Middlesbrough Newsletter

May 2001

Contents

Gateway Art Project

Enjoying ArtGateway Members have been enjoying making masks, painting and collage, and their creations could be viewed in the Cleveland Centre over the Late Spring Bank Holiday week.

 

This story is covered in detail elsewhere on the website

Valuing People: A white paper

A White Paper has been published recently setting out how the Government will provide new opportunities for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. It is called Valuing People: A new strategy for learning disability for the 21st Century. It represents the first major strategy for learning disability services for thirty years. The White Paper's aim is to improve the standards of service across health, social care, employment and housing.

Key initiatives include:

The Government will also introduce a new Learning Disability Development Fund of up to £50 million from April 2002: up to £30 million per annum revenue and £20 million capital. The revenue element will be created from NHS old long-stay funding as it is released over time.

A copy of the White Paper is available from www.doh.gov.uk/learningdisabilities/ or give Sue a ring at the office.

MENCAP March 2001

The Adcare Holiday Fund

This fund has been set up to help people with learning disabilities pay towards the cost of a holiday. Anyone with a learning disability who lives in the United Kingdon can apply and the most each person can get is £500.
To get more details and an application form send your full name and address to the Adcare Holiday Fund Co-ordinator, Membership Office, Mencap National Centre, 123 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0RT or email the details to holidayfund@mencap.org.uk

Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000

This new piece of legislation came into force on 1 April 2001.

The law states that if a 16 or 17 year old is willing and able to manage a Direct Payment, alone or with assistance, they could purchase additional support for themselves to undertake a specific activity. Social Services could then fund them to buy that support or activity if they thought that it was necessary.

In order for this to happen, Social Services must assess the young person needs under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, before they are able to consider a request for a Direct Payment. Social Services cannot turn down an individual request for a Direct Payment, although they may say that they do not have a scheme up and running as yet. This should not prevent them from assessing individual need, nor providing an individual service. As Social Services do not always have appropriate resources to provide every type of day provision nor a particular support assistant known to the young person. This funding could provide that key.

Funding to support the young person in the home, college or day activity can be provided for, but not for residential care. Vouchers for short-term breaks for up to 28 days will be available from October 2001.

'Contact a Carer' Register

Middlesbrough Council's Carer Services Officer proposes to establish a 'Contact a Carer' register. It would list carers who are willing to chat on the phone or meet up with other carers in need of support. This would be particularly helpful to carers who are not in touch with groups for whatever reasons. If you wish to comment or make suggestions on how such a system should work, contact:
Christine Walker, Carer Services Officer, PO Box 234, Civic Centre, Middlesbrough TS1 2XH. Tel: 01642 262883

Tees Valley Briefing April 2001

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