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Campaign for concessionary travel for all disabled people.
Charities fear city fight over care contracts for vulnerable
Published Edinburgh Evening News Date: 28 June 2008
By ALAN RODEN
SCORES of voluntary groups in Edinburgh that provide vital services to vulnerable residents are fearful of being replaced by the private sector.
Charities have warned councillors that users are facing years of anxiety and worry about what will happen to them as a result.
The city council spends around £120 million each year on social care and housing support services, provided by a mixture of 650 voluntary and private organisations.
But the council plans to advertise more of its contracts on the open market, with EU rules requiring it to show openness and transparency in awarding contracts. Voluntary groups believe they will lose out to private profit-making companies.
The Learning Disability Alliance Scotland today said many vulnerable residents have received care from the same volunteers for years. Play schemes for disabled children, services for elderly people in sheltered housing, care homes for residents with learning difficulties, and outreach programmes for people with mental health problems could be put out to tender.
Council leaders today said they aim to "get the best value for money" for city taxpayers. But Ian Hood from the Learning Disability Alliance said: "We think the drive for competitive tendering for care of the most vulnerable people is wrong.
"There is no consultation with people before the process starts and there is little effort to work out what the effects on vulnerable people will be. Their lives are put out to tender in the same way that local authorities put out contracts to supply light bulbs." (Read our guide to consulting people with learning disabilities.)
The council receives around £40m from the Scottish Government, which mainly goes towards carers, wardens and support services for elderly people in sheltered housing. The contracts to provide this service are likely to be the first put out to tender.
Jimmy McIntosh, chairman of Partners in Advocacy which speaks up for people with learning disabilities, said: "People with learning disabilities rely on voluntary organisations to help them make friends and get out and about in the community. When you start bringing in companies that make a profit, everybody worries that they might lose the little extra things that make a difference."
Sheila Finlayson, 59, from Chapel Court in Niddrie, uses services provided by the Thistle Foundation, which specialises in helping disabled people lead full and active lives.
"They have helped to make my life much better," she said. "I don't want to change. I really don't."
Housing and social care leader Paul Edie said: "As a council we aim to provide the best possible services for the people of Edinburgh. We also aim to get the best value for money so we can maximise the services we offer.
"There is a constant need to balance the interests of our current service users with the scant resources available.
"The council purchases approximately £120m of social care services from external providers per year and a percentage of these will be put out to tender. The council has to award all contracts in an open and transparent manner.
"It is important to note that the tenders are assessed on the basis of 70 per cent quality and 30 per cent price."
Read more about school exlusion of people with learning disabilities
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ACTION ON HARASSMENT
The Scottish Parliament is to consider new laws on hate crimes against gay or disabled people in Scotland. The Green MSP Patrick Harvie announced his new bill at the start of October. It has now passed scrutiny by the Equal Opportunities Commission and has enough support to go on to the next stage in the Parliament.
The bill is about the sentencing of existing criminal offences. It does not introduce any new criminal offences. The bill deals with criminal offences where the offender is motivated by malice and ill-will against the victim, because of the victim's
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actual or presumed disability
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actual or presumed sexual orientation
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actual or presumed transgender identity
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because of the victim's association with disabled or lesbian, gay, bisexual or
If passed it will require that where an existing offence such as assault has been made worse because of prejudice about disability or sexual orientation then this should be taken into account by the judge when sentencing.
Harassment is sometimes
called the “silent nightmare”.
It often starts with very small
incidents and gradually builds
up as the bully gains more
confidence. While bullying
behaviour can happen in front
of others, often they choose to
ignore it or not treat it seriously.
Those suffering from the
harassment feel on their own
and surrounded by silence.
Harassment thrives on secrecy
and fear and remains very
under reported.
Read the Alliance May Newsletter
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BUS PASS PROBLEMS
We have heard that some people with learning disabilities are finding it hard to renew their free bus passes. Many got it straight away when the new all Scotland bus pass scheme started but when it comes to renewing the pass for the first time it can be hard to renew this.
We have looked into this and it seems that it arises from a lack of understanding by the local authorities and bus companies about who is eligible for free travel. Rather than campaign over this we have produced some guidance which should help individuals claim their bus pass.
Here is a leaflet explaining what to do.
This is a copy of one of the forms you might need.
This is the other form you might need to use. You will need to have this one signed by a care services manager.
If you would find it easier to read this printed out rather than online, then print this copy out double sided.
If you still have problems even after this, please let us know and we will investigate some more.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
We have produced a manifesto for the next term of the Scottish Parliament to try and make things better for people with learning disabilities. Our three main suggestions are
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National Minimum Outcomes
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Better Support and Representation
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Better Short Breaks
