Are you looking to learn or develop skills, and gain nationally-recognised qualifications, which will open opportunities for you to work and/or advance further in the health and social sector? Please visit: http://www.embrace-learning.co.uk or give us a call on 0161 928 9987. Our team of advisors look forward to hearing from you.

An in-depth look at how the #CareAct will affect homecare providers. The 'traditional' council-defined services will be replaced by systems which assess and provide for people's needs. The Act's statutory guidance includes:-

- the involvement of service users in deciding their care and support plans

- the greater use of low level services to help people remain at home

- homecare providers to encourage family carers to gain additional council support

- councils to be responsible for 'market-shaping' the local market comprehensively

- councils now must make decisions on purchasing homecare based on value for money and not on economies alone.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/dec/01/care-act-2014-uk-homecare-providers

A moving and thought-provoking account of a son who works full-time 'shifts' caring for his mother who has advanced dementia.

He now appreciates the tasks he was once dreading. It took a simple mental readjustment he describes as "[disengaging] my overactive, self-obsessed, 21st-century brain and [allowing] it to happen."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/28/caring-mother-alzheimers-love-self-obsessed

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George Osborne and Ed Balls discuss the funding proposals set out by Osborne on the Andrew Marr show – that he will put an additional £2bn into frontline health services. He described it as a “down payment” which he was able to commit to because of the economy being strong. What are your thoughts about this? Have you heard confirmation that the economy is currently strong? You can watch the video here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30265833

The Buddy effect: improving mental health treatment, one pet at a time

Visits by an adorable dog are just one of a myriad of practical, low-cost changes that Marion Janner and her Star Wards charity are bringing to mental health facilities across the UK.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/28/-sp-buddy-mental-health-treatment-marion-janner-star-wards-dog?CMP=share_btn_fb

Monitor and NHS England are proposing cuts of 1.5 per cent to funding for mental health services over the next two years. The budget has already been reduced for the last three years in a row. What are your views on this? How can further cuts possibly be justified?

http://nhsconfed.org/news/2014/11/leading-mental-health-organisations-call-for-action-to-address-mental-health-funding-crisis