Consultations and responses
Implementing “Fulfilling and rewarding lives”: Consultation for statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the autism strategy
The Government has confirmed its commitment to delivery of the Adult autism strategy, published by the previous government and to consult on and publish statutory guidance as set out in the Autism Act 2009.
The statutory guidance intends to provide frontline staff with clear directions on how to implement the policy set out in the strategy.
The aims of this consultation are to:
- Hear the views of service commissioners and providers, service users and family carers and use those views to inform the development of the statutory guidance
- Understand the expectations of adults with autism and their family carers in relation to health and social care services
- Seek views on the issues in the consultation document on the provision of health and social care services for adults with autism
- Gather more information about services which are currently provided for adults with autism and family carers.
The deadline for responses is 22 October 2010.
TSA new regulatory framework for social housing
The Tenant Services Authority TSA has now published its new regulatory framework that social housing providers in England have to meet from 1 April 2010. The six national standards form the core of the framework and these headlines have not changed from the original document offered for consultation in November last year. The national standards are
- Tenant involvement and empowerment
- Home
- Tenancy
- Neighbourhood and community
- Value for money
- Governance and financial viability.
Landlords are required to meet outcomes against each of the standards with specific expectations for each. The TSA has deliberately focused on outcomes and has not prescribed process in an attempt to allow flexibility for providers. Local offers, previously local standards, have been included so that landlords can provide services to meet local priorities; the definition of 'Local' is to be defined by providers with their tenants. As with the draft framework co-regulation between landlords, tenants and the TSA backbone is key to the framework; this has now been listed as the first of ten principles underpinning the TSA approach to regulation.
The deadline for annual reports has moved from 1 July to 1 October, the first being due this year. To view the new TSA standards, visit their website at http://www.tenantservicesauthority.org
CLG Select Committee report on Supporting People
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee has published the report of its recent Inquiry into the Supporting People programme. The report can be found on the Committee's website at www.parliament.uk/clgcom
Sitra has issued a press release in response to the report, and has published a three-page summary of the report. Analysis of the report shows that most of Sitra?s recommendations to the Select Committee were taken on board by the Committee. Together with the NHF we have also produced a joint briefing on the findings of the Select Committee.
Supporting people into work: the next stage of Housing Benefit reform
The Department for Work and Pensions DWP are seeking views to inform their reforms of Housing Benefit. They would like to hear from all who are interested, including tenants, landlords, local authorities, housing associations, and advice workers.
The closing date for responses is 22 February 2010.
An informative briefing on the consultation has been produced by our Welsh counterparts Cymorth Cymru.
Health Committee inquiry into the future of social care
Following the publication of the Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together, the Health Committee decided (on 20 July 2009) to undertake an inquiry into the future of social care services. The inquiry will look at options for:
- Future funding of long-term residential and domiciliary care for older people and people with physical or learning disabilities
- Personalisation of social care services
- More effective, consistent and user-friendly social care services.
Oral evidence sessions relating to this Inquiry began on Thursday 29 October 2009. Further information about this inquiry is available here.
Sitra's response: Revision of the Compact on Relations between the Government and the Third Sector in England
Eleven years after its launch, the national Compact for the Voluntary Sector is in the process of being refreshed by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS).
The consultation period finished on the 12 October 2009 and Sitra welcomed the opportunity to contribute.
While we believe that it is difficult for public bodies and third sector providers to disagree with either its values or the commitments our experience is that local implementation has been problematic - and this is where the main interface between these parties occurs.
Read Sitra's response
The consultation paper and more details of the consultation can be downloaded from www.thecompact.org.uk
Sitra's response to "Safeguarding Adults", the Government consultation on the review of the "No Secrets" guidance
The Department of Health and the Home Office issued joint guidance in 2000 on keeping adults safe, called No secrets. The Government recently consulted on how this guidance could be changed and developed, and in particular, it could take account of three sets of wider Government policy goals. These are the vision of increasing:
- independence, choice and control for users of services
- access to meaningful community empowerment and safer housing in wider society
- access to criminal justice for all.
Safeguarding Adults consultation
Download Sitra's response to the consultation
The Government published its report on responses to the consultation on 17 July 2009.
