Back to top"DIRECTIONS" Issue 35 Winter 2007
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Changes to holiday entitlement and national minimum wage
You may recently have received a letter from The Rowan Organisation about changes to minimum wage and entitlement to annual leave.
If you employ personal assistants or carers and require extra information or help in understanding the changes, please contact The Rowan Organisation on 0800 783 1755. Our payroll service can help you with the calculations needed to work out the new entitlement for your PA's.
If you have concerns over whether your direct payments will cover the increase to holiday entitlement, please contact your local Social Services.
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Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) have now been replaced with Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). New EPAs can no longer be set up, but existing ones remain valid.
There are several differences between EPAs and LPAs:
People who lose capacity and do not have family or friends to appoint as Attorneys can be supported in decisions about health or accommodation by an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate.
(Source: www.direct.gov.uk)
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DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION CHANGES
On 28th September 2007, the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) joined forces with the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality to form a new body called the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR).
The purpose of the collaboration is to bring together professionals from different areas and provide a single source of advice. It also allows the CEHR to tackle discrimination on many levels.
The CEHR retains all powers of the previous commissions, and gains new powers that will allow it to enforce legislations, promote awareness and take on human rights cases.
The contact details for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights are: www.cehropportunities.org.uk/about.asp or phone 020 7215 8415 for general enquiries.
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The Learning and Skills Council has launched the Adult Learning Grant to encourage people back into education so they can improve their qualifications and life opportunities.
The Adult Learning Grant provides help with the cost of travel, books and other materials. It can be used to study on a range of courses, including GCSEs, A-Levels, BTECs and NVQs.
There is a wide variety of courses available, including business, retail, media, computer skills and science. Courses in health and care are also covered by the grant.
To find out more, including if you qualify, call Learndirect on 0800 100 900 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/alg. Alternatively, contact your local college for more information.
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The Department for Work and Pensions has launched its annual Winter Warmth campaign to try and reduce cold related illnesses and deaths.
Top tips include insulating your home, eating regular hot meals and trying to move around often. The recommended room temperature is 21°C during the day and 18°C at night. It also suggests quitting smoking to improve circulation, as well as getting the flu jab.
The campaign gives details of financial help too. The Warm Front scheme offers grants of up to £4000 to people to improve home insulation. Winter Fuel payments are available for those aged 60 or over, ranging from £100 to £300 depending on your circumstances. Cold Weather Payments of £8.50 over seven days are available to lower income households for help with heating costs.
We are also asked to look out for each other during cold weather. If you have an elderly relative or neighbour keep an eye out for them. If you don't see them around, or if the curtains are closed in the daytime, phone or pop round to check on them.
(Source: www.direct.gov.uk)
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Carers UK holds its annual Carers' Rights Day on 7th December 2007 to raise awareness of the needs of unpaid carers, such as family members or friends who look after someone with a disability. The aim of the day is to make sure carers know their rights and to increase take up of help available, like Direct Payments for carers.
More than 2 million people a year become carers, yet many say they need clearer information about their rights. Carers UK is an organisation of carers that provides access to practical, financial and emotional support.
For more information: Carers UK: Telephone 02074908818 or email info@carersuk.org
Carers Wales:Telephone 02920811370 or email info@carerswales.org
(Source: www.carersuk.org
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From the 15th of October 2007, the Blue Badge scheme has been extended to make it available to more people but also to make it harder for people to defraud the system.
A new badge is being issued that has a hologram on it, to prevent fraud through fakes. Also, a new 'Under 2' category allows parents to use blue badges if they need to transport bulky equipment for their child.
The scheme has also been extended to people who, although they can drive non-adapted cars, can't operate a parking metre. The scheme will be reviewed and a new strategy launched in 2008 to ensure it is meeting the needs of users and to make any improvements that are necessary.
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ITCH is a voluntary organisation that provides help for disabled people with using computers. ITCH stands for Information Technology Can Help and was founded in 1994 by Ken Stoner, a disabled person himself.
Volunteers from ITCH can make home visits to provide assistance with installing hardware or software, getting connected to the Internet, and fixing technical problems. They also train people in using common software packages. They are there to help you get the most from your PC. And the support is free!
ITCH has volunteers in over 50 counties across the UK. If they don't cover your area, they provide information on other organisations who do.
Although ITCH can't help with funds or specialised equipment, they might be able to put you in touch with someone who can help.
ITCH can be contacted on: 07985 779071 Email: info@itcanhelp.org.uk Web: www.itcanhelp.org.uk.
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In September 2007, the RNIB reported that about six million older people in the UK are risking their sight by not having eye tests.
RNIB statistics show that 100 people a day will start to lose their sight. Regular tests can pick up early stages of conditions such as glaucoma, enabling early treatment that could save a person's sight. But less than half of over the over 60's attend annual eye tests. As a result, the RNIB is urging people over 60 to attend an eye test, and not wait until they notice a change in their vision.
According to the report, the main reasons people don't go for an eye test are lack of symptoms, worry about the cost, and problems getting to an appointment. The RNIB advises that anyone over 60 can get a free eye test, and other help is available paying for the cost of frames. And for those who are unable to leave the home, your local Primary Care Trust can give you information on optometrists who can test your eyes in your own home.
For more information, call the RNIB helpline on 0845 7669999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk.
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A new information line has been launched by Scope to provide people with advice on disability issues. It provides information relating to cerebral palsy and Scope's services. It can also provide support and signposting for questions about other impairments.
Formerly the Scope Helpline, Scope Response is a free service available via telephone, email or post.
Freephone: 0808 800 33 33 Email: response@scope.org.uk Or write to: Scope Response, PO Box 833, Milton Keynes, MK12 5NY Include SAE for a reply.
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NEW WARWICKSHIRE SUPPORT GROUP
A new Direct Payments network group has been set up in Warwickshire by DP user and Rowan Organisation board member, Susan Hill.
Susan started the group to work in partnership with The Rowan Organisation and Warwickshire County Council and feed suggestions into the running of Direct Payments in Warwickshire.
The meetings will mix business with pleasure, partnering advice from expert speakers with visits from alternative therapists. Susan says "We want people to come along and get the practical help that will make life easier for them."
There is more information on the group, including how to get involved, in the following Readers Writes section.
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Susan Hill, Warwickshire, writes the following:
"I think I can safely say that my 'readers write' is slightly unusual, because by the time you have read it, I hope to have either met or spoken to some of you out there who live in Warwickshire. If I haven't then I am inviting you to get in touch, the contact details will be at the end.
Hopefully this is a surprising start to my story of how direct payments have helped me get back my independence through the support of the Rowan Organisation and the P.A's who were good enough to let me be their employer.
I was in a car accident which left me with complex spinal injuries. I had been a busy mum of two children, constantly running them around between various daily activities such as school, work and after school activities like rugby, archery, playing in a marching band and meeting friends. This all stopped. Suddenly my children were looking after me, helping me get dressed, and putting me to bed. They had become my carers.
I was unsure about what was going to happen, I could no longer work and I was relying on family and friends along with my children to live my life. I felt I was of no use and I also missed work. The structure of my day was completely alien to me.
Luckily a nurse told me about the Rowan Organisation and how they could help me obtain the information needed to restart my life.
It was explained to me that I could use my allotted hours to have help from either Social Services sending out home help at set times of the day or I could use Direct Payments to have someone to help me at the times I wanted.
I looked on the internet for information about what would happen next, but found very little. What I could find was linked back to Direct Payment Network Support Groups from around the country that were sharing information about Direct Payments and how they helped support their users with advice, talks from other professionals, and even getting together for a drink or a meal.
When Julie, an advisor from The Rowan Organisation, came to see me and we discussed the options available to me, I had already decided that having my own PA was the way for me. I did ask if there was support group in Warwickshire. She said "no, but it would be helpful if there were".
I went down the road we all have travelled meeting with Social Services, Occupational Services to be given a package of hours, employing a PA and starting to get mine and my children's lives together. For a few years it was wonderful. I could use my hours as I needed to, fitting them around my children and allowing my daughter to go to college to study Health Studies.
Unfortunately my health deteriorated and I needed more help, plus my daughter had been accepted at university. I needed to contact Social Services and Occupational Therapy for a review.
I contacted the Rowan Organisation again, but even with their help things took a lot longer to get sorted as I was having severe health problems. This meant I needed a lot more care and ended up seeing so many professionals it was hard to keep track of who was dealing with what. My needs overlapped with so many different health professionals, I saw so many Social and Occupational Service people, people from Independent Living Fund, as well as doctors, neurosurgeons, physio's etc my head was in a whirl.
When I met with my advisor, Julie, I again mentioned that it was a shame that we did not have a Direct Payment Network Support Group as maybe I would understand what I was going through better by knowing who's who and what their contribution to my situation was. She agreed that it would be good to have such a group in Warwickshire.
Eventually after things settled down and my Direct Payments were sorted, I started to think more about the possibility of setting up a Network Support group, because I thought it would be nice to talk to other people who use Direct Payment and understood what I was going through.
In June this year I spoke at the 5th Annual Community Conference explaining how Direct Payments had helped me. Following this I have spoken with both Warwickshire County Council and the Rowan Organisation suggesting a Direct Payment Group would be useful in Warwickshire to be able to discuss information with people who knew what I was going through.
I was nominated onto the board of Management for The Rowan Organisation this year as I wanted to take part in helping them develop the services they offer us as Direct Payment Users. A natural progression of that role was to get both the Rowan Organisation and Warwickshire County Council on board to develop a Direct Payment Service User Group. I felt it was important that while this group was needed, anyone who was interested could help develop the way forward. So, information was sent to Direct Payment Service users advertising the initial meetings. It also included a questionnaire asking what you want from such a group. The response will help form your new Direct Payment Support Group.
I have been honoured recently to meet Dame Denise Platt who is the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection and she is very keen to see the group set up and will be keeping in touch to see how we evolve. She was extremely pleased that Warwickshire would have a group who could give their views back to the local Council about how they would like the services we need to be provided.
At this time there are many changes going on in respect of how Direct Payment Services are delivered to us and if you have not been to one of the meetings or returned the questionnaire I am hoping you will do soon, because "as a lone voice we are often not heard, but as a group of united voices we can be heard" and as such we can give our opinions to the powers that be so that the service they provide is better for the service users i.e. US!
This is only one part of the group, the other is so we can get together, make new friends, visit new places and take the first steps to giving ourselves a brighter future together.
If you are interested in knowing, my daughter (who is now 22) did get her degree in Social Work, and my son (14) is studying towards his GCSE's and wants to become an accountant having gained an interest while helping balance my Direct Payment books. This would not have happened if I hadn't had Direct Payments as I had no idea how I was going to carry on my life when I became disabled.
Direct Payments has helped all of us succeed and follow our dreams, but most of all, I want to help you all be able to obtain and give information here in Warwickshire. If you wish to contact me or have an idea for a name for the Direct Payment Support Group then please call 0800 783 1755 quoting Warwickshire Network Group and someone will take your details, or you can e-mail us at dpgroupwarks@yahoo.com.
Thank you and see you soon".
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my) Dying is Fun: A Comedy of Disabled Misadventures
By Christopher Day
Published by Trafford Publishing, (my) Dying is Fun is written by Christopher Day, a Rowan service user who has Motor Neurone Disease. His book tells of the progression of his condition and the changes it has brought to his life.
When the future seemed bleak, he saw an unexpected humour in his life.
Our own Jenny Gough, project manager in the Welsh 3 counties, had this to say:
"I have found it to be very enjoyable, easy to read, and - by the second chapter - you are hooked! It is a light-hearted look at life, living in Chris' shoes. His style of writing easily draws you into the mental image he is creating and caused me to laugh out loud. An excellent read and should not be overlooked on the bookshelf!"
It is available from Trafford Publishing at a price of £9.99. Tel: 0845 230 9601 or from www.trafford.com.
Overcoming Barriers: Six personal stories
The Papworth Trust has released a book of six stories about how it has helped disabled people into employment. The stories feature people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health issues. It is available as a download from www.papworth.org.uk or as a hard copy by phoning 0800 952 5000.
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MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROWAN ORGANISATION
The Rowan Organisation is a registered charity and not for profit organisation. It is a user-led organisation and the majority of Board members are disabled people, as are a number of our operational staff. Membership of the Rowan Organisation is open to all service users and it's free !
Ordinary members receive a summary of the quarterly Board meetings, are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM and also have the chance to become a Board Member themselves.
Board membership offers an exciting opportunity to travel and meet up with others. Service user members who are elected on to the Board, influence the management and direction of the organisation. Board membership offers a mix of business and social elements and all reasonable travel, accommodation and other expenses are paid for by the Rowan Organisation.
If you are interested in applying for ordinary membership, with the chance of becoming a Board member, please contact the Rowan Organisation at Head Office on 01827 718972 or send an email to the Rowan Organisation's Information Service, who will provide further information.
The following further information may help you to decide to become a member:
Mission Statement
"The Rowan Organisation exists to provide disabled people with access to information and support in order that they can make informed choices and be in control of their lives".
Vision Statement
"A society that is fully inclusive in which the barriers, whether environmental, attitudinal or institutional, that prevent disabled people from having equality of opportunity have been removed."
In providing services we advocate the following Principles:
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