'residence test' for civil legal aid found to be unlawful and discriminatory.

 

This morning, the Divisional Court delivered judgement in a case brought by PLP regarding the Government proposals to introduce a 'residence test' for civil legal aid. The judgement has found the proposals to be unlawful and discriminatory. 

Our press release with further information on the case is at http://www.publiclawproject.org.uk/news/41/press-release-plp-wins-residence-test-case.-proposals-to-introduce-legal-aid-residence-test-are-unla

The judgement is at http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/plp-v-ssj-and-other.pdf

Ravi Low-Beer will be discussing the judgement at our North conference, taking place in Manchester on Thursday, during his session on the judicial review reforms. Some places are still available, and unless the conference sells out we will be accepting bookings until tomorrow afternoon. View the full conference programme and book you place at http://www.publiclawproject.org.uk/events/12/the-public-law-project-north-conference-2014

 
Thanks
PLP

THCVS Training and news

Basics for effective trustees

Following a seminar in December put on by NPC and the Clothworkers' Company covering the key things that every charity trustee needs to know, NPC has put together a 'Back to Basics' briefing. There is also a summary of six key principles of effective board governance.

Effectiveness in network working


Organisations working in networks to address issues is not unusual either side of the pond, and Nonprofit Quarterly has 'A Network Way of Working: A Compilation of Considerations about Effectiveness in Networks', which looks like a useful round-up of material on the subject.

CASS advice are running 4 new support programes:

CASS advice are running 4 new support programes including: Mental Health Support, Support for those with Learning Disabilities, Supporting Offenders and Ex-Offenders, Support people who are dealing with Drug and Substance Abuse / Addiction Problems. See fliers here Effectiveness in network working

ACEVO's Good Pay Guide for Charities and Social Enterprises

The ACEVO Good Pay Guide was launched in December 2013 and is available now to download here.

Fee Walk Leader Training Workshop

The session is full of practical advice on how to plan and lead walks in Tower Hamlets. It's designed to equip participants to help with existing health walks in the borough and/or set up their own walking groups. 25 February, 09.30-13.00, Stifford Centre. Contact graham@walkeast.org

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THCVS Job News

Housing Caseworker Vacancy

Island House are seeking to recruit a housing caseworker/solicitor to join their small but busy housing team. The successful candidate will carry out housing casework on Legal Help and Certificated cases and will contribute to the support and supervision of other advisers and volunteers. Part-time 28 hours per week. Scale SO1 point 29 (£27945 p.a. – pro-rata) to SO2 point 32 (£30351 pro-rata) depending on experience. To apply and for more information click here

Limehouse Project recruiting for an Advice Officer

Limehouse Project are recruiting for an Advice Officer; (Maternity Leave cover for one year from 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015). 17.5 hours per week. £23,497 to £27,945 negotiable p.a. (incl. London Weighting) pro rata. For more information and to apply click here

Step Forward are recruiting for a Personal Development Worker

Step Forward are looking for an exceptional person to join heir multi-disciplinary team as our new part-time Personal Development Worker to work with LGBT young people and those questioning their sexuality. They are looking for someone who is motivated, experienced, and flexible with a passion for working with young people. Click here for applicaton pack

Apasenth Vacancies - Zone Project worker & Care Assistant roles

Apansenth are looking to recruit Opportunity Zone Project Workers at the APASENTH Lodge (Residential Respite & Care Home) and Care Assistants. Click here for more information

Warmer, Healthier and Fairer

Warmer, Healthier and Fairer:
Tackling Fuel Poverty

Central London

Wednesday 20^th March 2013

Event Details  Website  Register to Attend

Fuel poverty affects local communities right across the UK and is one of the biggest contributors to health inequalities.

In October 2010, the government decided to review the fuel poverty target and definition. Subsequently, Professor John Hills was appointed to undertake an independent review, which was published in March 2012. This will now be followed by an updated government strategy and is due in 2013.

This special symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for local authorities, housing associations, NHS, energy providers, the third sector and other key stakeholders to examine the latest measures to tackle fuel poverty and explore the potential contribution a re-energised national strategy can make towards eradicating the physical, mental and social harm caused as a result of living in fuel poverty.

I am pleased to advise you that we offer a 20% early registration discount off the standard delegate rates for all bookings received by 16th January 2013. For further details about the symposium, please refer to the enclosed event brochure. Do feel free to circulate this information to relevant colleagues within your organisation.

In the meantime, to ensure your organisation is represented, please book online or complete and return the attached registration form at your earliest convenience in order to secure your delegate place(s).

Kind regards,

Alexandra Kelly
Public Policy Exchange
Tel: 0845 606 1535
Fax: 0845 606 1539

If you do not wish to receive further information regarding PPE events then click here.

Public Policy Exchange Ltd Registered in England & Wales, № 7350384
Registered Office: 253 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8QT

ADULT SOCIAL CARE PROVIDERS

Please find email below with regards to free affordable warmth training sessions designed to build up a network of people who can find residents at risk from the cold and help them access the services on offer.

Please direct any responses to Abdul Monnan: abdul.monnan@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Warm regards,

Orenda O’Brien Davis | Market Infrastructure Officer

Adults Health and Wellbeing
London Borough of Tower Hamlets

7th floor | Anchorage House | Clove Crescent | E14 2BE

t020 7364 0277 |eorenda.obrien-davis@towerhamlets.gov.uk

www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/providers

Please note my working days are Monday to Thursday

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi there,

You may remember that last year we held a series of free affordable warmth training sessions on energy efficiency matters. We have received more funding and are offering this training again.

We are looking to hold sessions in January and possibly February. If you are interested in this training, or know anyone who would like to do this training, please give me a list of names and email addresses. It doesn’t matter if you have already done it last year, you are still most welcome to attend and can refresh your memory on the subject.

Once we have a list of people interested, we will book a few dates and let you know so you can choose a session. The training is not restricted to council services, it is open to anyone in any organisation who preferably visit homes in Tower Hamlets.

The session will last for approximately 2 hours. If you would like a shorter session, you can have one at your location / office etc. If you would like training sessions at your work locations, we are able to provide this as long  as you have a minimum of 10 attendees.

We may also offer a ‘Train The Trainer’ session for those who wish to train others, maybe the whole team cannot attend and you can train your colleagues. Let me know if this is what you want.

Either way if you could give me a list of names and email addresses for people interested then that would be great. Also if you could pass this email to colleagues who you think could benefit, I would be most grateful.

Please find more information about the training below.

Introduction

The East London Affordable Warmth Champions Project is funded through the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund.  The Affordable Warmth Champions training programme is designed to build up and train a network of people who can find residents at risk from the cold and help them access the services on offer.

Last winter, 39 training sessions were delivered to staff from local authorities, NHS and the third sector.  Over 600 individuals were trained. Funding is available for this year and the training is on offer again.

What does the training cover?

The sessions are designed to help trainees:  

• Know more about the problem of cold, damp homes
• Be able to look for the warning signs and to recognise people who may be at risk
• Feel ready and able to refer people to relevant advice, grant and support services
• Feel confident in giving basic advice to help people keep warm and well in the home

Who is the training for?

A wide range of teams and individuals from across local authorities, the heath sector and the third sector have an important role to play in identifying people that may be at risk from fuel poverty and helping them get support. In particular, anybody:

• Whose role involves visiting people in their home or assessing homes
• Who is involved in ensuring that a client’s home life is suitable for them and any conditions they may have (mental or physical)
• Who offers support or counselling to residents and may be in a position to find out about their home or financial situation
• The training is designed to be tailored to different audiences - it can focus on the health impacts of fuel poverty, on homes and energy efficiency, or specific impacts for children – whatever aspect is particularly relevant for the team in question.  The trainers are happy to adapt the training to your needs. 

If you have any questions, please send me an email.

Kind regards.

Abdul Monnan
Home Improvement Agency Technical Officer
Private Housing Improvement Team
LondonBorough of Tower Hamlets
Mulberry Place - 5 Clove Crescent - London E14 2BG

Tel:020 7364 2521 - Mob: 07507 563 951E-Mail: abdul.monnan@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

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Employment Law Update

Advisory Bulletin 596 is available to download (log in required). In this issue: Disability discrimination: volunteers Case: X v Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau and another (Supreme Court) Equal pay: pay protection and GMF defence Case: Haq and others v the Audit Commission (Court of Appeal) Discrimination on political grounds Case: Redfearn v the United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights) Equal pay: justification and industrial relations Case: Kenny and others v Ministry of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and others (Advocate General opinion, ECJ) Collective redundancy rules: changes announced Increase in 'a week's pay' and unfair dismissal compensation LGA employment law training seminar: 27 February 2013

Contact us Local Government House Smith Square London, SW1P 3HZ Email: info@local.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7664 3000 Fax: 020 7664 3030

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Homelesness Case - Almeida v RLBKC - From Inside Housing

The High Court has ruled a council’s decision not to house a dying homeless man was unlawful.


Kensington and Chelsea council has refused to house and support Portuguese national Adalberto Jesus de Almeida since 2010 saying it had ‘scarce resources’.

Mr de Almeida is suffering from HIV/Aids and skin cancer and in November 2011 he was told he had about six months to live. But the local authority decided he ‘did not have eligible needs requiring care and attention’.

Mrs Justice Lang in the Queen’s bench division’s ruling, released on Friday last week (April 27), said the local authority had acted unlawfully in refusing to give care and accommodation. It had also breached Mr de Almeida’s rights under article 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr de Almeida applied to the council once he became too ill to work and was evicted from his private rented accommodation. Friends had also supported him until they could no longer do so financially and he became too ill.

Housing lawyer David Watkinson, from Garden Court Chambers, said although the case did not set a legal precedent it could influence other judgements.

‘It just might lead to courts in judicial review cases looking more closely at the factual basis of the local authority decision than they have done up until now,’ he said.

Local authorities might be more careful in refusing accommodation in such cases, he suggested. Mr Watkinson also said it was ‘shocking’ that Mr de Almeida had to ‘reach the condition described in the judgement to be certain of obtaining a decision in his favour’.