Social Care inspections do not include specific reference to relationships & sex, making it possible to receive an ‘outstanding’ rating, whilst ignoring an essential part of people’s lives. CQC said they cannot add mandatory questions for inspectors without amending the Health & Social Care Act.

The questions submitted to CQC have been added as supplementary but not mandatory, meaning inspectors can currently choose not to ask them. The questions covered sexuality & relationships polices, sexual health, sexual rights and training for staff and people who use services. Read more about them https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/blog/easy-complacency-or-hard-commitment

Social care staff are faced with difficult situations and are often untrained in this area, as it is not seen as a priority.

You can support this issue by adding you name to this petition.

Supported Loving have also shared some helpful relationship videos and resources:

Videos- Two clips from the U-Night Group to share with the network (must be opened in Chrome)

1.This is a video about the importance of relationships, featuring self advocates from across Lancashire https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dQFDi4uiccIpJHYsaTIWoQGSeAgKTCf7

2.This is a clip about the launch of our training pack ‘Listen Up-about staying safe in relationships’ https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BobPMZHjlPhYCge_5dg4r8GMwM63XVqZ

If anyone wants more details they can contact Sue via sueamberco@aol.com

New Publication– Older people in care homes: Sex, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships  – The Royal College of Nursing @

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced an additional £350 million to support children with complex needs and disabilities.

Find out more here

Lots of useful information and resources here: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/adult-social-services/disability/learning-disabilities/my-health/sepsis/sepsis.aspx

MindEd is a free educational resource on children
and young people’s mental health for all adults.  They have learning disability modules too.

Find out more here

New data has suggested more than half of local commissioning areas are still failing to offer crisis services to patients with autism and learning disabilities, despite NHS England making this mandatory from 2019.

In 2015, NHS England said local commissioners must ensure crisis services were in place by March 2019 to help reduce the number of hospital admissions for these patients. But data HSJ collected from clinical commissioning groups has indicated many areas are at risk of missing this deadline.

Read more here