Independent Persons – Independent Person Co UK

Magistrates must be recruited from more diverse backgrounds to better reflect communities, campaigners warn

While data relating to age, gender and ethnic diversity of magistrates is collected, information on social backgrounds is not available — Read on inews.co.uk/news/uk/magistrates-bame-diverse-backgrounds-reflect-society-661990

Diva exposed via WhatsApp as, a self-proclaimed Diva- what does the Employment tribunal think?

If you disclose your personal life to colleagues, join in the banter and embellish your operatic status by calling your a diva (yes, I know what a diva is) – then you might want to think before taking your employer to the Employment Tribunal – all is laid bare! Read the attached judgment if youContinue reading “Diva exposed via WhatsApp as, a self-proclaimed Diva- what does the Employment tribunal think?”

The ‘gay cure’ experiments that were written out of scientific history | Mosaic

Robert Heath claimed to have cured homosexuality by implanting electrodes into the pleasure centre of the brain. Robert Colvile reports on one of the great forgotten stories of neuroscience. — Read on mosaicscience.com/story/gay-cure-experiments/

Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited (a privately owned limited Company is closed by Ofstead.

Following a monitoring visit this privately owned care home was found not be safe. That said, both leaders and managers took urgent action to address the concerns and this means the home is to close temporarily – whilst improvements are made. At the time of the monitoring visit, two children were living in the homeContinue reading “Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited (a privately owned limited Company is closed by Ofstead.”

Become a magistrate – GOV.UK

Magistrates are volunteers who hear cases in courts in their community. They can hear cases in the criminal court, the family court, or both. Each case is usually heard by 3 magistrates, including a magistrate who is trained to act as a chairperson. A legal adviser in the court gives advice on the law andContinue reading “Become a magistrate – GOV.UK”

Government responds to Cairncross – and it has something to say on court reporting | The Transparency Project

http://www.transparencyproject.org.uk/government-responds-to-cairncross-and-it-has-something-to-say-on-court-reporting/

Kingston-upon-thames

My first visit to Kingston upon Thames, interviewing staff. Looks like a very attractive place to work, albeit a drab grey day.

An interesting video, arguing that Aristotle was wrong; there are far more than five senses. Does that challenge our thinking on what is acceptable evidence?

Scientists have long known that there’s much more to our experience than the five senses (or ‘outward wits’) described by Aristotle – hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste. Yet the myth of five senses persists, perhaps because a clearer understanding of our sensory experience at the neurological level has only recently started to take shape.Continue reading “An interesting video, arguing that Aristotle was wrong; there are far more than five senses. Does that challenge our thinking on what is acceptable evidence?”

A new Government consultation aims to gather views on various aspects of their plans for regulation and tackling online harms, including: the online services in scope of the regulatory framework; options for appointing an independent regulatory body to implement, oversee and enforce the new regulatory framework; the enforcement powers of an independent regulatory body; potential redress mechanisms for online users; and measures to ensure regulation is targeted and proportionate for industry.

The Online Harms White Paper sets out the government’s plans for a world-leading package of measures to keep UK users safe online. — Read on http://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/online-harms-white-paper

Shortage of lay magistrates – become a magistrate – GOV.UK

The House of Commons Justice Committee has blamed government failure for the dramatic fall in magistrate numbers in England and Wales. The committee says the recent shortfall is “as frustrating as it was foreseeable” and that it has taken a “near crisis” to prompt the government into acting. In 2016, the committee warned the governmentContinue reading “Shortage of lay magistrates – become a magistrate – GOV.UK”

Jessica Easton supporting children and families without traumatic imagery Practitioner resource and guide that is free and accessible collection of ideas and advice for practitioners working in child sexual exploitation (CSE) and abuse.

Official home of VictimFocus and Jessica Eaton. Dedicated to fighting victim blaming of adults and children who have been affected by sexual violence, abuse and trauma. Delivering consultancy, training, psychology of abuse, resources and e-learning for professionals and public all over the world. — Read on victimfocus.org.uk/resources-for-professionals

Hikikomori – a term seldom used and uncommon to most people but for some, psychologists are beginning to take more cognisance. “People Who Withdraw From Society For Months Or Years On End”

New Insights Into Hikikomori – People Who Withdraw From Society For Months Or Years On End – Research Digest — Read on digest.bps.org.uk/2019/05/22/new-insights-into-hikikomori-people-who-withdraw-from-society-for-months-or-years-on-end/amp/

Hopefully something you will not experience but for those who have: Women with learning disabilities living on locked wards– Centre for Disability Research (CeDR)

Accessible Summary: Women with learning disabilities living on locked wards – Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) — Read on wp.lancs.ac.uk/cedr/2018/05/16/women-with-learning-disabilities-living-on-locked-wards/

Complaining works: The Council considered Mr B deliberately and intentionally deprived himself of assets to avoid paying care charges to local authority. On investigation of a formal complaint by Mrs B, the local authority accepted their response to Mrs B’s complaint contradicts there initial assessment and agreed to write off the outstanding debt.

The Care and Support Guidance 2014 explains how councils should assess a person’s financial contribution. It says: People with care and support needs are free to spend their income and assets as they see fit, including making gifts to family and friends. This is important for promoting their well-being and enabling them to live fulfillingContinue reading “Complaining works: The Council considered Mr B deliberately and intentionally deprived himself of assets to avoid paying care charges to local authority. On investigation of a formal complaint by Mrs B, the local authority accepted their response to Mrs B’s complaint contradicts there initial assessment and agreed to write off the outstanding debt.”

Very useful case that highlights the need to establish what litigation is planned – once you start it is too late. Similarly with statutory complaints into social services

DEFENDANT CAN ONLY RESPOND TO THE CASE AS PLEADED: COURT REJECTS CLAIMANTS’ ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE NEW ISSUES DEFENDANT CAN ONLY RESPOND TO THE CASE AS PLEADED: COURT REJECTS CLAIMANTS’ ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE NEW ISSUES — Read on http://www.civillitigationbrief.com/2019/05/14/defendant-can-only-respond-to-the-case-as-pleaded-court-rejects-claimants-attempts-to-introduce-new-issues/

In modern Britain “vulnerable children being locked up in B&Bs and caravans” this is cruel and inhumane

Vulnerable children are being locked up in B&Bs and caravans as swingeing funding cuts mean local councils are unable to place them in formal care settings, critics have warned. Hundreds of those affected – some as young as 10 – who are at risk of exploitation are becoming “completely invisible”, as they are incarcerated in unregulatedContinue reading “In modern Britain “vulnerable children being locked up in B&Bs and caravans” this is cruel and inhumane”

Free resources to help provide information about the learning disability, autism and social care sectors. They cover a range of topics including transition services, personalisation and understanding the sector.

— Read on http://www.dimensions-uk.org/families/information-advice/

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said inspectors would be reviewing services run by the NHS contractor Cygnet Health Care across the country – and appealed for anyone with concerns to come forward

An investigation has begun into a major care provider after police were called in over alleged psychological and physical abuse of patients with learning disabilities at one of its homes. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said inspectors would be reviewing these and similar services run by the NHS contractor Cygnet Health Care across the country – andContinue reading “The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said inspectors would be reviewing services run by the NHS contractor Cygnet Health Care across the country – and appealed for anyone with concerns to come forward”

This Saturday immigration lawyers will be volunteering to give advice to #LGTBQI+ people who want their partners to join them in the UK.

Changes to the UK Immigration Rules relating to partnerships — Read on uklgig.org.uk/

The child exploitation disruption toolkit is aimed at frontline staff, including law enforcement, social care, education & others, who work to safeguard children and young people under the age of 18 from #CSE & criminal exploitation.

Disruption tactics for those working to safeguard children and young people under the age of 18 from sexual and criminal exploitation. — Read on http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-exploitation-disruption-toolkit

Teaching philosophy to prison inmates inspired some profound, and challenging, topics of conversation. Hope (here) is one such

Battles against hope: philosophy in prison — Read on unbound.com/boundless/2018/12/03/battles-against-hope-philosophy-in-prison/

“Crumbling Britain: How it feels to give birth behind bars The plight of pregnant women in our overstretched prison system.”

The plight of pregnant women in our overstretched prison system. — Read on http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/05/crumbling-britain-how-it-feels-give-birth-behind-bars

1.7 million fines over dental treatment or prescription charges in England since 2014 that were overturned a NAO investigation says. These were people wrongly accused of fraudulently claiming free treatment. An NHS spokeswoman accepted there could be “confusion” over eligibility rules.

NHS fines for 1.7 million people overturned, watchdog finds – BBC News — Read on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/education-48252897

Of course Councils should told house family abuse victims but they must be properly funded or we end up with landlords recreating Victorian slums or converting a shed into an HMO. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/156e2980-7504-11e9-9a94-9c1516913bdb

How lonely must a mental health patient feel? What of the impact on families & friends? 3,000 patients being placed over 100km from home for treatment simply beggars belief – a 35% increase since last year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-48123113

Truly heartbreaking poems written by children with parents in prison.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/heartbreaking-poems-reveal-pain-of-children-with-parents-in-prison-a4127456.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true

RSA response to the Timpson Review of School Exclusion – RSA

Having explored this important and growing problem, RSA welcomes many of the recommendations to try and better support children who are excluded from school and children from groups who are more likely to be excluded: children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children with speech, language and communication difficulties children from disadvantaged backgrounds childrenContinue reading “RSA response to the Timpson Review of School Exclusion – RSA”

Dr Hannah Stringer, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Mental Health Practitioner at Project Future about their work supporting young men in London.

Project Future is a community-based holistic wellbeing and mental health service jointly funded by Big Lottery, Comic Relief, NHS England, Haringey Council and other private funders. It was set up to work with young men aged 16-25 with experiences of the criminal justice system, specifically those exposed to serious youth violence or labelled “gang-affiliated”. ItContinue reading “Dr Hannah Stringer, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Mental Health Practitioner at Project Future about their work supporting young men in London.”