This Spring, to signify emergence from dark times, CASCAIDr is investing in training up members of the public – and people working in health and care – to embed a culture of legal awareness of community care law – in readiness for the further integration of health and care – and maybe even a review […]

In 2020 we got off to a good start, pointing out to Dominic Cummings, in a letter delivered to his London address (not Barnard Castle…) that councils probably owed £150m to people by way of restitution for non-compliance with the Care Act. The Court of Appeal had made financial reimbursement (for money spent or labour […]

Decision Date: 23rd July 2020 What Happened Mr F complained on behalf of his mother, Mrs G. Mrs G had been receiving privately funded care at home. In October 2017 she suffered a fall and was admitted to hospital with a fractured arm. On the 9th October Mrs G was admitted to the rehabilitation unit […]

DOESN’T IT MAKE YOU CROSS!! That boy is playing out during lockdown again, where are his irresponsible parents? Well, he’s got learning difficulties and many other problems one can’t see; he can’t be kept indoors for his own safety and for the mental wellbeing of his mother and himself, he needs that time outside. See […]

[YOUR HOME ADDRESS] [YOUR POSTCODE] [HOSPITAL CEO’S NAME/CARE HOME MANAGER’S NAME] [HOSPITAL TRUST’S/CARE HOME’S NAME] [HOSPITAL’S/CARE HOME’S ADDRESS] By email only to: [CEO / CARE HOME MANAGER’S EMAIL ADDRESS] (IF A HOSPITAL, google ceo of trust email. It can usually be found at www.ceoemail.com) [IF A HOSPITAL – PALS EMAIL ADDRESS] (google PALS email address of hospital […]

Many might say we are suffering from one of the worst outbreaks in living memory, as people are forced to say inside, and are losing income. One’s approach to social distancing as the weeks go by may well depend on one’s age and personal circumstances, and relationships with others who are vulnerable – it may be relaxed or […]

There’s been some pretty poor reporting, in the specialist and general press and online, of the outcome of the dispute between the Competition and Markets Authority and Care UK, a large care home company, over fees charged to residents entitled to Continuing NHS Healthcare, a funding status that obliges the NHS to pay for the […]

Every year we raise money for the London Legal Support Trust – which supports voluntary sector organisations which provide legal advice about welfare law. And that includes us, of course – so helping the LLST, helps us – and we really appreciate whatever you can donate this year. Normally we walk a long, long way, […]

Decision Date: 24/03/2020 What Happened Mr X complained on behalf of his late father, Mr Y. The Council had been Mr Y’s deputy for financial affairs since 2016. Mr Y owned a retail business property which was let to Mr Z. Mr Y lived in a care home, as a self-funder (judging from the report), […]

Decision Date: 22/08/2019 What Happened Mrs X complained on behalf of her daughter, Miss Y. Miss Y had severe learning disabilities, and Mrs X was the appointee for Miss Y’s benefits. In September 2014, when she was 17, she moved into a 24 hour support living facility. When she turned 18 (October 2014), the Council […]

Transitions Transition is about the transfer of a child from children’s services to adults’ social care services when or around the time they turn 18. The two types of service are governed by different statutes (laws) and even the health service treats children’s health and mental health services differently to the way in which adults’ […]

R (on the application of JG) v London Borough of Southwark [2020] EWHC 1989 (Admin) Case Background JG is a profoundly disabled young woman who requires care and supervision with all aspects of her daily life She was receiving care at home, by her parents and a team of paid carers funded by Southwark LBC. […]

“What would you suggest are the best options to continue learning from you and working with you? I have been so empowered by that one meeting, I want to learn more and implement.” KM

To the duty worker for Direct Payments My [relative/friend/partner] (who has confirmed that I am authorised to write in on [his/her] behalf) has a sizeable personal budget, from the council, based on assessed eligible needs for personal care and other services at home; it is paid as a direct payment and used to employ [one/two/three] […]

Decision date: 26/02/20 What happened Ms Y is an elderly lady who was receiving care in the Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) section of a Council-funded care home (Care Home A, a residential care home). She went into hospital in 2019 where the NHS agreed to provide the Funded Nursing Care (FNC) element for a nursing […]

What Happened This case involved two adult men (A and B), aged 25 and 32, with severe physical and learning disabilities who lived with their mother (X). A and B had extensive night time care needs. They needed to be repositioned numerous times to avoid pressure damage, and it was assessed in a 2017 care […]

“CASCAIDr have provided me with invaluable support in constructing and articulating a case for consideration by Social Services in a council which for a considerable period of years have not followed the law as laid down in the Care Act or used established protocols and procedures necessary to ensure that my son’s Care Assessment, Support […]

The London Legal Support Trust has helped US out, in the Covid-19 Crisis, and we really want to give something back. So, CASCAIDr caseworkers and volunteers are walking for justice, in their own gardens, or in a public garden, for 10,000 Steps for Justice. This is not directly for CASCAIDr (because we hope to do […]

CASCAIDr’s CEO Belinda Schwehr was delighted to do a Q&A on the possible link between deaths in care homes and the primary agenda of the government of saving lives by protecting NHS capacity, as the guest of Sophie Chester-Glyn’s CoProduce Care. You can see the video by clicking here and download a transcript here, below, […]

PLEASE do DONATE TO CASCAIDr, during Covid-19 – for the continuation of legal framework ANALYSIS:  every little helps! Our donation button is on the right of your screen…                 We’ve done this post, because the number of Ombudsman’s findings of non-compliance with the Care Act, as we know and love it, over the last year, suggests […]

“I donate for the knowledge, and it’s still cheaper than The Telegraph’s All Digital Access per year, The Times per year,The Guardian for a year and having tried the newspapers vs CASCAIDr, the choice is clear to many – thanks, PK.”

The LGSCO has published this guidance in the first week of May 2020, having closed to complaints in March. The LGO covers most local government functions, not just social services, but CASCAIDr has looked at the guidance from the Adult Social Care perspective, because that’s the focus of the charity, both before and during Covid-19 […]

CASCAIDr’s CEO Belinda Schwehr was delighted to do a Q&A on the detail about the Care Act easements, as the guest of Sophie Chester-Glyn’s CoProduce Care. You can see the video here, and download a transcript here, but please do consider donating to CASCAIDr’s survival during the Covid-19 period, via our button on the right. […]

What Happened A 38 year-old Polish national was admitted to a psychiatric ward in 2019 having been found partially clothed and wandering outside. Her medical records showed an extensive history of mental health issues, and led to a conclusion that she was not fit to be detained and should instead be taken to hospital. In […]

CASCAIDr’s written a guide about going to hospital, visiting, getting a ventilator and getting out of hospital for people who run care homes and the wider public, for reference and use during the Coronavirus crisis. We’ve done this because of the concern nationwide that people in care homes are not only getting ill, but also […]

In this case, the NHS Foundation Trust applied for an interim injunction on behalf of one of the hospitals it operated, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (a 12-bed ward for those requiring acute neuropsychiatric care for up to 14 days where the patient’s stay could be extended to 28 days in extreme circumstances). […]

Decisions London Borough of Newham (17 017 876) 19/09/2018 https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/housing/homelessness/17-017-876 The Council wrongly told Ms B that it could not provide interim accommodation until it had carried out a home visit, to confirm that she was homeless. London Borough of Newham (17 001 635) 11/12/2018 https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/housing/allocations/17-001-635 Miss B complained the Council unreasonably withdrew an offer […]

Under the Coronavirus Act, it IS now open to councils – and may well already be necessary – to use the normal legal framework duties as powers only, and to prioritise service provision on the basis of severity or imminence of need only, abiding by human rights. The problem now may be the sheer shortage of staff and services, not the money, any longer. […]

As promised, CASCAIDr’s translation or ‘alternative’ interpretation of DHSC’s guidance on the Care Act modifications. Click here to view the document. If practitioners and public want more like this, you need to donate whatever you can, on our button on the right, please, or here: https://bit.ly/2QZZyDc otherwise CASCAIDr can’t continue to function and won’t survive […]

In the last few days, CASCAIDr has been covering human rights in the context of adult social care, on social media. Examples have touched on policies or resources difficulties which have seen carers doing the council’s job for a variety of reasons, varying from not knowing that there is no legal obligation to take on […]

Decision Date: 18th December 2019 What Happened Mrs B complained on behalf of her husband, Mr B. Mr B received three visits a day from care workers. The last visit of the day was scheduled at 9pm, to help him get ready for bed, which involved using a hoist to use the toilet. Mrs B […]

CASCAIDr – the All Adults’ Care and Health specialist legal advice charity – is compelled to go into a different mode for the duration of the Coronavirus crisis. Advice charities are not getting any hint of financial support, and small charities will become insolvent very quickly, it is feared. In all honesty, we can’t hope […]

CASCAIDr wants to support councils to excel at this very difficult time. We know that social work staff did not sign up to do the minimum for vulnerable adults. And we fervently hope to see a new approach to the value of social work and social care, after the virus is beaten, across government and […]

Comment below

The provisions of the emergency legislation passed into law on 25 March 2020 and allow for suspension of all the mainstream duties in the Care Act, downgrading them all into powers – other than in the one situation, where meeting needs is necessary to avoid a breach of human rights.  Regulations were passed on 31st March […]

Statutory guidance states that local authorities must ensure that all frontline staff have general autism awareness so staff can identify potential signs of autism, understand how to make reasonable adjustments in their behaviour and communication. The Autism Act 2009 required the government to produce statutory guidance for NHS and local authorities on working with autistic […]

Upheld 02/10/2019 What happened Miss A had been compulsorily sectioned for a mental health condition and received free aftercare under S117 Mental Health Act from the Council for a placement in a care home. In 2015, the care home closed and Miss A then moved to supported accommodation for people with mental health conditions. Ms […]

SUBJECT MATTER covered by this year’s referrals: Challenges to Assessments – including non-eligibility findings, un-evidenced assumptions about carers’ input and decision-making without regard to advocacy rights Challenges to Care Plans – cuts, delays, lack of care plan transparency and decisions relating to accommodation versus homecare; people being told to spend their own money on conventional […]

Decision Date: 30th September 2019 What Happened Mr B complained to the Council on behalf of himself, as a carer, and his mother, Mrs C. Mrs C was an elderly lady, who suffered from several health problems. She needed help with personal care and often to mobilise. She was also at risk of falling from […]

Date of decision: 26 Sep 2019 What happened Mr B complained about the way Westminster City Council (the Council) dealt with his homelessness case. Readers may well recognise the issues of delay and people being passed from pillar to post: these issues are commonplace, and regarded as inevitable, by most councils, these days. But the […]

Beth’s parents were never seen as partners in the care of their daughter and over time have moved to a combative position as a consequence of lack of involvement, acknowledgement and voice. The lack of diagnosis for Beth, meaningful intervention and management set Beth on a pathway that was foreseen as poor and ended inevitably […]

… is a fantastic judgment from the Court of Appeal (announced 3 October 2019) about the parallel statutory duties owed by a local authority under the Care Act 2014 and the Children and Families Act 2014, and the overlapping Tribunal and JR routes to a remedy for breach of these Acts. Fundamentally, the Court held […]

The First-tier Tribunal has ruled in favour of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) decision to refuse an application submitted by Lifeways Community Care (Lifeways) to vary a condition of its registration as a care home provider. Lifeways (a care provider looking after people with complex care needs, including those with a learning disability, autism and […]

This case concerned the application of one of the criteria for Personal Independence Payment: ‘Engaging with other people face to face’, a type of need that occurs most commonly amongst those with mental health needs and/or neurodevelopmental conditions (such as Autism). This update to our original case write-up, added in late 2020, refers people to […]

Having taken some time off from managing the flood of referrals received weekly about dodgy practice in adults’ social work, to read Mr Feldon’s article, in Community Care, my jaw dropped. It doesn’t feel as if nobody’s complaining, HERE! However, on a more careful reading, it may just be that it’d been inappropriately edited with […]

Unmet Needs: Improper Social Care Assessments for Older People in England  Headline report conclusions “Older people in England are at risk of not getting adequate assistance to live independent, dignified lives due to uneven assessments for social services.” Some said that assessors appeared not even to understand their disabilities and support needs. In other cases, […]

How many of CASCAIDr’s first year’s 200 or so clients were … So, please donate to keep us going into a 2nd year and beyond, by clicking on: DONATE to CASCAIDr What have been the OUTCOMES, for some of CASCAIDr’s most successful clients? Threatened cuts to people’s packages, services or budgets, have been cancelled or […]

This post is for flagging up that there is a much easier way of challenging a local authority’s actions or decisions, policies or practices, than complaining, and it’s not widely publicised. The people responsible for managing this system don’t even agree about its scope, but that doesn’t mean that the words in the statute don’t […]

…They hadn’t received the letter at that point, so I gave them a copy to read. They left, after almost 2 hours, agreeing to reinstate J’s support after just leaving it for 3 months

“The support you have provided has been fantastic, regardless of the outcome. I do not believe I would have even been able to get this meeting arranged and I have learned so much.”

Many thanks. We managed to persuade them to change their minds ! The various letters from the doctor and mental health made a huge difference, and it was very helpful to have an understanding of the legal background.  I will be passing your details to other individuals/complementary organisations who I think would really benefit from […]

“Clearly [the LGO] has changed the report significantly as a result of the previous feedback. Looks pretty much like we have everything significant found in our favour. Thanks for all your help.”

“The meetings with the CCG and LA went well, and the fees are under renegotiation – they have accepted many of the proposals you suggested we put forward, and we are now down to discussing the last few points! So far so good…thanks for all your help!”

CASCAIDr has assisted a woman who was told to move her mother by the end of the week, without any assessment of the impact, once her capital depleted, if there was no top-up, to flag up 11 legal reasons why that was simply indefensible. The council is dealing with the matter, apparently, and the private […]

After grinding away for over 18 months, after CASCAIDr advisers spotted that the Disability Related Expenditure part of the financial assessment was flawed, £1500 of so-called charging debt has been written off, implicitly acknowledging that the man’s spend on technological aids was something that had to be allowed for.

Under the threat of Judicial Review, on which CASCAIDr assisted, a Council has now agreed to complete a full care and needs assessment of x’s needs, produce a care plan, not make any reductions to her care package pending completion of both, and carry out a review before Xmas….

JP was awaiting services for a brain injury for 12 months. His partner/carer complained successfully to the LGO about Care Act delays and omissions. His care manager said that care packages were capped at £700 a week, meaning his partner could not return to work. A few legal letters later from a #CASCAIDr adviser, and […]

A woman receives care at home from nurses funded by CHC from the CCG and a parent. On CHC review, disputed DST domain scores were decided by the Panel itself, and the Rationale was not signed. Her mother was called ‘disrespectful’ when she flagged up the breach of the National Framework! Input from a @CASCAIDr […]

A man’s parents shared his care with a care home but have frequent difficulties re handling of injuries, risks, handover and supervision. He has no written care plan from the CCG but it has been suggested that his parents should sign a ‘communication contract’! Input from a @CASCAIDr adviser flagged up that a CARE Act […]

A care home contracted to a CCG gave a young woman 4 weeks’ notice after caring for her for 9 yrs despite owing art 8 obligations under the Human Rights Act (like all homes with publicly funded clients). She is now being helped to move on to supported living. CASCAIDr’s advice helped prevent eviction and […]

Parent deputies got a £2K bill for 2 yrs jointly funded past respite for this young man. DWP benefits had covered his share of household bills (reimbursed as necessaries) and items that were arguably DRE. Retrospective charging CAN be lawful, in certain case, BUT CASCAIDr flagged up that the agencies’ inability to trace any rationale […]

Devoted parents had ultimately lost the care of this young man over a dispute about £10K charges for earlier care. A previous JR had led to a consent order with no MENTION of charges but the man’s mum was removed as deputy, and safeguarding proceedings were started. CASCAIDr advice was that s2 LGA negated the […]

If someone goes completely blind and then later deaf (it happens) s/he can become completely dependent on technology, human help and courage to get through daily living, although remaining fully mentally capacitated. CASCAIDr has helped a man in that situation challenge his council for not reviewing his needs since the Care Act (2015); not providing […]

A man living in Shared Lives accommodation but his carers suddenly needed him to move on, in view of the severe illness of one of the couple. He’d also been excluded from a local day opportunity because he was unsettled, and the council needed to be galvanised. CASCAIDr’s advice to the man’s mother led her […]

A woman has 24hr care in her home as a tenant, in a care package not reviewed for YEARS. The council had agreed ages ago in writing not to change her package without her consent, but wanted to re-assess now and use ‘Just Checking’ to record movement at home. CASCAIDr’s advice has secured acknowledgement of […]

A parent with a severely disabled adult daughter found everyone agreed that the council’s arrangements weren’t working – but nobody seemed to be doing anything about it. The parent was sent hither and thither to look at hopelessly inadequately provisioned settings and told No, regarding a placement that WAS apparently suitable – with no other […]

After advocates’ support, the council was persuaded to use its discretion to take out deputyship and appointeeship as appropriate services to meet needs – they were facilities or support for Care Act purposes, to meet needs related to maintaining a habitable home. Return to main CASCAIDr homepage  

A charitable care provider is told that the council will put in a roving 2 man team for waking night observations for their clients, if the provider won’t drop the fee; the provider is delighted as it had not been getting paid properly for the night time service anyway, so said to the council that […]

An elderly man with capital now below the threshold for a financial subsidy and commisisoning from the council is told that his relatives will have to pay a top up if he wants to stay in the home that he originally chose when self funding. After all other attempts at referring the council to the […]

A young woman’s parents were told that she could only have a service if she moved out of their home into a shared care setting. After her human rights were mentioned, and the Perry Clarke case was referred to, the council accepted that it wasn’t possible to make their help conditional upon the client moving […]

A long-standing client with learning disabilities was suddenly found ineligible at the first post-Care Act re-assessment because assessor had looked at her needs after the support she was already getting from direct payments funded carers, and didn’t bother asking about a couple of listed outcomes at all. A pre-action protocol letter from a solicitor to […]

An exhausted carer asked a council for a carer’s assessment and was found eligible – but offered only a small sum of money as the Take it or Leave it Response. He wanted a service, not extra money. He wanted some help with the cleaning, and didn’t want to employ or supervise a cleaner. After […]