Latest news with #vulnerableadults
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Blandford day care centre to be saved from closure
A day centre for vulnerable adults in Dorset that was under threat of closure as part of a council reorganisation will stay will continue at Blandford Connect following a fight by campaigners.A proposed shake-up would have seen services moved about nine miles away to Sturminster Dorset Council said the centre would stay open, with some children's services provision looking to share space at the site. The authority is considering changes at six centres - Blandford, Swanage, Wareham, Ferndown, Shaftesbury and is still considering responses to a consultation that closed in June but says it acted in Blandford after listening to Tyson, the council's corporate director commissioning adult social care, said: "...as previously acknowledged, we have recognised the importance of the Blandford Connect service within the local community."One of the suggestions made... was to find other services to operate out of the centre. ...we are working on the possibility for Family Hub provision to run from the centre, together with a day service for adults."...the option is looking positive as a way of continuing to run a day service from the site and make much better use of the building." Rob Mariner's wife Mary has early onset dementia and is a regular user of the services at Blandford."Relieved is the overriding emotion because it was a bit of a worry."The [closure] news broke in the early part of the year and caused us an awful lot of uncertainty...", he said."It means there's continuity with the provision of service that we've known for years, so yes, we're delighted." Lorraine Hawley is a former care worker at Blandford Connect and has led the campaign to save it."The clients are over the moon... They could not do without it."It was a very scary time for everybody involved. The anxiety, the stress and worry, not only have the clients had, but the staff and carers especially, they were so upset about it." Details have yet to be revealed of how the other centres may be Emma Briant's father received care at the Trinity Centre in Shaftesbury for 17 years until his death last month."Things like games, they would do cooking, other activities, he would help with the garden, and it really gave him a sense of purpose," Dr Briant said."Also it was about community. These became his friends, his family."She added other users were desperately worried about its future."People have mental health difficulties, my Dad had PTSD, the stability of their services is paramount."Saying you're going to provide something in its place elsewhere, that's not stability"It's going to wreck lives. It will be devastating for the people and the community." The Dorset branch of the Unison union has also voiced secretary Becky Brookman said: "The unions were not informed of this, we've heard it third-hand so that's disappointing, but it is good news in a way for Blandford that it's going to be saved."We do have concerns that eventually ...is it going to be what it is now?"In Swanage they brought in children's hubs alongside adult service provision, and actually, the day centres diminished... "Until we know more I would say, good, but let's wait and see."A Dorset Council spokesperson said: "We are currently in the process of analysing the consultation feedback, including the returned surveys, so it's too early to comment on potential outcomes."A full report with clear recommendations will be presented to cabinet in December." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
CBC
08-08-2025
- CBC
More calls for national Silver Alert program as search for Manitoba man continues
A search continues for a Manitoba man last seen almost a month ago, drawing renewed attention to a national petition calling for cellphone notifications when vulnerable adults with dementia or other cognitive impairments go missing.
BBC News
31-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Service for care leavers in Bradford has improved, says Ofsted
Ofsted has highlighted improvements in the way vulnerable young adults leaving the care system in Bradford are supervised. The watchdog said improved leadership and a smaller turnover of staff had resulted in better help for 18 to 25-year-olds who had been in care as children. Support for care leavers falls within the scope of children's services, which was taken out of the control of Bradford Council in 2022 after the murder of toddler Star Hobson. The Bradford Children and Families Trust, which was set up to run the department subsequently, welcomed Ofsted's findings. The service is designed to help care leavers with the transition into adulthood, with many typically finding it difficult to access a settled home and a letter summarising the findings, Ofsted said: "Care leavers spoken with during the visit reflected that they previously had numerous changes of workers, which meant that some care leavers lost faith in the service. "Positively, care leavers told inspectors that more recent practice has improved, and they are now benefiting from increasingly stable relationships with their workers." 'Happy and settled' The letter also said that personal advisers, who work with care leavers "spoke very positively about working in Bradford". It added: "They reflected on the historical challenges and articulated how they now feel happy, settled and better supported with their work."Responding to the report, trust chair Eileen Milner said: "On behalf of Bradford Children and Families Trust I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated staff who are working tirelessly and at pace to improve the lives of children and young people in Bradford."Together, we will continue to work collaboratively and with wider partners to improve care leavers' experiences and opportunities."Last year Ofsted said the wider children's services department, which was first rated inadequate in 2018 when it under council stewardship, was improving. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole beach wristband scheme starts
A safety wristband scheme to help lost children and vulnerable adults find their parents or guardians has begun along Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's free paper bands are available at all seafront offices and RNLI lifeguard towers along 15 miles of the coastline as part of BCP Council's KidZone or guardians write their mobile number and location on the band - if they become separated the child or vulnerable adult can find an RNLI lifeguard or council seafront ranger who will ring and reunite scheme runs until 1 September. The beaches involved:Bournemouth: Alum Chine through to Fisherman's Walk, SouthbourneChristchurch: Avon, Friars Cliff, HighcliffePoole: Sandbanks, Shore Road, Branksome Chine From 19 July, the beaches of Bournemouth, Boscombe, Alum and Durley Chine will have KidZone teams working alongside the rangers to give out wristbands to Sheppard, RNLI lead lifeguard supervisor for East Dorset's beaches, said: "We know how easy it is for young children to become separated from their families while on a day out at the seaside."These wristbands allow us to reunite worried parents or carers with their little ones quickly and ensure that everyone makes it home safely and happily from our brilliant beaches this summer."BCP Council said last year it helped 118 lost people find their parents or safety scheme has been running during summers on the beaches since 2007. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Portsmouth care service for vulnerable adults in special measures
A care service that supports vulnerable adults living in their own homes has been put under special measures after being rated "inadequate" by a staff at Radis Community Care, at Caroline Square in Portsmouth, were described as "rude" while others used "derogatory language", inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in January and February report also showed risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing had not always been identified, with some users not receiving their medicines or being left without support to go to the Community Care said it had taken the findings "extremely seriously" and was working on a "robust and urgent improvement plan". The service was providing personal care to 27 people at the time of the inspection, which was the first under its current owner. 'Potential abuse not reported' Neil Cox, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, blamed "ineffective leadership" which had led to "a poor culture and shortfalls in the standard of care provided".He continued: "Staff didn't always recognise or report potential abuse and hadn't escalated safety concerns when they should, which put people at risk of harm."One person had lost consciousness during personal care on two occasions but this hadn't been reported. "Leaders didn't always investigate incidents or share learnings with staff to make improvements."He added staff had highlighted issues with "bullying" and "distrust". Paula Hoggarth, group operations director at Radis Community Care, said: "The safety, dignity and wellbeing of the people we support is - and always will be - our top priority."Since the inspection, we have been working closely with our internal quality and compliance team and external partners to deliver a robust and urgent improvement plan. "We are encouraged by the progress made over the past four months and have met the key improvement milestones set out by the CQC. "Record-keeping, reporting and day-to-day care oversight have significantly improved".The CQC issued four warning notices following the inspection to focus attention on making widespread improvements around safe care and treatment, consent, safeguarding and the management of the service will now be kept monitored to check sufficient improvements have been made. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
