has been seen.

Councils are dammed if they do and if they don’t and hindsight could show things could have been done differently. Unfortunately, all councils ate overburdened with work a severe insufficiency of social workers and certainly funding, which is done to this Government and many previous Government.

But, from the initial social worker, it appears Laura was lead to believe that she would be allowed to care for her new baby, with the support of Aishea Drysder, from Women Out West. Also both Laura and Aishea were not informed of any changes or developments by Cumbria CC.

There is no mention of any multi Agency reviews and so it appears these changes were down to the second appointed social worker and there is no mention why the case was taken away from the initial social worker.

This complete lack of communication is extremely deplorable, and is a reason why social services are viewed in a ‘poor light’.

This case and the decisions made is even more debateable when this is taken into account ‘It was 2019, and over the following year, she would try to get him back. But just days after his first birthday, the woman – who social workers had placed him with – murdered him.’

So, it appears that baby Leiland-James was not fully safeguarded and with hindsight, it could well have been better to allow Laura to look after baby Leiland-James with the support in place.

Both baby Leiland-James and Laura have been severely let down by Cumbria CC and also Aishea from Women Out West to some extent.

Laura wasn’t involved in the subsequent murder trial and she wasn’t involved in Cumbria County Council’s review into his death, it is no wonder that she feels silenced. Having her first children taken from her, then her new baby Leiland-James and not being kept informed of subsequent events will be completely devastating to Laura and could well cause some major mental problems for some time, if not ever.

Her trust, if ever there will be no longer there re Cumbria CC, but do they care, we will never know.

There is the severe underfunding issue, severe deficiency of social workers leading to those there being so over worked and under great pressures themselves, but that should never be used as an excuse for measures taken and not taken as Duty of Care should supersede these and they have their duty to adhere to.

It is now too late to right the wrongs which occurred to Laura and baby Leiland-James, but not to ensure Laura is being well looked after, however how long belatedly.

Cumbria CC need to acknowledge their own accountability in this, but so does this Government as services can’t be conducted on ‘shoestring budgets’ which this Government is asking all Councils to do and not only Councils.

So Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss what have you to say. I would have said Boris also, but who cares about Boris, except for Boris and perhaps his wife Carrie.

 

Source: My baby was taken into care – then murdered – BBC News

Create a new permanent bank holiday | 38 Degrees

I have signed this petition as the UK is low on the number of Bank Holidays, but unfortunately these are not recognised as such by some professions such as care.

Care is a 365 day profession and due to the complete lack of required finance and lack of persons in the profession, carers are expected to work these Bank Holidays as though they are normal working days. While working them does not affect their holiday entitlement, they are not paid any extra for doing so, with the possible exception of Christmas and New Years Day. So not only are the salaries they receive way too low, many not even on the Real Living Wage of £9.90 per hour, as most will be on the National Living Wage of £9.50 per hour.

This is far from encouraging people to enter the profession for such an essential workforce, when they could easily earn £14 per hour in supermarkets for much less responsibilities.

So while this holiday will benefit most of the population it will not benefit care workers, who will still only get the bare minimum holiday entitlement.

Everyone should receive the same basic holiday entitlement with Bank Holidays in addition.

This Government could do much more for Social Care, but they are very reluctant to provide funding.

Yes, there is the promise of a proportion of the £12 billion being raised from the from 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 National Insurance contributions increase by 1.25 percentage points. They say this will be spent on the NHS, health and social care in the UK, but initially the NHS will get the bulk of it to reduce the waiting lists, so, I feel little will be available for Social Care if any. The response of this Government during the COVID pandemic is a true refection on their view of Social Care, where they let down Care Homes. They promised there was a ‘ring fence’ around care homes , but, if there was it was full of holes as they instructed hospitals to discharge elderly patients into care homes without any COVID tests being done, hence COVID came into the care homes and this resulted in many deaths of residents and some care workers in the region of 20000.

But care homes are just one area of social care as care covers both children and adults for home care, respite, supported living, hospices, etc.

In fact, Social Care needs , at least, £12 billion itself and that would only bring funding back to the 2010 level, which was wholly insufficient then. For Social Care has never been sufficiently funded and every delay in funding brings greater pressures on the NHS.

Source: Create a new permanent bank holiday | 38 Degrees

Jeremy Hunt calls for massive boost in UK defence spending

Writing for The Telegraph, former foreign secretary says peace comes from strength, not luck, as Russian invaders close in on Kyiv

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Defence spending will always be controversial as when does defense spending become offence spending. It is true that the UK does need to live within its means, but defense is one of many areas that need spending increases. With those others having a much bigger concept of saving lives rather than deaths.

No matter how you look at it defense spending will always involve the loss of lives, especially when armaments, be they for defense or offense will cause deaths. Yes, defense spending will, hopefully save lives, but eventually the armaments will be used causing deaths and if not deaths, very extensive injuries.

But, as I said other Government spending will save lives and if not spent or there is insufficient to spend, then deaths will occur.

One of these areas is Social Care and the other is Health and while there has been increased spending in health, but never enough, the extensive shortfall in Social Care spending is scandalous and has been for many years due to inactions of all previous Governments. Now there is supposed action, but again not anywhere near enough and what there is, is more than likely to go on health and very little on Social Care.

This major shortfall in Social Care spending, is and has , in fact has been for many years, more than likely since 1948 and well before. But in the last 12/13 years has been considerably more.

But it looks like spending will be increased in defense, possibly at the expense  of social care and social care should never have been kept short, no matter what other callings there have been on Government spending.

What should be done is not starting at what money is seen to be available, but what is really needed and then all has to be done to get that spending, not just today, but for every day. There  should never, not ever be a shortfall in social care spending.

Yes, defense is important, but so is social care and that should never be forgotten and never ignored, which it has been for as long as there has been social care.

 

 

Source: Jeremy Hunt calls for massive boost in UK defence spending

Under my leadership, Labour’s commitment to Nato is unshakable | Keir Starmer | The Guardian

Our party was foundational in forming the postwar alliance, which – as Ukraine shows – remains essential today, says Labour leader Keir Starmer

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That is all well and good, but it goes deeper than that for NATO is not there as an attacking force, as muted by Putin, but at times the American influence does muddy the water. As it should be seen as a defence force and peacekeeper, in some respects as the UN forces, but, unfortunately, the UN is relatively inoperable not only due to the American influence, but also to that of Russia and China, so the UN Security Council is far from it.

But NATO can be misused due to American influence and the puppet attitude of some, at least former UK Governments. Unfortunately, Prime Ministers do not use their power as they should do, as was evident with Blair and his ‘weapons of mass destructions within 45 mins’, for which he didn’t really suffer any punishment for and went on to make more fortune in his life after his premiership. Let’s do hope that Boris does not follow this lead with his ‘No. 10 Parties.

In forming NATO it could have been better created and as the NHS is great, it could or should have been better funded as should Social Care, which should have been and still should be included as an integral part of the NHS.

Politics and world affairs are no way what they should be, so lets do hope that Putin’s actions are not the end of the World and he sees sense and does not invade Ukraine.

Source: Under my leadership, Labour’s commitment to Nato is unshakable | Keir Starmer | The Guardian

We are ‘scapegoats’ for government failures, say headteachers | Education | The Guardian

English school leaders to tell MPs frozen salaries, soaring workloads and the effects of Covid are deterring next generation of heads

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This is so true, but not only for within teaching for it could be said of many professions.

But firstly, let’s look at teaching, for what is teaching for, well to educate the children, so they can become an integral part of Society.  However, to do this the system needs to be right.

I was in the system in the sixties, and it was not right then and it has not move that much further now, for in many respects it could even be worse. Yes, I learnt a lot, but was much of that any use to me, I would say very little, especially in Maths for have I ever used algebra, trigonometry, not never. Also, I was expected to be an expert in all matters, even art and while I did my best, I was castigated for my efforts. So, children will be gifted, while others will not be, but like much in the UK, the approach was ‘one size fits all’, which is never right. We are all individuals, especially children and the education system needs to recognise this.

The teachers do their best, but again the system does not help them. Then you get Government interference, by bringing changes dependent on the Government of the day without any real consultation with anyone in the profession, except those within the Department of Education, who are mainly civil servants ingrained deeply in the processes of the civil service and virtually no teaching experience and certainly no current experience.

Unfortunately bullying as always been an element of the education system, sometimes by teachers overusing their power of children, but mainly by children, many who don’t wish to be at school and take their resentment out of some of the other pupils.

There is no effort to care by many teachers, especially some head teachers, some of whom don’t even respect their own staff.

My view is the system is completely geared to getting as many children as possible to gain paper qualifications, many of which will have no bearing on their future lives. I feel as well as giving children some academic background the schools should also provide some elements of life so that children will have a grounding on how to proceed when they leave school.

As in many other professions education has been starved of sufficient funding and many school buildings are in aspects of deterioration, and if the building are deteriorating it could well have some affects on how education is given and received.

But as I said earlier many professions are not in a good place and this could not be more so than for social care. For social care has been deprived of funding for more many years, perhaps since the was social care and other areas before. Governments have not seen the importance of social care, either by design or ignorance, but social care is just as important to Society as is health care for they are both interrelated. These should have always been run in conjunction with each other. However, while health as not been fully funded it has always been thought of as being more important and essential than social care, while both are as essential and as important as each other.

Give this government its due, as it as promised to fund social care more, but so far this funding is not materialising, when it should have been the most important priority, as the lack of social care resources is seriously affecting the delivery of health care, causing much more strains on an already overburdened NHS.

Both are suffering from lack of staff, but I feel social care is more so. Pay in social care is so much more abysmal than in health. Even with vaccines for COVID, as care homes staff were the first to be threatened by mandatory injections and there was no or very little public outcry as to the unfairness of this as there has been for health staff. Now the Government as put a stop to mandatory injections while a consultation is in progress, but that is too late for staffing in care homes.

Care homes also suffered in early 2020 when COVID patients were discharged to care homes, while it was said there was a protective screen around care homes. Perhaps there was, but not as we all thought to keep COVID out but to keep COVID in, so much for government promises. Now there does appear to be a ruling.

The UK is in dire straits, unless you are one of the favoured few, those who can afford to pay their way out.

 

Source: We are ‘scapegoats’ for government failures, say headteachers | Education | The Guardian

A Tsunami of Disability Is Coming as a Result of ‘Long COVID’ – Scientific American

We need to plan for a future where millions of survivors are chronically ill

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This is indeed true and in America with their insurance based health service this will create major problems, as many can’t afford sufficient health cover currently.

But, even in the UK with the NHS this will cause many problems for will the NHS be sufficiently funded to enable staffing levels to be achieved and many other resources. Also will sufficient capacity be created to cover any similar pandemics, I very much doubt so.

But, assuming the NHS is sufficiently resourced, it is very much doubtful that social care will be, as it has not been for the last 20 to 30 years. Then with the austerity cuts imposed on Local Authorities (LAs) and more expenses due to COVID the situation has become even more dire. To have any chance of Social Care recovering this Government needs to, urgently reimburse  all the funds that were retained by the Government on the basis of austerity cuts.

Even then, much of Social Care needs to be reorganised so that all care workers are not only paid substantially more to around. at least £14.00 per hour, but also the working conditions have to be improved such as paying for travel time, introduction of a scheme to pay them while being  sick, payments for working unsocial hours. What also would improve, at least Social Care, is improving immigration provisions to allow more non-UK persons to enter the UK to work.

The are major shortages of care workers in the UK, which will be made worse due to the mandatory COVID vaccinations required and not only for Social Care, but also the NHS.

The current situation is very dire but the results of long- COVID will make it much worse.

Source: A Tsunami of Disability Is Coming as a Result of ‘Long COVID’ – Scientific American