CASCAIDr Conversations: Podcasts on Principles! Social Care in England and Wales

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CASCAIDr Conversations: Podcasts on Principles!

At CASCAIDr, we know how the world of adult social care can seem impenetrably surreal – and how the reality is often very different from the rhetoric.

We think people could do with a refresher on the underlying principles, which come from a set of rules called ‘public law’. Understanding how THAT works is key to knowing where you ARE in the Care Act process – and for getting legal advice – or doing your job properly…. 

Our latest tool for reminding anyone who’d like to know about this connection – whether that’s people working in adult social services decision-making, people who draw on services, their families, their advocates, their providers (or their political leaders!) is our CASCAIDr’s Principles Podcast Series.

⭐ When: Half an hour, every Thursday lunchtime, 21st September through to 14 December, 1.15pm-1.45pm.

⭐ Who from: our CEO Belinda Schwehr, who first offered free sessions to the public on this topic in 1997 – this time around, without any train journey being required! No biscuits though, this time…

⭐ What: An explanation in ordinary English about how we can’t afford to forget the principles that shape and inform adults’ social workers’ approaches to who gets what, by way of care and support. The principles are clear, and the Courts and Ombudsman need to follow the law.

⭐ How: Belinda’s going to be delivering this message through the content of all the landmark cases, so that we don’t lose sight of where these principles come from. 

⭐ Cost: Absolutely free! We believe in broadening access to essential knowledge – any fee presents a barrier to those who need it most.

Every Thursday lunchtime, starting on 21st September, and running until Christmas

1. What it means to act lawfully when delivering Care Act functions – overview – and why it matters to pull councils up when they do not act lawfully; and why it’s important to insist on remedies, including restitution (CP v NE Lincs) 21 Sept
2. The basic need to follow the Guidance unless there’s a very good reason not to: examples are the Care and Support Guidance, the MHA Code, the MCA Code the Homelessness Code (AK v Islington) 28 Sept
3. Distinguishing powers and discretions from duties, triggered by a professional judgment where acting defensibly is all that is required – (Gloucestershire, Bristol, Re X, Haringey, Hackney) 5 Oct
4. Being able to identify the correct decision-maker, under the Care Act (Merton, and MN) 12 Oct
5. Acting rationally (with an evidence basis and not ignoring the evidence basis) (Redbridge, Birmingham, Oxfordshire, Southwark, Merton) 19 Oct
6. Acting rationally (by not taking leave of one’s senses) (Westminster) 26 Oct
7. Acting fairly, part one: – full information and participation rights (KK, Croydon) 2 Nov
8. Acting fairly, part two: – stating or giving reasons (Kensington & Chelsea) 9 Nov
9. Not negating a council’s discretion by bias or rigid fettering (Lewisham, Suffolk) 16 Nov
10. Not making an error of law about the meaning of the words or duties in the Care Act (Suffolk, Croydon, Westminster) 23 Nov
11. Abiding by Human Rights, properly understood, part one: Articles 3 and 8 (Enfield, Gunter, Kensington & Chelsea, Sutton) 30 Nov
12. Abiding by Human Rights, properly understood, part two: Articles 5 and 9 (DoLS caselaw and MR v LBX) 7 Dec
13. Not discriminating unlawfully (Norfolk) – looking at how discrimination can make a decision unlawful, in a public law case. 14 Dec
14. Not delaying unconscionably (DMA) – looking at whether the Courts would be likely to decide that a duty really IS a duty, in difficult times. 21 Dec

The tech we’re going to use is Zoom – the link for all sessions is here and recording links will be re-posted for each session, on this page.

For people not running zoom accounts, the recording links won’t need you to download zoom, but they will just take a little longer to get to you.

Your QUESTIONS can be posted in Chat, during the sessions.

If you can’t be IN the session, send questions in advance about the specific topic for the relevant date, above, to [email protected], please.

Of course, we’d welcome donations – via the site menu – but most of all, we want to spread the word as far and wide as possible, at a very difficult time for adult social care!