A long and winding road: Finding justice for people with complex disabilities ‘stuck’ in Social Care - Leading Discussion Panel
Chase, Mike
Authors
Mike Chase Mike.Chase@uwe.ac.uk
Senior lecturer in Social Psychology
Abstract
Drawing on personal narrative and an ecological lens (Bronfenbrenner, 1994), the platform will highlight the types of challenges which thwart the pursuit of liberty, independence and social justice for people with complex disabilities ‘trapped’ in inappropriate social care facilities. In addition, it will be an opportunity to network and share experiences, strategies, and other resources for those struggling to have their voices heard and their human rights upheld by Local Authorities.
We anchor discussion in a summary of how friends and family have battled for seven years for Derek (a man with complex disabilities) to move out of a residential assessment facility. Our narrative starts with the systemic and attitudinal barriers that distorted and dismissed our initial Local Authority human rights complaint in 2018, and transcends to the current time. While our journey included a successful but gruelling appeal for justice and recognition via the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO; see final decision: https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/adult-care-services/assessment-and-care-plan/19-003-437), two years on, Derek remains ‘stuck’ in the same facility. We aim to deepen our understanding about why this is, and what can be done to initiate essential social change for Derek and similar others.
With an eclectic panel of voices from: ‘Experts by Lived Experience’, Sociology, Community Psychology, the LGSCO and legal advocacy practitioners, our discussion will specifically aim to:
- Highlight how macro societal and political structures (such as austerity and neoliberalism), collide with practice policy frameworks, attitudes and loyalties to exacerbate the human rights challenges for Derek (and similarly vulnerable people).
- Share experiences, strategies and signpost support resources (such as the LGSCO and legal advocacy services) which can help people to respond to these challenges.
- Initiate platforms and support networks that can help vulnerable people and their families who do not have the resources to challenge their Local Authorities.
Panel Members: Nigel Ellis, CEO LGSCO; Mitchell Woolf, Legal Manager, Access Social Care; Bob Rhodes, Founder & Co Director Life Through Friends & Prof. Elaine Chase, UCL
Presentation Conference Type
Other
Conference Name
British Sociology Association (BSA) Conference: Sociological Voices in Public Discourse
