Frontline practitioners are invited to attend a 'lunch & learn' session on Thursday 7th September 11:00-12:15 via MS Teams where you will find out more about the learning this SAR identified and how you can apply the learning to your practice. Whilst the session is open to all practitioners, we would also encourage those who worked with Jessica to attend to hear the learning from the review.

Timing for the session is 11am - 12:15pm.  To book your place on the session please email csab@cumberland.gov.uk with your name, job title and organisation following which you will receive an invitation and link to join the session. 

Read the SAR report here and SAR Learning Briefing here 

In June 2023 CSAB hosted an MCA week of action.  Each day during the week we focussed on a different Principle from the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 

We delivered 'lunch and learn' sessions and published daily briefings signposting to further information and useful resources all intended to support practitioners in practice.

You can read the briefings on our website and also access recordings of the 'lunch and learn' sessions which are short sessions (less than 30 minutes) and could be useful to watch for continuing professional development or to prompt discussion in team meetings.

To access the briefings and recordings please follow this link.

As a parent or carer, supporting a young person who lacks capacity to make financial decisions may be challenging. In particular, as the young person enters adulthood there are decisions for parents if it is appropriate to continue to make financial decisions on a young person's behalf. 

Gov UK have published a toolkit and guide for parentsor carers to make financial decisions on behalf of young people from ages 14 to 25 who may lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. It aims to explain the principles of decision making and the processes in place to make financial decisions on a young person’s behalf. These processes exist to protect young people and their money, as well as to help you empower them to make their own decisions about their finances, where possible.

You can access the toolkit here.

In this short podcast Dr Dominic Slowie speaks to David Blacklock, Chief Executive of People First Independent Advocacy. David describes the work of People First and how they support individuals to live better lives, how the expertise of Advocates can be used, and gives an insight into his own personal journey and family life.  You can listen to the podcast here

The Government are seeking your views on Learning Disability and Autism training.  This consultation considers the extent to which the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice on statutory learning disability and autism training provides the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Registered Providers with the necessary guidance to meet the legislative requirements.  The effect of new requirements means CQC registered providers must ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role.  You can access the consultation, further information and share your views through a link to the survey

A major new NHS campaign is underway to raise awareness of the symptoms of constipation among people with a learning disability.

The campaign aims to educate people with learning disabilities, healthcare professionals, and paid and unpaid carers about the signs of severe constipation, which can be life threatening if it is not treated.

The campaign has been co-developed with people with learning disabilities and is launched alongside a new animation, posters for use in different care settings and toolkits for people with learning disabilities, carers and healthcare professionals.

It is hoped these new resources will prompt conversations about constipation, thereby ensuring people with learning disabilities receive treatment at the earliest opportunity.

For more information and to access resources please follow this link.

Common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, disorientation, confusion, difficulty communicating, behavioural changes, low mood (feeling depressed) and overall cognitive impairment, all of which can put a person at risk of abuse or neglect.

Concerns about neglect and self-neglect are common because dementia can hinder a person’s ability to speak out or remember events, or make them confused about what is happening around them. Vulnerability to financial and other forms of abuse, such as theft, scams and exploitation, may arise if they stop understanding bills or finances and entrust them to someone who does not act in their best interests.

Community Care Inform have published an article which presents a few key pieces of advice on safeguarding adults living with dementia.   It covers the challenges and dilemmas that arise in the practical implementation of safeguarding and risk assessment in dementia care, and gives advice on the steps to take when a safeguarding enquiry has been triggered.

Please follow this link to read the article.

Cuckooing is a form of action, termed by the police, in which the home of a vulnerable person is taken over by a criminal in order to use it to deal, store or take drugs, facilitate sex work, as a place for them to live, or to financially abuse the tenant. The practice is also associated with County Lines Drug Trafficking.

For further information about Cockooing and how to recogise the signs please follow this link.