2005

6th April 2005

LOBBY OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

 

THURSDAY 14 TH APRIL 2005

 

"USE YOUR LOAF

SCRAP THE CHARGES"

 

 

PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT GLASGOW DISABILITY ALLIANCE IN STOPPPING UNFAIR CHARGING FOR COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES.

 

Accessible coaches (no charge) are leaving from Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, 117 Brook Street , Bridgeton , Glasgow , Thursday 14 th April 2005 taking people through to Edinburgh . PLEASE ARRIVE AT 10.00AM PROMPT.

 

For more information call Maureen or Morag on 0141 550 4455.

 

.............................

PLEASE NOTE We can only reserve your place on the bus if you return your reply slip.

 

I WILL ATTEND AND WOULD LIKE A SEAT/WHEELCHAIR SPACE ON THE BUS (please tick)...(delete as appropriate)

I WILL ATTEND BUT MAKE MY OWN WAY THERE

(please tick).... Please call Morag or Maureen if you want details of where to meet up with the group in Edinburgh

 

NAME......... TELEPHONE NO:.......

 

Please complete and return to above address

Happy New Year

The holiday is over, its back to the grind, now its working and planning thats on your mind.  How quickly the days go whern you are at your ease with only yourself and the familiy to please.  The gifts and the turkey are all in the past and just how long these batteries would last.  The tree and the tinsel, the twinkling star when January seemed ever so far.  Its all now confined to the memory banks, we smile when we remember all of the thanks.  Alas but the boss, he is coming my way wondering why I am still grinning today.  So I guess its time to switch into gear and hope that we all have a Happy New Year.

MPB

Travel Insurance/Accessible Holidays for Disabled People

Newton Lee Insurance Services are part of the Norwich Union Group and specialise in insurance for disabled people travelling both at home and abroad.  Their contact details are as follows:

Newton Lee Insurance Services

66 Sea Road

Fulwell

Sunderland

Tyne & Weir

Tel: 0191 549 4949 or 0800 072 0294

Fax: 0191 549 9898

Tourism for All/Holiday Care are an organisation who specialise in accessible holidays both at home and abroad.  Their contact details are as follows:

Tourism for All/Holiday Care

The Hawkins Suite

Enham Palace

Enham Alamein

Andover

Hampshire

SP11 6JS

Tel: 0845 124 9971 (information)

Tel: 0845 124 9973 (reservations)

Tel: 0845 124 9974 (admin)

Tel: 0845 124 9972 (fax)

Email: info@holidaycare.org

Website: www.tourismfor all.org.uk

Telephone lines are open: 9.00am - 12.30pm Mon - Fri

Silent prejudice

Jimmy McIntosh, a member of SPAEN's Executive Committee was recently interviewed by the Big Issue in Scotland to see if there had been any improvement in access post implementation of the final phase of the DDA.  Here he recounts a typical week in his life an the barriers he faces on a daily basis:

Wenesday

Get the bus to Princes Street to do a bit of shopping.  Go to the St James's Centre because there is good disabled access there - lots of room for manoevering a wheelchair - although there are a lot of tricky pavements on the way.  In the afternoon I take the bus to Barnardo's.  I get there later than planned as the first two buses that arrive have pushchairs on them which takes up the space for wheelchair users.  When I finally get there, I do some work on the computer for the Scottish Social Services Council until my wife arrives and we go home together for tea.

Thursday

I go to a campaigning group called Sticking Up For Your Rights every Thursday.  We discuss issues like government cutbacks and access pronblems and how to campaign against them.  I call for a taxi to take me there but the cab thats turns up doesn't have enough time.  Another taxi turns up two hours later.  During this rime I can only wait outside my house.  In the afternoon I go to a meeting for the Bullying and Harassment group which deals with the viitimisation of people with learning difficulties.

Friday

Go to the Carlton Centre, a valuable community resource for me and people in my position because it provides cheap, hot meals.  I am not able to make food for myself and, on benefits.  I cant afford to eat out every day.  Unfortunately, I'm let down by one of my assistants at the last minute and cant get any help for the afternoon.  I have to go home by myself and wait in the house.  During this time I cannot get any food or water and cannot go to the toilet until my wife gets home from work.

Monday

Go to the Carlron Centre again in the morning to meet and interview a propsective personal assistant.  I have trouble with my pavemenmts again because thay are very uneven in this area.  My automated wheelchair has climbers attached which helps me get over the kerbs.

Tuesday

Get up early and go through to Glasgow with my SSSC personal assistant to attend meetings.  Come back in the evening and head off to my local pub to play dominoes.  The pub has steep stairsso I have to change into my manual wheelchair because it'snot as heavy.  When I arrive I have to get my personal assistant to go into the pub first and find some strong men who are willing to carry me up the stairs.

Reproduced with kind permisson of the Big Issue Scotland

13th October 2004

What is the difference between EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE and PERSONNEL - EMPLOYMENT LAW INDEMNITY PROVISIONS ADVICE SERVICE?

In response to recent requests for clarification on the distinction between Employers Liability Insurance and the Indemnity Scheme for PA Employers which SPAEN believes would be a benefit to its members, please find the details outlined below which we hope will be helpful.

EMPLOYMENT LAW - EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE

All employers have to maintain insurance against liability for bodily injury or disease sustained by their employees in the course of employment. New regulations called the Employer's Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998 came into force from 1 January 1999.

Under the old regulations, an employer had to maintain insurance for £2m in respect of claims relating to one or more employee arising out of one incident. The 1998 Regulations raise the minimum sum to be insured to £5m. The increased figure includes any costs and expenses that may be incurred in relation to a claim.

Other changes introduced by the Regulations include a requirement for employers to keep certificates of insurance for a period of forty years and a right for inspectors to require the production of past as well as current certificates. The requirements for the display of certificates are largely unchanged.   Insurance policies commenced before and current as at 1 January 1999 are covered by transitional arrangements.

PERSONNEL- EMPLOYMENT LAW INDEMNITY PROVISIONS ADVICE SERVICE

SPAEN members would be provided with a Peninsula Gold Advice Card with their own unique reference number and access will be allowed to our 24 Hour Advice Service. This would ideally involve all Line Managers, individuals with responsibility for Personnel/Payroll and anyone who has to deal with employees on a day to day basis, particularly those with responsibility for recruitment and discipline.

The Peninsula Advice Service is not based on an answer phone outside normal working hours and members will always be able to speak directly to one of our specialist Consultants.

SPAEN members would receive a 24 Hour Advice Service Brochure, which contains very helpful information on a number of points they may need to be aware of, in relation to potential employment, which could lead to difficulties or Employment Tribunal claims or enforcement action, where taking advice early from Peninsula may assist in resolving these matters.

The fact that advice has been taken, and given, will be acknowledged in writing from Peninsula computerised records, in the form of a monthly summary. This allows for all advice calls undertaken (even by Managers and authorised individuals at varying locations), to be summarized, in order that SPAEN can monitor the use of this service.

SPAEN members will receive help where necessary in the construction of disciplinary, dismissal and appeal letters, and other issues connected with contractual or statutory employment related matters, along with accident investigation, enforcement provisions and a whole range of risk, safety and protection issues.

INDEMNITY SCHEME

Peninsula, take out an insurance indemnity policy on your behalf, with an authorised insurer, which provides for a two tier service. Firstly, the legal costs in defending Employment Tribunal proceedings which can in most cases be very costly are all paid for under the indemnity scheme. Secondly, compensation awarded at Employment Tribunals in cases of unfair dismissal arising out of conduct, capability and redundancy are funded, as are any appropriate settlements, if the Peninsula advice guidelines are followed.

In summary, the fundamental difference is that Employers Liability Insurance is cover for accident or injury and is mandatory but does not cover personnel issues. The Indemnity Scheme would support people to deal with personnel issues only to comply with employment legislative requirements and is optional but, in our opinion, very necessary.

We trust this information is helpful; but should you wish any further clarification please do not hesitate to contact this office.

The National Contributions Office Employer Help-line number has been changed to

08455 7143 143.

Please delete the number currently in your Code of Practice and enter the new one.