Sat, 07/08/2010 - 3:50pm
PDF version
Fri, 14/01/2011 - 8:53am
#2
Service Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing - N. Ireland
The Service Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing is the fourth in a planned series of Service Frameworks to be developed. It sets out 58 standards in respect of the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of individuals / communities who currently have, or are at greater risk of developing, mental illness.
Below is the full document for consultation, as well as a summary of the 58 standards and a consultation response questionnaire.
Public Consultation Document
Consultation Response Questionnaire
An easy access version of the service framework is also being developed
The closing date for responses is 18th March 2011
Please send your response by letter, fax or e-mail to
Service Frameworks Delivery Unit
DHSSPS
Room D1
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast, BT4 3SQ
DHSSPS
Room D1
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast, BT4 3SQ
Thu, 27/01/2011 - 2:20pm
#3
Northern Ireland - Consultations - update
| Physical and Sensory Disability Strategy - A Consultation Document - 2011-2015 | 21 Apr 11 |
| Quality 2020 - A 10-year Quality Strategy for health and social care in Northern Ireland | 15 Apr 11 |
| Consultation on DHSSPS Personal and Public Involvement Consultation Scheme | 13 Apr 11 |
| Service Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing | 18 Mar 11 |
| Invitation to comment on Good Management Good Records | 15 Mar 11 |
| Review of Development Needs for Pharmaceutical Staff in Hospitals | 14 Mar 11 |
| Consultation Paper on the Review of Death Certification in Northern Ireland | 11 Mar 11 |
| Proposed amendment to the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1973 | 23 Feb 11 |
| Consultation Paper on The Draft Budget 2011 – 15: Settlement And Proposals | 16 Feb 11 |
| Promoting Good Nutrition | 14 Feb 11 |
| Consultation on A Fitter Future For All: An Obesity Prevention Framework for Northern Ireland 2011-2021 | 28 Jan 11 |
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/consultations/current_consultations.htm
Community Care
The Bamford Action Plan 2009-2011 announced in October 2009, included a commitment to develop a dementia services strategy. This consultation outlines DHSSPS proposals for the establishment of a Northern Irish Dementia Strategy. Law Centre NI welcomes this development as a positive step in recognising the individual needs of people with dementia and their carers, however, our response highlights the importance of maintaining consistency with the new mental capacity legislation.
The consultation sets out the current proposals for establishing a Commissioner for Older People in NI. While LCNI supports the move to establish a Commissioner our response calls for a wider range of powers to be available to the Commissioner than those proposed by OFMDFM to ensure that older people have a strong independent voice to represent their interests and to directly influence policy and service delivery.
Employment
Immigration
In principle we oppose a ‘cap’ on immigration and outline our specific concerns about how UKBA intends to implement such a cap
While we support the proposal to expand the publication of asylum data, we would urge the Home Office to publish full regional statistics on immigration and asylum matters.
Mental Health
The NILC considers whether law and practice for witnesses in civil proceedings is adequate or whether a more radical departure, such as the one taken in criminal law, is required to offer protection to witnesses. LCNI’s response highlights the importance of offering adequate protections to those civil witnesses with mental health issues.
Social justice / Legal Services
The Law Centre is disappointed with the Government’s proposals for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The exclusion of economic and social rights fails to protect and benefit the people of Northern Ireland and especially those who are most disadvantaged. The Government should not make the enactment of a comprehensive Bill of Rights dependent on the GB-wide rights and responsibilities debate.
Social security
21st Century Welfare is the coalition Government’s blue print for welfare reform.
The June 2010 Emergency Budget announced a number of changes to Housing Benefit, in particular, Local Housing Allowance, with conversion scheduled to begin from April 2011. Both the Work and Pensions Committee and the Social Security Advisory Committee launched inquiries into the impact of these amendments on the Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2010 and associated Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions Order) 2010. LCNI’s response to both Committees highlights our concern that the combined effect of these proposals will lead to sharp rises in rent arrears, evictions and cases of homelessness.
This consultation sets out proposals for the amendment of the work capability assessment (WCA). The Government expects an additional 5% of claimants to be found fit for work under the revised test which places greater emphasis on physical functioning to adaption. Our response emphasizes the need for strong safeguards to be in place for those found capable of work that have a disability or illness.
The consultation outlines the previous Government’s plans for reform of the Social Fund to make the scheme more active, easier for customers to get one-off or occasional support and to provide more support to frequent users of the Fund to tackle the underlying problems they may face. It also details how the scheme should provide better value for money for the tax payer by reducing the number of frequent users.
The proposed Regulations bring into force some of the more concerning parts of the Welfare Reform Act 2009 which impact significantly upon Lone Parents. LCNI’s response outlines our concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposals on lone parent families generally, lone parent families coping with certain health conditions and/or disabilities and the potential impact on child poverty.
In a joint response LCNI’s and Housing Rights Service highlight concerns with DWP proposals to reform Housing Benefit. As part of this reform agenda we believe it will be important for the Department for Social Development to consider the following local strategic issues: The absence of a review into the implementation and impact of LHA locally; The differences between Housing Benefit in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Northern Ireland presents particular circumstances with regards to welfare and arrangements to move people into employment; and the capacity of the employment market.