Disability advocacy groups are calling on the government to boost funding for adult social care and raise the pay for care workers to improve the hiring and retention of staff. This plea follows the release of the King’s Fund’s Social Care 360 report, which shows a record two million requests for adult social care, with a growing gap between those seeking help and those receiving it.

The report outlines the increasing costs for local authorities in providing care, with notable hikes in weekly fees for adult care and hourly rates for home care services. Despite a slight reduction in vacancy rates, primarily due to the recruitment of overseas workers, proposed restrictions on overseas workers could exacerbate staff shortages.

The King’s Fund emphasises the urgent need for government action to address the sector's challenges, including better funding and support for care providers to hire and train staff. Steve Veevers, CEO of Hft (a learning disability charity), echoed these concerns, highlighting the sector’s high vacancy rates and the financial struggles faced by care providers due to insufficient funding and lack of government action.

Veevers advocates for a long-term funding plan that includes adequate compensation for care workers, reflecting the significance of their work. He urges the government and its successors to prioritise investment in the social care sector to alleviate the burden on providers and ensure individuals requiring care receive the necessary support.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recently presented the 2024 Spring Budget, focusing on stimulating economic growth. However, disability advocates argue it neglects the needs of millions, including disabled individuals and unpaid carers. Despite a £105m boost for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), critics argue the Budget lacks comprehensive support for vulnerable groups.

Key highlights of the Budget aimed at economic enhancement, including a reduction in national insurance contributions from 10% to 8%, maintaining public spending growth at 1% above inflation, and revising child benefit policies to potentially consider household income. It also extends support for families amid the cost-of-living crisis and introduces measures benefiting small businesses and the arts.

Nonetheless, the absence of significant investment in social care has drawn criticism. The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) has expressed disappointment over the lack of attention to social care funding, warning of the adverse effects on disabled and older individuals. The VODG has called for a substantial increase in social care fees to sustain the sector.

Carers UK highlighted the Budget's failure to address the challenges faced by unpaid carers, emphasising the financial strain and lack of support that exacerbates their hardship. The charity advocates for an increase in Carer's Allowance and the introduction of a Work Allowance for carers on Universal Credit, stressing the need for government action to alleviate carer poverty.

A new initiative called ‘Autistic and OK’ has been unveiled by a coalition of charitable foundations, focusing on improving mental health and reducing absenteeism among autistic students in state secondary schools. Studies indicate that out of approximately 70,000 autistic students in these schools, around 20,000 are consistently absent, missing at least 10% of the school year.

This free toolkit, tailored for 11-17-year-olds, has been developed after a successful pilot in 19 schools. By enabling teacher-led and peer-supported sessions, it seeks to prevent autistic students from reaching a crisis point, foster acceptance within school communities, and tackle issues directly affecting autistic students such as anxiety and bullying.

Megan, a 24-year-old autistic youth advisor involved in developing the program, shared her own struggles with anxiety during her secondary education, leading her to avoid school. She believes this program can significantly improve understanding and acceptance of autism within schools.

Jolanta Lasota, the Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, expressed her optimism that this innovative program, developed with and for autistic students, will foster a more inclusive and supportive school environment.

A survey by Oak Tree Mobility reveals that 25% of disabled and elderly UK residents avoid public transport due to poor accessibility. The study highlights several obstacles, including difficulties in boarding trains (60%), accessing stations (44%), and navigating stations (40%). Moreover, over half of the respondents lack confidence in planning journeys due to inadequate accessible information.

Inaccessible transport significantly affects the disabled, leading to social isolation and increased financial strain. Many are compelled to rely on taxis, incurring additional costs. According to Scope’s 2023 report, disabled households require an extra £1,122 monthly to maintain the same standard of living as non-disabled households.

Verity Kick from Oak Tree Mobility emphasises the necessity of prioritising accessibility in public transport planning, advocating for a balance between recognising advancements and addressing existing gaps to ensure inclusivity.

Oak Tree Mobility calls for the implementation of the government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy, which includes raising awareness of passenger rights, training staff in disability awareness, learning disability awareness, enhancing accessible information, and booking systems, and improving infrastructure. These measures aim to promote social inclusion and equality, underscoring the urgent need to make UK public transportation accessible to all.

NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard has unveiled the nationwide implementation of "Martha's Rule" across NHS hospitals in England, a policy designed to empower patients and their families with the ability to request an immediate reassessment of care if a patient's health worsens.


This policy, inspired by the tragic case of 13-year-old Martha Mills who passed away after her care needs were not escalated in time, will be introduced in over 100 NHS facilities, offering a 24/7 mechanism for seeking second opinions. The initiative aims to enhance the responsiveness to acute patient deterioration. Pritchard emphasises that swift clinical reviews could lead to quicker identification and treatment of critical conditions.

Dan Scorer of Mencap has praised the initiative, highlighting its potential to significantly improve care for individuals with learning disabilities, who face a higher risk of preventable mortality.

Martha’s parents, who have advocated for this change, stress the importance of incorporating family insights into patient care, arguing that it can be crucial in noticing changes that busy medical staff may overlook. The implementation of Martha’s Rule is seen as a vital step towards better healthcare outcomes, especially for vulnerable groups, by ensuring their conditions are promptly and effectively addressed.

A new, innovative “Buddies Project”, spearheaded by Bild, the Restraint Reduction Network (RRN), and Reach Out, has been introduced to connect individuals with learning disabilities and autism in mental health hospitals with mentors who have personal experience of inpatient care.

So far, 24 people have been paired with buddies, offering vital support and companionship to those in isolation. Kirsten, a Buddy Coordinator, highlights the project's value in reducing loneliness among patients, whose main interactions are often with hospital staff. The project facilitates connections with buddies who share similar experiences, offering unbiased and non-judgmental support.

The process involves mental health ward staff identifying patients under heavy restrictions for pairing with a buddy. Scheduled online meetings allow patients to discuss anything from personal interests to life in the hospital, empowering them to control the conversation.

The scheme has been praised for creating meaningful friendships and providing participants with hope and a reason to look forward to each day. Currently limited to the West Midlands, there are hopes to expand the project nationally, recognising its potential to reintegrate patients into their communities. Bild's CEO, Ben Higgins, emphasises the project's success and the aspiration to secure future funding to continue its expansion beyond March 2024.

The Palace of Westminster has welcomed six new employees with Down’s syndrome as part of an innovative programme. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle hailed their employment as a significant and overdue step. With less than 5% of people with learning disabilities in paid work, the WorkFit programme by the Down’s Syndrome Association aims to increase this rate, supporting around 1,200 individuals.

The new staff, working in roles like catering and service delivery, are part of a push to provide meaningful employment opportunities. Among them, James Hamilton expressed pride in his first paid job, highlighting the value of earning a wage for his work. Amy, another new hire, enjoys her catering role and the community it brings.

The initiative has been praised for its immediate positive impact in Parliament, with Sir Lindsay Hoyle emphasising the talent and contribution of these individuals. The WorkFit programme boasts a 92% job retention rate, offering a range of employment opportunities without the need for job coaches, thanks to a supportive "buddy" system.

Carol Boys, CEO of the Down’s Syndrome Association, underscored the importance of work in enhancing the lives of people with Down’s syndrome, noting the programme’s success in helping individuals secure and maintain employment.

Jefferson House, a Winsford-based independent school specialising in one-to-one teaching for boys aged 11-18 with complex needs, has achieved an 'outstanding' rating in their latest Ofsted visit. Owned by Your Chapter and part of the Educ8 group, Jefferson House stands out for its commitment to delivering personalised education and support, catering to a small group of students to ensure focused attention and care.

Following a comprehensive three-day inspection in November 2023, Ofsted's recent report highlights the exceptional progress the school has made since its last assessment in February 2019, where it received a 'good' rating. The report praises the school for the outstanding quality of support provided by its specialist staff, who foster trusting and beneficial relationships with the pupils, creating a positive and happy school atmosphere.

The Ofsted report praised Jefferson House for fostering high aspirations and understanding students' special educational needs (SEND), with a personalised curriculum leading to significant achievements. It also highlighted the school's success in teaching students’ responsibility for their behaviour, with many reporting major improvements since their enrolment.

In summary, Jefferson House's 'outstanding' rating from Ofsted reflects its excellence in providing a supportive, tailored educational experience for boys with complex needs, setting a strong foundation for their future successes.

Construction is underway at Prior’s Court for a unique arts centre, the Let Me Shine Performing Arts Centre, designed specifically for autistic young people with complex needs. This innovative facility, located in Berkshire, is transforming an existing building, and is expected to open in the 2024/25 school year.

The centre will offer adapted facilities for music, dance, and drama, addressing the challenges autistic individuals face in accessing the arts, such as sensitivities to sensory stimuli and social interactions. It aims to simulate real theatre environments to prepare students for community arts venues and provide a space for creative expression.

Sue Piper, Director of Learning at Prior’s Court, shared her excitement about the project’s progress. She emphasised its uniqueness in catering to the needs of autistic individuals with complex needs. Piper highlighted the importance of the arts in communication for those who are pre-verbal and advocated for inclusive access to the arts for all. Piper thanked the various supporters who have contributed to the project’s development.

Prior’s Court also plans to use the centre as a base for researching best practices in supporting access to the arts for autistic individuals and sharing these insights with the education and performing arts sectors nationwide and internationally.

A new report from Ofsted reveals that over 90% of local authorities in England struggle to find suitable homes for children with complex needs, often leading to prolonged waits for a stable placement. Children often end up in homes where they are the sole resident with multiple staff members, risking isolation and potential mistreatment.

Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, highlights the difficulties in finding homes tailored to these children's specific needs, exacerbated by staffing challenges and a lack of secure, therapeutic homes. Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director for Social Care, acknowledges some good practices but stresses the need for better alignment of children's homes with the needs and locations of these children.

The report criticises the broad categorisation of 'complex needs', advocating for a more individualised approach to better serve each child's unique requirements. Effective practices include well-planned transitions, consistent relationships, appropriate education and fostering a sense of belonging.

Derived from a national survey and case studies, the report underscores the need for strategic oversight in the children’s residential sector and calls for collaboration between local authorities and children's homes. This approach aims to improve the planning and provision of care, ensuring homes are opened in suitable locations to meet the diverse needs of children.