SOCIAL SERVICES SAYS Ł16 A WEEK IS ENOUGH

SECRET REPORT
The Government claims Derby City Council's social services department is still serving residents well, despite major recruitment problems. However, the Evening Telegraph revealed that overspending and severe staff shortages had thrown Derby's social services into a near-crisis situation. The information was contained within a secret report, carried out by independent consultants which was given to the city council and has not been made public.

The revelation led Councillor Evonne Berry, city council cabinet member for social care and health, to admit parts of the service faced "disaster" if immediate steps were not taken. Yet Government official star-ratings for social services departments for 2004 do not reflect this. Government inspectors have given Derby a two-star rating, one short of the maximum possible total of three stars.

A Department for Health spokesman said the grades gave a "rounded picture of each council's performance in carrying out their social services functions". Derby City Council's performance shows few indications of the problems exposed by the Evening Telegraph. The new report says Derby is serving "most" adults well, an improvement from 2003 when it was adjudged to have served only "some" of them adequately.

You can accept that Derby's social services department is serving the city well, with no cause for concern, as the Government says. Or you can be suspicious of that assessment and prefer the verdict of a report by independent consultants, commissioned by the city council. You are left wondering how reliable is the Government's star-ratings system when two such conflicting pictures can emerge within 48 hours.

The truth is, of course, that no such contrast would have emerged had the authority had its way and the consultants' report remained for the eyes of councillors and senior officers only. Fortunately we got our hands on a copy, thus dispersing any air of complacency or self-congratulation which might have been engendered by the Whitehall rosy hue.

The consultants had free rein, access to all areas of the social services, and their assessment had to be more comprehensive than the Government's performance indicators. Local authority departments are like icebergs. You can see about one-tenth of them, but it is the nine-tenths beneath the surface that should be of concern. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)

SOCIAL SERVICES SAYS Ł16 A WEEK IS ENOUGH

Mr Paul Simpson is a disabled gentleman living in Derby. He has two children and a wife, Jan. They have suffered at the hands of Social Services as Mr Simpson's disability means that those in high places feel they have the right to ruin whatever life they have. This gentleman has lived life as best as he can, although the last few months have seen a deterioration in his motivation. He has been understandably distressed by his life being turned upside down by the demands of the Social Services. He has written to the Director of Social Services about this case, as many people suffer silently in the same way.
Ms Margaret McGlade Director of Social Services Middleton House 27 St Mary's Gate Derby DE1 3NU		Paul Simpson RM12 Amber Lodge Nursing Home 686 Osmaston Road Derby DE24 GT 28th September 2002
Dear Ms McGlade, RE: Mr Paul Simpson. Amber Lodge 686 Osmaston Road, Derby I am writing to you regarding my immediate concerns regarding the welfare of Mr Paul Simpson. Mr Simpson is a disabled paraplegic gentleman who has been confined for seventeen years to his bed following a spinal injury. He is unable to care for himself and requires twenty-four hour attendance. Despite his disability, Mr Simpson is mentally very independent and has not allowed his disability to hinder his hobbies which are computers, music, website design etc. I have known Mr Simpson for over two years now and he is a very good friend of mine. As a doctor (psychiatrist) I have been utterly shocked and horrified by the draconian financial burdens your department have placed on this gentleman. I have noted a severe deterioration in his mental state solely because of the continuous pressure that Ms Sylvia Lancaster has placed on him. Mr Paul Simpson became a resident at Amber Lodge last year (approx September 2001). The reasons of considering a residential home was because his wife was unable to cope with twenty-four hour care. In addition at no time was Mr Simpson told that he would have to pay anything towards the Residential Home. There were no formal written contracts and there certainly were not verbal agreements made about payments from his benefits towards the accommodation. Ms Lancaster in addition has not provided any agreements or signed documents stating that Mr Simpson was liable to pay. Your department insist that "papers" were signed while Mr Simpson was at Derby City Hospital. These papers have since not been provided. In any event, these costs were never mentioned to Mr Simpson. Nearly six months after living at Amber Lodge, your departments finally brought up the subject of payment. Mr Simpson received an invoice from the Dept Social Services 27, St Mary's Gate Derby for over Ł2000 and others for exactly Ł498.20 every 4 weeks. Due to the severe financial constraints, Mr Simpson was unable to pay for this. Mr Simpson is currently on Income Support Ł53.95 Disability Living Allowance Ł23.00 Resident Allowance Ł64.40 Total Ł141.35 weekly He has been told that he must pay the weekly amount of Ł124.50 He currently owes approximately Ł10,000 back pay which is outstanding YOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE THEREFORE ENSURED THAT HE IS ONLY ALLOWED TO LIVE ON Ł16.77 A WEEK. As the social services, you have a duty of care to ensure his human rights are not breached in this way. You have a civil responsibility to ensure that persons in your care are not abused and victimised in this way. In addition, should Mr Simpson take his own life, I personally will hold your organisation directly responsible for his mental distress and suffering. In addition I note the following features Mr Simpson has not been allocated a Social Worker. On contacting Ms Lancaster today, I noted that amazingly despite stating that he had a social worker, she was unable to name him/ her. Of course, I do find these minor evasive features rather amusing to say the least. There has been no Assessment of his finances and his requirements in order to lead an independent life. Currently, due to the severe tensions your organisation has placed him under, his wife is having to sell his own home to pay monies which should not be expected simply because Mr Simpson is disabled. I will request the following and since I am utterly disgusted at your organisation's conduct, I have decided to place this letter on a website. In addition I have copied it to the relevant parties interested. The Disability Times and the local, national and International media will have a copy of this letter. Should you wish to take legal action against myself, you are free to do so. A public court can then be party to the way your authority manipulates the truth, victimises and abuses disabled people and finally bullies them for their own financial incentives. To limit the embarrassment caused by the obvious (and evidential) incompetence of your authority, I propose that you ensure that this case is dealt with immediately. Mr Simpson should have all his benefits to do with what he pleases. All debts owed should be waived or alternative charities contacted by yourselves to pay for it. A full apology to Mr Simpson immediately. A full copy of his social services records should be provided to Mr Simpson under the Data Protection Act 1998 immediately in order for us to consider any future litigation that may well result from this utter incompetence. Should this abuse of power continue for the foreseeable future, I would personally hold you responsible for any harm that may come to Mr Simpson as a result. I hope I have made myself clear on this matter. Please reply in writing to Mr Simpson and myself at his address. This is to maintain his confidentiality. We will both be interested in your reply. Kind Regards Mr Paul Simpson Cc Disability Times Cc British Council of Disabled People Cc Derby MP Ms Margaret Beckett Cc Ms Sylvia Lancaster Cc Margaret Moran Cc Ann Hinks Cc Sunday Times, The Independent Cc The Mirror Cc The Derby Evening Telegraph Cc Local Derby TV stations Cc Carlton TV Nottingham Cc BBC Television Cc Emailed to all MPs in parliament
Reply received
Paul Simpson Room 12 Amber Lodge Nursing Home 686 Osmaston Road Derby		Your Reference Our Reference MC/AJS Date 3 October 2002 Contact Mick Connell Telephone Fax 01332 716702 01332 716750
Dear Mr Simpson Thank you for your letter of 28 September 2002. I am sorry to hear about your current difficulties. I have referred the matter to the Acting Head of Operations and Planning, who will make arrangements to look into the issues you raise and notify you of the outcome. Yours sincerely Margaret McGlade Director of Social Services