CM Special Report

In the last three to five years, the governance agenda for health and social care providers has, for most, developed a life of its...

Much of the Care Act 2014 does not come into force until April 2015: accordingly it may not feel like an urgent priority for care providers.

When the Better Care Fund was first announced in June 2013 by Chancellor George Osborne it was intended to help create a single pooled budget between health and social care by [incentivising] the NHS and local government to work more closely together around people, placing their well-being as the focus of health and care services’.

Specialist care provider Dimensions takes us through its positive behaviour support operation as care moves away from large institutional facilities. n the aftermath of the Department of Health’s review into the Winterbourne View case, national support provider for people with learning disabilities and autism, Dimensions, is experiencing increased demand to support people moving from out-of-county and institutional settings. This is a much needed and long over-due change in the social care sector which will see people with learning disabilities and autism live lives of their own choosing in community settings instead of in assessment and treatment centres. As the 2014 date draws closer, Dimensions is preparing for further enquiries. Invariably, it is the organisation’s Consultant Behaviour Analysts who are called upon to offer their expertise because people moving away from institutional settings often display behaviour which can be described as challenging’. It is estimated that between 10% and 15% of people with learning disabilities display challenging behaviour such as self- injury and aggression.

Care Homes: Ian Smith, chairman of Four Seasons Health Care Group

Clare Auty, partner at Browne Jacobson, puts the case for and against Over the past year we have seen a dramatic rise in the number...

Anne Harris, Director of Care Services at children’s charity Rainbow Trust, explores the challenges of end of life care’ at home for children and shares her thoughts on why she believes it is the best option for families, as well as a cost-effective alternative to hospital-based care.

It had a rapidly ageing population, families were buckling under the pressure of caring for loved ones, older and vulnerable people were being unnecessarily left in hospital beds, and instances of abuse in care were commonplace. This what care in Japan looked like 15 years ago and what the UK could be heading towards. But in 2000 a new, and revolutionary insurance system was put into place. It had to - Japan has the oldest population in the world with 23% aged over 65. This is set to rise to 40% by 2050 compared to 30% in the UK by 2051.

Like many other organisations in the UK, the care sector relies on overseas skilled-workers to help service the population’s health and care needs.

Simon Blygton, director of performance at Dimensions discusses how the organisation is using personalisation and community engagement to encourage independence and provide just...