The information on this page is copied directly from the Assitive Technology Forum Newsletter and is used with permission from the AT Forum.
Assistive Technology (AT) Forum News Bulletin No. 30, March 2006
This page is circulated as an email bulletin a week in advance of it appearing on the website. If you would like to receive the bulletin by email or if you have any suggestions about its content or format, please email: atforum@fastuk.org.
- AT Forum Annual Meeting
- New Parliamentary Limb Loss Group and Users Charter
- Device Evaluation Service
- Improving Housing Services
- The “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say” White Paper
- Other NHS Changes
- Funding for NHS Innovations
- Chief Scientific Officer's Bulletin
- Knowledge and Skills for Therapists
- The Future of Local Government
- Services for Children and Young People
- The Welfare Reform Green Paper
- Rights for Disabled People
- Governance, Regulation and Inspection
- News in Brief
This year's annual meeting of the AT Forum on 31 January was even more successful than previous years.
With a full house of delegates representing national organisations with an interest in AT service provision, this is the only Forum which provides a chance to establish the AT community's views on issues which impact directly on services for disabled and older people.
The agenda was full, with presentations on both of the substantial pieces of work, in Education and Workforce Development and in Standards for AT Services, which have been completed this year by the Forum through their secretariat organisation, FAST, supported by the Executive Committee and working parties.
Other presentations included the Competence Framework for Trusted Assessors, AT Evaluation by the Centre for Evidence-Based Purchasing, and Information Needs of Users and Professionals – DLF Data and SARA.
Please find a link below to the FAST website where we have posted all the powerpoint presentations and the feedback notes from the workshops: http://www.fastuk.org/atforumMtg2006.php
For updates on the work of the Forum go to: http://www.fastuk.org/atforum.php
2. New Parliamentary Limb Loss Group and Users Charter
Peers, MPs and interested organisations have come together to form an “Associate Parliamentary Limb Loss Group”, which held its inaugural meeting on 6 February. To contact the APLLG or receive a regular newsletter, email feedback@apllg.org.uk .
Members of the APLLG and the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (NHS PASA) have also signed up to a new “6Cs National and International Users Charter”, covering choice, comfort, capability, cosmesis, competence and caring:
http://www.apllg.org.uk/charter.html
For more on the work of the Limbless Association, go to: http://www.limbless-association.org/news/default.asp
The NHS PASA prosthetics website is at: http://www.pasa.doh.gov.uk/prosthetics/
Health professionals and others wanting to propose a technology, products or related procedure for inclusion in the Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing's device evaluation work programme can now access a redesigned form.
A pilot project proposals system is available for use on the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency website. It includes a form to download and guidance notes to complete the forms.
The site also includes details of on-going and forthcoming evaluations in assistive technology:
http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/evaluation/propose_project/
The Government is making £121 million available for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFGs) in England in 2006/07, an increase of 17 per cent. This will help fund the abolition of means testing for families of disabled children, which came into force on 31 December 2005: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2065
The Government has launched a consultation to raise awareness of its proposed new national strategy for the Supporting People programme, which funds housing-related care support, including warden and alarm services, and which can be included in ‘individual budgets'.
The aim is to give service users the opportunity to provide feedback on services they have used, and how future services can be improved: http://www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=27854&heading=e-mail+alert
The Supporting People website is: www.spkweb.org.uk
Community Care ( www.communitycare.co.uk ) had an article on the Supporting People programme and the new proposed national strategy in its issue of 23 February.
5. The “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say” White Paper
• We covered the White Paper, “Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services”, in the February bulletin and it can be downloaded at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/../OurHealthOurCareOurSay/fs/en
The Department of Health has announced a range of follow-up activities to help deliver the policies in the White Paper.
• Health Minister Lord Warner has announced the formation of the Care Closer to Home Demonstration Group (CCHDG). The CCHDG will comprise the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of General Practitioners, British Medical Association, Royal College of Surgeons, Royal College of Nursing and the NHS Confederation and others and will lead the way in looking at providing care closer to home in six specialities: ear, nose and throat; trauma and orthopaedics; dermatology; urology; gynaecology and general surgery: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../b0fKXC
• Dr Foster Intelligence, a new collaboration between the Government's Health and Social Care Information Centre and the independent health research company, Dr Foster ( http://www.drfoster.co.uk/ ), has published the report, “Keeping People Out of Hospital: the Challenge of Reducing Emergency Admissions”.
Based on a data-base of some 439,000 people who were admitted to hospital as emergencies at least three times in one year, the report reveals the impact of certain long-term conditions and the considerable variations in admissions around the country. Looking forward over the next 20 years, the report suggests how emergency admissions can be reduced through better care in the community in line with the vision in the White Paper and other Government policies:
http://society.guardian.co.uk/healthmapping/0,,1349704,00.html
• The Department of Health has published a new guide to give NHS and social care organisations extra support in helping millions of people with long term conditions to better manage their own health. “Supporting people with long term conditions to self-care”, with other guidance on long-term conditions, is at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../2BOmC1n
• The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published the report “A rapid review of the current state of knowledge regarding lay-led self-management of chronic illness”:
http://www.publichealth.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=526636
• The British Medical Association has published a discussion document on the Expert Patients Programme and is keen to receive comments. The document is at: http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/EPP . Responses should be sent to: info.science@bma.org.uk
• The Department of Health has published guidance to local authorities on the arrangements for payment of the Access and Systems Capacity Grant and the Delayed Discharges Grant for the tax years 2006/07 and 2007/08. Councils are encouraged to use the Access and Systems Capacity Grant to shift to a greater emphasis on supporting people in their own homes, working with their housing partners, Supporting People committees and Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs). The aim of the Delayed Discharge Grant is to encourage local authorities to work with health partners to invest to tackle the causes of delay in their local health and social care systems. The guidance is at:
http://www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=28032&heading=e-mail+alert
• The Care Services Efficiency Delivery (CSED) programme has been established to support implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency, led by Sir Peter Gershon. The objective of the programme is to deliver real efficiency gains and improve the overall quality of adult social care services. The CSED initiatives, developed in collaboration with councils, will support the implementation of the proposals in the “Our health, our care, our say” White Paper:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/../CareServicesEfficiencyDelivery/fs/en
Speaking to the Skills for Care conference, Health Minister Liam Byrne announced a consultation on the registration of all workers in social care and promised:
“So there can't be any more of social care as the Cinderella service. The social care workforce is going to the ball.”
The speech is at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/NewsHome/Speeches/../epu2Ot
The White Paper also received considerable attention in the media throughout February. An article about the White Paper by the Prime Minister in the 2 February issue of Community Care ( www.communitycare.co.uk ) referred to “assisted technology projects” ie the development of telecare services by social services authorities from April (see February bulletin).
An article in the March issue of Disability Now ( www.disabilitynow.org.uk ) summarised the White Paper, including the use of assistive and home monitoring technology, and reported on reactions from voluntary organisations and the Disability Rights Commission.
• The Department of Health has published the technical guidance executive summary to support the Payment by Results (PbR) tariff for 2006-07 and the “Code of Conduct for Payment by Results”.
Community services, rehabilitation services, outpatient audiology and spinal services, and supply of bespoke prostheses, all continue to be excluded from the tariff:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../ETLlj6
The Department of Health's Payment by Results website is at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/../NHSFinancialReforms/fs/en
• The Department has issued guidance for primary care trusts (PCTs) and GP practices on how to put in place arrangements for universal coverage of practice-based commissioning by the end of 2006:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../pAds%2BV
• The Department of Health has published a booklet by professional leaders of top tips, practical ideas and case studies which GPs, practice staff, allied health professionals and other primary care staff can use to help them get involved in practice-based commissioning.
The booklet, “Practice-based commissioning: early wins and top tips”, contains detailed ideas for nine clinical areas which are easy to implement, which can make a rapid difference to patients, and which benefit the local health economy as whole. These clinical areas are: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); dermatology, heart failure, long-term conditions, mental health, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, podiatry, and urology. Go to: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../OUUPlO
• The Department of Health has published “A Short Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts”:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../gsrHIC
Delivering an 18 week patient pathway from GP referral to the start of treatment by the end of 2008 is a key objective for the NHS. A website to support this aim is at: http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/public/default.aspx
• NHS Direct is offering a range of enhanced services using the telephone, internet and digital TV to support the delivery of out-of-hours and unscheduled medical and dental care. New proactive outbound calling programmes to help patients with long-term conditions and to support the secondary care sector can also be commissioned:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/chq.asp?Classid=41&articleid=1668
7. Funding for NHS Innovations
NHS Trusts are to benefit from the injection of £8million to develop innovative medical devices and procedures to improve NHS patient care.
The new funds were announced by the Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Sainsbury. NHS Innovations Hubs were amongst 29 bidders that have been awarded cash from the Government's Public Sector Research Exploitation (PSRE) initiative to help turn research into a commercial reality.
NHS Innovations consists of a network of regional innovation centres known as NHS Innovations Hubs, set up by the Department of Health and co-funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (Office of Science and Technology) and the Regional Development Agencies.
Working with regional partners in universities, research organisations and the commercial sector, the Hubs support local NHS inventors to develop innovative ideas for improved medical equipment and services.
The new funds will be used to expand activities across the relevant Trusts, to protect and fully exploit new technology and devices, with the added opportunities that manufacture and commercial development can bring for regional businesses.
For details of the awards go to:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../izyp3P
The NHS Innovations website is at: http://www.innovations.nhs.uk/
The Healthcare Industries Taskforce (HITF) report website is at: http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/hitf/index.htm
The February 2006 edition of the Chief Scientific Officer's Bulletin is available from the Department of Health. It is designed to keep healthcare scientists abreast of the latest national health news, service innovation and research and developments as the NHS continues to expand and change. Issues covered include:
- moving scientific services closer to patients and the implications of the White Paper, “Our health, our care, our say”;
- the “Career Framework for Healthcare Scientists in the NHS” and accompanying Agenda for Change documentation and National Occupational Standards;
- the contribution of healthcare scientists to enable NHS patients to start treatment within the target of 18 weeks from GP referral by December 2008;
- how healthcare scientists can help the NHS and industry work more closely together to introduce new technological advances into health care and implement the report of the Healthcare Industries Taskforce (HITF) (http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/hitf/index.htm);
- the new national health research strategy, “Best Research for Best Health”.
The CSO Bulletin is available at: www.dh.gov.uk/publicationsandstatistics/bulletins/chiefscientificofficerbulletin/
Or to receive an email version, send your details to: mailto:dh_cso_amendments@etdsolutions.com
9. Knowledge and Skills for Therapists
Therapists are being urged to ensure they take full advantage of the opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD) offered by the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).
KSF project manager at NHS Employers Gill Rose has said all therapists should now have full KSF outlines for their posts and be looking to establish where they feel they need extra support or training:
“All therapists should be having a KSF development review sometime this year and it is important for them to prepare in advance for that and think about what new elements of CPD feature in their KSF outline. Therapists may already be using CPD portfolios and these can be used to contribute to the evidence needed at KSF development reviews. Many AHPs will find they have developed skills that they have already recorded which can be used - KSF is not intended to create a need for extra work in gathering evidence.”
For more on the KSF, go to the NHS Employers website .
This item is taken from the Department of Health's Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Bulletin for February 2006, which also covered how AHPs can help implement the “Our health, our care, our say” White Paper and other current developments.
To subscribe to the AHP Bulletin, send your name, job title, organisation, full postal address (including postcode), phone and fax numbers and e-mail address to: Bulletin.subscriptions@dh.gsi.gov.uk
It is also available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/../AlliedHealthProfessionalsBulletin/fs/en
10. The Future of Local Government
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is leading a debate on the future of local government across England, leading to a White Paper in the summer, and is, for example, suggesting that unitary authorities could be preferable in the 34 'two tier' English counties.
Other themes include the development of city regions and “double devolution” ie not just to local authorities but to people in local communities. What the Government wants from local government is: “strong leadership; a focus on the neighbourhood level; innovative service delivery; and value for money”.
For more information, including an article by David Miliband, Minister of Communities and Local Government, go to:
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2068
For a pamphlet and transcript of a speech by David Miliband go to: http://www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=28080&heading=e-mail+alert
For more background on Government thinking go to: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1137789
Local area agreements (LAAs) are a way of striking a deal between central government, local authorities and major local delivery partners to provide more devolution to local level. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has set up a webpage with links to guidance, advice notes and a prospectus, setting out the Government's proposals to pilot LAAs as part of the strategy to build a new relationship between central and local government: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1161635
11. Services for Children and Young People
• Standard 8 of the national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services - an integral part of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme - relates to disabled children and young people, and those with complex health needs.
The role of primary care trusts will be critical in implementing the standard, but this and other NSF standards can only be lived up to through effective joint working practices. The Department of Health website features a variety of case studies where commissioners, providers and practitioners have worked together and provided innovative local approaches to implementing the NSF: http://www.childrensnsfcasestudies.dh.gov.uk/children/nsfcasestudies.nsf
The Department of Health webpages on the NSF are at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/../ChildrenServicesInformation/fs/en
• Sure Start works with parents and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of pre-school children to ensure they are ready to learn on entry to school. Sure Start providers help identify children at risk of developing learning disabilities and provide or arrange to provide appropriate early intervention and support. For more information on Sure Start, special educational needs and disability go to:
http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/../sendisability/
• The Department for Education and Skills has commissioned the Council for Disabled Children (CDC), in partnership with SKILL, to draw up good practice guidance on transitions for young people with special educational needs/disabilities. CDC is keen to receive any comments and suggestions for this project and the contact is Lucia Winters at: lwinters@ncb.org.uk
• The Department for Education and Skills has announced the outcome of the first funding round, from April 2006, of its grants programme to fund voluntary organisations to do work of national significance that supports the outcomes of the “Every Child Matters: Change for children” programme. Successful applications include provision of help and support to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including communication difficulties, physical disabilities and autism: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/../cypfgrant/
• Children's Minister Beverley Hughes has set out the next steps in delivering a world-class children's workforce, including the development of an integrated qualifications framework. To support this improvement the Minister confirmed how a new Transformation Fund of £250m would be used to secure high quality early years provision and better outcomes for children and their families through investment in a better qualified early years workforce, including at graduate level:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0013
The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by people (including volunteers) whose work brings them into regular contact with children, young people and families. It will enable multi-disciplinary teams to work together more effectively in the interests of the child:
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/commoncore/
• The Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme is working to ensure that children and young people who have multiple needs achieve better outcomes and have a better experience of services through the provision of integrated support. For the latest guidance on the introduction of a lead professional role as a key element of integrated support, go to: http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/leadprofessional/
• Following the White Paper, “Higher Standards, Better Schools for All”, the Government published the Education and Inspections Bill to take forward its reforms of schools in England : http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/educationandinspectionsbill/
http://www.rcslt.org/news/childrens_services
12. The Welfare Reform Green Paper
The Green Paper on welfare reform, “A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People Back to Work” ( http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2006/jan/fmc068-240106.asp ), has received considerable media attention.
The March issue of Disability Now ( www.disabilitynow.org.uk ) has a comprehensive article, with a summary of the Green Paper, including the role of the Pathways to Work scheme, NHS rehabilitation and the New Deal for Disabled People, together with reactions from voluntary organisations.
Community Care ( www.communitycare.co.uk ) also covered the Green Paper with several articles in its issue of 16 February.
13. Rights for Disabled People
• The Minister for Disabled People has announced that a group of twelve people with direct experience of the issues facing disabled people have been appointed to an Advisory Group that will make recommendations over the next six months, helping to set up a national forum for disabled people:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2006/feb/drc016-270206.asp
For the work of the Government's Office for Disability Issues go to: http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/
• The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its estimates which show there are over 10 million disabled people in Britain, including people with limiting longstanding illnesses; of which, 4.6 million are over State Pension Age and 700,000 are children. The annual spending power of disabled adults is unchanged and is still around £80 billion:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2006/feb/drc-015-090206.asp
• The Government is continuing to roll out its “Adjusting for Better Business” campaign to raise greater awareness about the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) among small and medium enterprise (SME) employers and service providers. The campaign has a regional emphasis and will use local advertising. It has the support of local SME opinion formers who will help to disseminate information: http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=186141&NewsAreaID=2
• From December 2006, the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA) introduces a duty for public bodies to positively promote disability equality. The Department of Health has published a practical guide to help front line primary care staff improve the overall experience of all disabled patients, their families and visitors and make sure they play an active role in complying with the DDA:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../4EgjOQ
And a similar guide for hospital services is at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../Nv/WdZ
• As part of its “Disability Debate”, the Disability Rights Commission has published a discussion paper, “Changing Britain for Good”, setting out ten long-term priorities to achieve a society in which all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens: 'Changing Britain for Good'
The Disability Rights Commission is currently consulting on a possible change to the Disability Discrimination Act's (DDA) definition of disability, which would broaden it so that the law provides protection against discrimination on the grounds of impairment regardless of the level or type of impairment: http://www.drc.org.uk/disabilitydebate/more/definition/
The Disability Rights Commission's popular new short film 'The Appointment' is now available to watch on its website.
The film aims to dispel common myths about disability in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to use it in staff training to raise disability awareness and to encourage discussion of barriers to disabled people and people with long-term health conditions at work.
The film is available for free on DVD from the DRC's helpline and an eight-page booklet can be downloaded to help answer some of the questions likely to arise when viewing the film. Please visit the website to view the film .
“Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 78” - a guide to good practice in commissioning websites – which has been developed by the Disability Rights Commission in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI) will be launched in March: http://www.drc.org.uk/newsroom/eventdetails.asp?id=254
• The Conservative Party has published a seven-point “disability agenda” covering:
- helping people with disabilities to lead independent lives;
- recognising and supporting the role of carers
- tackling benefit dependency;
- benefit reform (including incapacity benefit reform);
- safeguarding special schools;
- ensuring equality of access to healthcare;
- dealing with the stigma of mental health.
The agenda is at: http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=127558
• The Equality Act has gained Royal Assent, establishing a single Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) from October 2007.
The CEHR will bring together the work of the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission from October 2007; and that of the Commission for Racial Equality from 2009, putting expertise on equality, diversity and human rights in one place for the first time.
Individuals experiencing discrimination and prejudice on the basis of race, gender, disability, age, religion and belief or sexual orientation will have easier access to help and support, and businesses will have improved advice and information. The Commission will also promote awareness and understanding of human rights and encourage good practice by public authorities in meeting their Human Rights Act obligations.
The Government has also announced a discrimination law review and an equalities review to inform a new Single Equalities Act, which would apply to six dimensions of equality: religion, race, gender, age, sexuality and disability.
14. Governance, Regulation and Inspection
• The Department of Health has published the “Integrated Governance Handbook” to support NHS boards in their continued development towards good governance principles, linked to the Department's Standards for Better Health and Monitor's document on foundation trust governance arrangements. Whilst this version is aimed primarily at NHS trusts, primary care trusts may also find it useful:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../N1LviX
• The Department of Health has published “NHS Foundation Trusts: A sourcebook for developing governance arrangements”: http://www.info4local.gov.uk/searchreport.asp?id=28142&heading=e-mail+alert
• The Healthcare Commission has published new guidance for patient and public involvement forums and local authority overview and scrutiny committees, to enable them to play their part in its annual health check of performance by NHS trusts and primary care trusts. They are encouraged to comment on whether they think their local trust or trusts are meeting the core standards set by the Department of Health. These comments should be submitted to the trust/s and they will include them in their final declarations, which have to be with the Commission by 4 May 2006:
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/../ZxID/e
Communication Aids
The Government has confirmed that the Communication Aids Project (CAP), which supplies communication aids to children and young people and is administered by Becta (British Education Communications and Technology Agency), will close as planned on 31 March. CAP is exploring with Becta colleagues how the momentum generated by the project might be maintained and any developments will be announced through the CAP website: http://cap.becta.org.uk/
Scope's “Speak for Yourself” campaign on communication aids is at: http://www.scope.org.uk/issues/communication.shtml
Wheelchair Stability
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has launched a new “Get Wise” leaflet for manual and powered wheelchair users entitled “How to make sure your wheelchair remains stable”, produced with the support of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA):
http://www.bhta.net/mainnav/news/..stability_leaflet
Accessible Websites
Disabled people favour the most accessible websites when using the Internet, according to computing and disability charity, AbilityNet, in its latest report on “The State of the eNation”: http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/content/oneoffs/e-nation9.htm
DLF Digest
The latest issue of DLF Digest, the new, free e-mail newsletter for healthcare professionals from the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) includes items on “How can you make bed rails safer and what alternatives are there?” and “An Overview of Bariatric Management”. To subscribe, visit: http://dotm1.net/t.aspx?l=111779&i=38035778
Assist UK Newsletter
The second newsletter from Assist UK is at: http://www.assist-uk.org/newsletter/
Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published Technology Appraisal No. 97 on “Depression and anxiety - computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT)”: http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=TA097
Social Care for Deafblind People
The circular LAC(2001) 8 on “Social care for deafblind people” was cancelled on 28 February 2006. Although the Department of Health will not be reissuing this document, it has reminded councils that the principles of good practice in the guidance continue to be valid:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/../AYGOMr
Mental Capacity and the Enduring Power of Attorney
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 received Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. The Department of Health is now working jointly with the Department of Constitutional Affairs to implement the Act in April 2007, including a consultation on proposed changes to the Enduring Power of Attorney:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/../Epx2XH
New SCIE Chair
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has announced that Allan Bowman, a former director of social services, will take over the role of chair on 1 April this year, replacing Jane Campbell: http://www.scie.org.uk/news/mediareleases/2006/160206.asp
AT Forum Newsletter Archive on the FAST website
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 29, February 2006
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 28, January 2006
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 27,December 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 26,November 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 25, October 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 24, September 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 23, August 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 22, July 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 21, June 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 20, May 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 19, April 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 18, March 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 17, February 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 16, January 2005
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 15, December 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 14, November 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 13, October 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 12, September 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 11, August 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 10, July 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 9, June 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 8, May 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 7, April 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 6, March 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 5, February 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 4, January 2004
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 3, December 2003
AT Forum Bulletin, Issue No. 2, November 2003