Burglar conned pensioner twice
15th September 2009
A conman burglar stole from the home of an 81 year old man with dementia twice after knocking on his door claiming to be selling dusters. To read this article in full click on the link above.
Worcestershire Council Serious Case Review
14th September 2009
Worcestershire Council has been accused of a number of failures over the death of a 22-year-old man with severe learning disabilities whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase at his family home. To read the executive summary click on the link above.
Mencap slams hospital for its treatment of Kyle
23rd July 2009
A disability charity has slammed Basildon hospital for its 'appalling' treatment of a severely disabled young man who died in a hospital bed. To read the article in full click the link above.
Royal College of Nursing launches whistleblower hotline
10th May 2009
A whistleblowers' hotline is being set up today by the Royal College of Nursing after evidence emerged that its members are being victimised for voicing worries about unsafe practices on NHS wards.
To read more click on the link above.
Care firm worker jailed for fraud
21 April 2009
A care company employee in Somerset who stole from an elderly woman she befriended has been sent to prison for six months. To read more click on the link above.
Death by Indifference
March 2009
The Ombudsmen Inquiry (see article below) was sparked by a 2007 report by Mencap "Death by Indifference", which argued that all six were victims of institutional discrimination against people with learning disabilities in the care they received, and their deaths were unavoidable. To read this report click on the link above.
Ombudsmen Inquiry
24th March 2009
NHS and Council failings in six cases involving people with learning disabilities led to prolonged suffering and at least one avoidable death. That was the verdict of an investigation by the health service and local government ombudsmen into the care given to the six people who died between 2003 and 2005. Click on the link above to read more.
Prison for torture killing pair
27th March 2009
Two men who admitted torturing and killing a man with learning difficulties in his Fife home have both been jailed for 12 and a half years. To read this article in full, please click the link above.
Mentally ill victim was failed by CPS
28th January 2009
A decision by prosecutors to drop a serious criminal assault case because the victim, who had half his ear bitten off, suffered mental health problems, has been severley criticised by High Court judges. To read the article in full follow the link above.
Vulnerable Deaths Inquiry Set Up
19th January 2009
A confidential inquiry to investigate premature deaths of people with learning disabilities in England is to be set up by the Department of Health. To read this article in full click the link above.
Robbers kill pensioners budgie
18th January 2009
Burglars have snapped the neck of an elderly woman's budgie in front of her after she refused to hand over money. To read the article in full click the link above.
BBC Undercover in Notts Care Home
2nd May 2008
An undercover reporter from the BBC gained employment at a Nottinghamshire care home recently, uncovering poor infection control and lapses in care. The show was broadcast on 2nd May 2008. For a full report on the BBC's findings, follow the link above.
Carer stole £21,000 from patient
2nd September 2008
A FORMER care worker who fleeced a pensioner out of more than £21,000 collapsed as a judge told her she would be jailed. She admitted stealing £21,393 from 88-year-old wheelchair-bound Anne Giggins, who she looked after while working at Ernhale Lodge Care Home, Arnold. To read this report in full follow the link above.
Teddy Camera catches Carer thief
20th August 2008
A forensic science student and her father catch a carer stealing from an elderly relative by hiding a camera in a teddy bear's eye.
Robert Sampson, 46, and Emma, 21, fixed the tiny camera in the Liverpool home of his mother Thelma Sampson, 75.
To read the article in full follow the link above.
Care Home Workers go Unchecked, warn Police
2nd June 2008
Tens of thousands of migrant workers may be working with vulnerable elderly people in care homes, without undergoing full criminal record checks, The Times has revealed. To read the article in full, including why it is thought that the introduction of the ISA scheme next year will do little to help, follow the link above.
Latest ISA Newsletter
June 2008
The latest Independent Safeguarding Authority Newsletter is available to download. In this issue you can read about the announcement of board members, the transfer of staff to the Authority and how to get information on consultation responses. To view the newsletter and other information about ISA follow the link above.
£97,000 payout for vulnerable couple
30th May 2008
A couple who were imprisoned and tortured by a gang of youths have been awarded £97,000 in damages after a judge ruled that their local council failed to protect them, reports the Daily Mail. In a landmark ruling at London's High Court, Mr Justice Maddison said the council owed a duty of care to the 52-year-old man and his 46-year-old wife, who both have learning difficulties. To read the full Daily Mail article, follow the link above.
£2million abuse prevelance study
27th MArch 2008
Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services, has announced three new measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable older people in the care system.
The plans will help to ensure that older people are treated with dignity and respect in all care settings. To read about the new measures, follow the link above.
PoVA and Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act
PoVA
The Department of Health have issued guidance to help with the new POVA list which came into force on 26th July 2004. To view this or for a brief guide at what it is, follow the links below:
The final report on the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list has been published. To view this report click here.
Making Safeguarding Everybody's Business - A post Bichard Vetting Scheme
The ministerial foreword to this document reads: "The tragic deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham in 2003 highlighted the fact that not enough was being done to prevent unsuitable people from gaining access through their work to children and vulnerable adults". One of the key recommendations was that the Government should set up a registration scheme for everyone who works with children and vulnerable adults - a proposal to be applauded. Consultation of this document is now closed, however you can view it by clicking here.
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is the Act that has come about as a result of the Bichard Inquiry talked about above. It provides the legal framework for the new Vetting and Barring Scheme and will have a big impact on those who care for vulnerable people when its phased implementation begins throughout 2008. There are five factsheets covering information on this, as follows:-
Factsheet 1 sets out the background to the Act and some of its main provisions.
Vetting and Barring Factsheet 1
Factsheet 2 covers the 'Independent Barring Board'
Vetting and Barring Factsheet 2
Factsheet 3 explains the terms regulated and controlled activities as used in the Act and to be implemented when the new Vetting and Barring scheme is phased in from autumn 2008.
Vetting and Barring Factsheet 3
Factsheet 4 covers information on the 'Barred list'.
Vetting and Barring Factsheet 4
Factsheet 5 covers information about "Employers' duties to refer information".
Vetting and Barring Factsheet 5
Independent Safeguarding Authority
The Independent Safeguarding Authority will oversee the introduction and subsequent management of the vetting and barring list detailed above. for more information read their newsletter:
Independent Safeguarding Authority Newsletter June 2008 (.pdf)
Independent Safeguarding Authority Newsletter April 2008 (.pdf)