The festive season, while joyful for many, can be a challenging time for those grappling with mental health difficulties, NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has reminded residents. Dr Emma Tiffin, a local GP and mental health clinical lead, has urged anyone feeling overwhelmed by financial pressures, loneliness, or difficult memories to reach out for support. She emphasised the importance of acknowledging these struggles and reminded the community that help is always available.

A wide range of mental health resources are accessible, including online advice, helplines via phone or text, bereavement services, and crisis support. Local initiatives aim to provide tailored assistance for individuals across all age groups, including children, young people, and the elderly. Self-help tools and detailed information about these services can be found on the Keep Your Head website, which offers guidance for both residents and professionals in the area.

Dr Tiffin also highlighted the value of community support during this period. She encouraged residents to check on friends, neighbours, and loved ones, particularly those living alone or struggling with loneliness. A small gesture, such as a phone call or visit, can significantly improve someone’s wellbeing during Christmas.

Further resources and details on mental health support, including NHS 111’s crisis line, are listed on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System website, ensuring everyone can access the help they need this holiday season.

A new report reveals funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England has risen by £4 billion over the past five years, with nearly 5% of school pupils now holding an education, health, and care plan (EHCP). However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warns the 60% increase in funding over the past decade has not kept pace with the growing number and complexity of needs, leaving local authorities with a staggering £3.3 billion deficit this year.

The number of pupils with EHCPs has surged by 71% since 2018, adding 180,000 children to the system. While funding has grown, it consistently falls short of high-needs spending, leaving gaps of £200–800 million annually between 2018 and 2022. Increased reliance on costly private placements, averaging £61,500 per pupil per year compared to £23,900 in state schools, has further strained budgets, with local councils turning to private settings due to a lack of capacity in public schools.

Local authorities have been shielded from bankruptcy by temporary measures, but with these protections ending in March 2026, deficits could exceed £8 billion by 2027. The government’s recent £1 billion funding boost is unlikely to bridge the gap, prompting calls for significant reform, including expanding SEND provision in mainstream schools and addressing delays in EHCP assessments.

Darcey Snape, an IFS economist, emphasised the need for a clear long-term strategy to create a sustainable SEND system. While reforms could incur substantial short-term costs, the current approach is financially untenable, making immediate action essential to address rising needs and prevent a postcode lottery in support for vulnerable pupils.

Nearly a third (29%) of neurodivergent employees have experienced workplace discrimination, according to new findings from Autistica’s inaugural Neurodiversity Employers Index (NDEI) Market Insights Report. The research, which surveyed 118 UK companies across 10 sectors and over 6,500 employees - 2,241 of whom are neurodivergent - highlights the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in employment and the need for more inclusive workplaces.

The report revealed that only 30% of organisations have clear neuroinclusion strategies, despite one in seven people in the UK being neurodivergent. Conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and OCD bring valuable skills and perspectives to workplaces, yet many neurodivergent employees face barriers like inadequate support and limited accommodations. This often leaves them underemployed or struggling to thrive in roles where simple adjustments could make a significant difference.

Autistica’s research highlights a strong appetite among employees for neurodiversity training to better support neurodivergent colleagues. The findings emphasise the need for organisations to offer training, work with neurodiversity experts, and implement readiness schemes to create more inclusive environments. Proactively adopting these practices can unlock a wider talent pool, improve morale, and enhance organisational reputation.

Dr James Cusack, Chief Executive of Autistica, noted the progress made by some companies in fostering neuroinclusive cultures but stressed the need for continued efforts. With growing interest in the next NDEI report in 2025, Dr Cusack expressed optimism that more organisations will adopt tools and strategies to support neurodiverse employees and build truly inclusive workplaces.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has joined forces with Agilisys, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) provider, to explore innovative ways digital technology can be safely integrated into social care. This collaboration aims to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and free up social care workers to focus on delivering personalised care by minimising administrative workloads.

Generative AI, which leverages neural networks to analyse data and produce new content, has the potential to revolutionise the sector. By adopting these advancements, care providers can address the growing challenges of inflation, workforce costs, rising demand, and constrained local authority budgets. The initiative seeks to help the social care sector navigate these pressures while maintaining high-quality services.

Kathryn Smith, SCIE’s Chief Executive, emphasised the importance of innovation in overcoming the sector's challenges. She highlighted SCIE’s commitment to working alongside service users to shape effective solutions and strengthen approaches in children’s and family social care. The collaboration with Agilisys aligns with the organisation’s broader mission of driving reform and supporting local projects funded by the Department of Health and Social Care’s Accelerating Reform Fund.

Agilisys CEO Andrew Mindenhall expressed pride in the partnership, combining technological expertise with SCIE’s deep sector knowledge. The joint effort aims to explore ethical considerations and harness AI to deliver better outcomes, improve efficiency, and support the people at the centre of social care services.

Fostering open communication between young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the staff they interact with regularly could be key in identifying and preventing exploitation and modern slavery, a new study suggests. Research led by Manchester Metropolitan University, in collaboration with the National Working Group, highlights the heightened risk of exploitation faced by children with SEND and calls for improved early intervention strategies.

The study, Opening Conversations: Improving the Early Identification of SEND Youth at Risk of Modern Slavery in England, included literature reviews, consultations with professionals across sectors, and workshops with SEND young people aged 16-25. Professionals shared insights on recognising risks and initiating conversations, while young participants emphasised the importance of trust and understanding in building connections with staff. The findings underscore the need to move beyond a ‘tick-box’ approach and focus on early prevention rather than reactive measures.

The research identifies barriers such as limited time, inadequate training, and lack of specialised support, and recommends creating environments that promote trust and open communication. Suggestions include training staff to notice subtle behavioural changes, proactive engagement with children, and implementing individualised wellbeing plans. The study also highlights the importance of reducing exclusionary practices and ensuring schools adopt inclusive policies.

Young participants stressed that trusted adults should demonstrate genuine care, respect, and understanding of their individual needs, urging professionals to “know the whole person.” The report calls on government, school leaders, and frontline staff to work collaboratively, with a focus on building “cultures of conversation” to safeguard vulnerable children effectively.

The government has announced a £22.6 million funding boost to enhance the lives of unpaid carers across the UK. The initiative, which will roll out next week under the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF), aims to better recognise unpaid carers and provide improved support in areas such as hospital services. Among the planned changes are digital carers’ assessments for easier access and schemes offering carers much-needed breaks and greater flexibility.

This allocation is part of the ARF’s broader goal to drive innovation in adult social care. Over the two years from 2023 to 2025, the ARF has allocated £42.6 million in grant funding, with £20 million distributed in the first year. Concerns had been raised over delays in releasing the funds, initially promised in August, with some fearing they might be withheld due to government changes. The delay caused uncertainty for local projects that had already invested in resources and staff in anticipation of the funding.

Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock praised unpaid carers as “the backbone of our care system,” highlighting their critical role in supporting vulnerable individuals. He explained that this funding will empower local authorities to integrate technology and create flexible care solutions. Examples include remote monitoring systems for overnight care in Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire, reducing pressure on carers while boosting independence for those in need. Elsewhere, Worcestershire has introduced video technology for post-hospital care, while London has launched campaigns to encourage carers to access support services.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), a key partner in delivering the programme, welcomed the funding, noting that nearly 70% of participating projects focus on carers’ needs. Initiatives range from Lincolnshire’s arts and respite workshops to Medway and Kent’s digital self-assessment tools. 

The national charity Cerebra has released a detailed guide to self-injury in children with learning disabilities, aiming to support parents and carers in understanding and addressing these behaviours. Self-injury involves actions initiated by the child that may cause physical harm, such as head banging, biting, or scratching. This guide focuses on children with moderate to profound learning disabilities, autism, or genetic syndromes, as these groups are more prone to self-injury and related repetitive or impulsive behaviours.

The guide, authored by experts including Cerebra Network Director Professor Caroline Richards, provides an evidence-based approach to assessing and reducing self-injurious behaviour (SIB). Richards highlighted the prevalence of SIB in children with intellectual disabilities and the challenges it poses for families and clinicians. The guide is divided into five sections, covering what self-injury is, why it occurs, and steps parents can take to address it, with practical tips and real-life examples.

A key tool in the guide is the PEACE framework (Peace, Environment, Anxiety, Control, Exhaustion), which helps parents identify the potential causes of self-injury before implementing interventions. Suggestions include replacing self-injury with positive behaviours, reinforcing alternative actions, and reducing stress triggers. The guide also stresses the importance of recording the frequency of self-injury to monitor progress and ensure the child’s safety.

Parents and carers are encouraged to seek professional help if self-injurious behaviour persists despite interventions. Resources like the Cerebra Be Well Checklist and ABC charts can assist families in documenting patterns and presenting evidence to healthcare providers. The guide reinforces the critical role of parents as experts in their child’s behaviour, offering structured strategies to improve well-being and reduce harm.

Disabled people face significant barriers to accessing quality employment, contributing to rising numbers of work-related disability benefit claimants, according to a new report by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. The report, Unlocking Benefits: Tackling Barriers for Disabled People, calls for urgent reforms to enable disabled individuals to secure work and achieve financial stability, while also addressing economic growth objectives.

The report highlights that government policies must go beyond managing caseloads and benefit expenditure, instead tackling root causes such as health issues and structural barriers. Disabled individuals receiving health-related Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) often endure severe hardship. Recent research reveals that a quarter of health-related UC claimants relied on food banks last year, while a third could not afford to heat their homes. Comparatively, these figures are significantly lower among the general working-age population.

Key recommendations include improving benefit adequacy and better supporting disabled people into suitable employment. This entails addressing worsening population health, enhancing the adaptability of jobs, and shifting employer attitudes towards disability. The report stresses that fears around losing benefits, confusion over rules, and mistrust of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) remain major barriers to work for many disabled people.

To foster change, the report urges reforms such as scrapping punitive benefit sanctions, increasing UC work allowances, introducing an Essentials Guarantee, and separating employment support from benefit administration. By taking a fresh approach, the government can promote trust, address inequality, and support disabled people into fulfilling employment.

New data reveals that over 200,000 people in England are currently waiting for an autism assessment, marking a 25% rise in the last year and a staggering 96% increase over two years. Of these, 89.4%—around 183,200 individuals—have been waiting longer than the 13-week target set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). At the current rate, the waiting list could grow to over 256,000 by this time next year, with the median waiting time already standing at 301 days.

The National Autistic Society warns that lengthy delays in accessing assessments are leaving many individuals without the crucial support they need. An autism diagnosis often serves as a gateway to appropriate help and services, yet prolonged waits are causing undue stress and anxiety, and in some cases, pushing individuals towards a mental health crisis. The organisation stresses that support should not depend solely on a formal diagnosis, but the reality is often very different.

This growing backlog highlights a system under strain. Tim Nicholls, from the National Autistic Society, described the situation as a wake-up call, urging the government to act urgently. He pointed out that a small portion of the recently allocated £22.6bn NHS budget could resolve this crisis, easing pressure on families and services alike.

Without significant investment, waiting lists are set to grow further, leaving autistic people and their families without essential support. Campaigners are calling for immediate funding to address these delays and improve the future for those affected.

A long-term study to monitor and analyse the health of individuals with Down syndrome from birth to adulthood has been launched by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Down Syndrome Cohort Development Program (DS-CDP), part of the NIH’s INCLUDE Project, aims to recruit thousands of participants, including those from historically underrepresented groups in Down syndrome research.

The study will collect biological samples, health data, and other information from participants, ensuring anonymity while making the data accessible to researchers. Recruitment is set to begin in late 2025, with plans to expand to new sites over the next five to ten years. The programme’s goal is to provide a comprehensive resource for understanding the health challenges faced by individuals with Down syndrome and to drive advancements in treatment and care.

Given that individuals with Down syndrome are at greater risk of developing conditions also prevalent in the wider population, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the study is expected to benefit not only those with Down syndrome but also broader medical research. The initiative represents a significant opportunity to improve quality of life and outcomes for affected individuals and their families.

Described as the largest investment in the seven-year history of the INCLUDE Project, this programme underscores the importance of collaboration between NIH institutes, academic centres, medical institutions, and community partners. It also seeks to enhance participation and diversity in clinical research to ensure more inclusive and impactful findings.