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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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On 21 February 2023, the Minister for Women and Equalities (MfWE) asked for our advice on the definition of the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act 2010.

Read more: Clarifying the definition of 'sex' in the Equality Act

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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In advance of the House of Commons debate on the abuse of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in in-patient settings, we produced a briefing to help inform the discussion.

A lack of appropriate community support means too many autistic people and people with learning disabilities are kept in unsuitable secure mental health hospitals.

Read more: Abuse of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in in-patient settings

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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We have updated our technical guidance on the public sector equality duty (PSED).

Since 2012, when the first PSED technical guidance was published, a number of changes to statute and case law have taken place. This includes the introduction, by statute, of the gender pay gap reporting requirement on public authorities with more than 250 staff. 

Read more: Public Sector Equality Duty - Technical guidance update

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Category: Fife Voluntary Action
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In this week's e-bulletin, we highlight:

Read more: Fife Voluntary Action (FVA) Latest news and updates 13-04-2023

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Category: Third Force News
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30 March 2023
by Niall Christie

The Scottish Human Rights Commission supported development of the plan.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has welcomed the publication of Scotland’s second national human rights action plan (SNAP 2) today, but warned more must be done to make rights real for people across the country.

Read more: First Minister urged to take action on new human rights plan - Third Force News (TFN)

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
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The Guidance for repurposing prescription only medicines (POMs) in care homes and hospices during the Covid-19 pandemic is being withdrawn and should no longer be used after Friday 31 March 2023. The associated Joint statement on ethical and professional decision-making and risk assessment will also be withdrawn.

Read more: Guidance on repurposing medicines during the pandemic to be withdrawn - Care Inspectorate

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Category: Fife Carers Centre Articles
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Hello,

Please see the below information and the poster attached.

Carers Cost of Living Fund

The National Carer Organisations have today launched a campaign calling on the Scottish Government to include a Carers Cost of Living Fund in the budget.

Read more: The National Carer Organisations have today launched a campaign calling on the Scottish Government...

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
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Have you been using any creative, arty or innovative ways to engage those who you support?  Let us know – we’d love to hear about it and share it with everyone for our next newsletter.  Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell us what you did, how you did it and the difference that it made.  

The above information is fromQuality improvement and involvement update from the Care Inspectorate Mon 06/02/2023 

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
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Following on from the face mask guidance update for social care settings including care homes for adults and older people on 7 September, the Scottish Government/NHS face mask poster has been amended. Please note there is no change to the guidance.

The poster refers to the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual and the Care Home National Infection Prevention and Control Manual. This is to clarify that the use of face masks noted within the national guidance in relation to contact with a confirmed or suspected case of respiratory infection remains in place.

Read more: Updated face mask poster for social care settings (No change to guidance) - Care Inspectorate

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
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We would like to invite people working in nurse agencies to attend our upcoming webinar: Introduction to the Nurse Agencies Quality Framework & Self-evaluation toolkit. 

This will be held on Friday 21 October from 10am-12pm. 

Read more: Introduction webinar to the Nurse Agencies Quality Framework and Self-evaluation toolkit - Care...

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
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We have published the new quality framework for nurse agencies. It reflects Scotland’s Health and Social Care Standards, which are rights-based, person-led and outcome-focused.

The primary purpose of the framework is to support services to self-evaluate their own performance.  It will also be used by our inspectors to provide independent assurance about the quality of care and support.  By setting out what we expect to see in high-quality care and support provision, it can help support improvement too. 

Read more: Quality framework for nurse agencies - Care Inspectorate

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Category: Third Force News
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6 October 2022
by Niall Christie

The National Lottery Community Fund has said charities are facing pressure on services as costs soar.

The public body responsible for distributing funds raised by the National Lottery has confirmed it will increase some of its funding in light of the growing issues facing charities amid the running costs crisis. 

Read more: Funding body promises rise in grant levels

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Category: Third Force News
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30 September 2022
by Graham Martin

It includes major input from the voluntary sector

The final report of the Scottish Review of Mental Health Law has been published.

Led by John Scott KC, the Scott Review is the product of more than three years work and features major input from the voluntary sector.

Read more: Law review promises a new, positive vision of mental health

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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Earlier this month, we responded to the Scottish Government's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy consultation.

Read more: Scottish Government's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy consultation - our response - Equality...

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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We are formally investigating Pontins holiday parks due to continued concerns about discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers.

If you have evidence relevant to this investigation, or you know someone who might, please email it to us by Friday 14 October 2022 at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Our investigators are looking at:

  • Whether Pontins has committed race discrimination against Gypsy and Traveller guests, prospective guests or their associates in how it provides its service.
  • Whether Pontins’ booking policies directly or indirectly discriminate on the basis of race, including a requirement that guests, or prospective guests, are on the electoral register.

Whether Pontins’ intelligence, information and record-keeping systems are operating in a way that discriminates directly or indirectly on the basis of race.

Find out more about our investigation

The above information is from News from the Equality and Human Rights Commission Newsletter Fri 30/09/2022

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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Last week we wrote to the new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Brandon Lewis MP, welcoming the UK Government’s decision to pause the Bill of Rights Bill for further consideration.

Read more: The Bill of Rights has been paused - our response - Equality and Human Rights Commission

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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 Scottish Ministers have reached a settlement with a civil servant who brought a race discrimination case to challenge her treatment in the workplace.

Read more: Race discrimination case settles thanks to our Legal Support Scheme - Equality and Human Rights...

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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 This month, we set out how we will monitor the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by public bodies to ensure no unlawful discrimination is taking place.

Read more: Addressing discrimination in the use of artificial intelligence - Equality and Human Rights...

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Category: Equality and Human Rights Commission (Articles)
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Recent reports of potentially unlawful activity at the Edenfield Centre Mental Health Unit in Prestwich may indicate a breach of patients’ human rights. These include the right of patients to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment, their right to liberty and security, and their right to private and family life, including physical and psychological integrity.

Read more: Our response to allegations around mistreatment of people in Edenfield Centre Mental Health Unit 

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Category: UK Government Articles
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Updated to include recent changes

The new printed version of The Highway Code is available in shops and online.

Read more: New print version of The Highway Code is available to buy

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Category: Third Force News
Hits: 479

22 September 2022
by Robert Armour

Living wage increase brought forward

Scotland’s living wage will provide a vital cost-of-living boost to more than 57,000 people as the rate rises from £9.90 to £10.90 today.

This year the announcement of the new rate has been brought forward from November, in recognition of the sharp increase in living costs.  

Read more: Boost for low paid as living wage increases today

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
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Scottish Care, the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland, the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Social Services Council have issued a joint statement to support the winter vaccination programme for social care staff. You can read the statement here.

The above information is from Provider update for adult and older people services from the Care Inspectorate Newsletter Thu 22/09/2022

Find out more about our work at: www.careinspectorate.com

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Category: Third Force News
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16 September 2022
by Robert Armour

Help has to be delivered immediately if charities are to avoid closure

UK government sources have confirmed charities will be given financial support with energy bills from October.

An announcement by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy said support will be backdated, suggesting that the scheme could take many weeks yet to roll out across the country.

Read more: Financial respite for energy bills confirmed but charities warn it must be delivered ASAP

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Category: Third Force News
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20 September 2022
by Niall Christie

While long covid may not meet the definition of a disability, the severity of symptoms could.

A legal expert has warned charities that cases of long Covid could soon be classified as a disability following the outcome of a recent employment tribunal. 

Read more: Charities warned about looming shift in long covid laws

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Category: Funding - Grants
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Created: 14/09/2022

Asda’s charity, Asda Foundation, is committed to supporting local communities through grant giving and we believe it takes a whole community working together to improve people's lives.

Read more: Asda Foundation - Cost of Living Grant

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Category: Funding - Grants
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Created: 13/09/2022, Updated: 14/09/2022

The Bank of Scotland's Reach programme is suitable for charities can demonstrate they address disadvantage or social exclusion and will reach the most vulnerable people across Scotland, to provide them with opportunity and equality and making positive, sustainable change.

Read more: Bank of Scotland Foundation - Reach

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Category: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)
Hits: 448

Updated Covid-19 face mask guidance for social care including adult care homes

Following a review of advice, the Scottish Government has updated its guidance on the use of face masks in social care settings including adult care homes.

Read more: Scottish Government provides update for social care on face masks, testing and vaccination

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Category: Useful website
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The Cottage Family Centre was established in 1987.  The focus of the work at the Centre is to provide a range of support to those families and individuals within family units who are vulnerable to social exclusion as a result of factors such as poverty, unemployment, poor housing, relationship breakdown, drug and alcohol problems and health related issues.

Read more: The Cottage Family Centre

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Category: Useful website
Hits: 423

STAND is to begin operating Dementia Friendly Meeting Centre Spaces across Fife over the coming weeks. These are excellent spaces for those affected by dementia- directly, or through their connection to someone with dementia- to gain peer support, learn about the services available for further help, and take part in fun and creative activities designed to keep the brain active.

Read more: STAND is to begin operating Dementia Friendly Meeting Centre Spaces across Fife

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Category: Useful website
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About Us

The organisation started life in 1994, after the founder and her close allies began introducing and pioneering truly person centred approaches into the UK from learning gained through dear friends and colleagues in Canada and the United States. There was nothing to match these approaches in Britain at the time, where the focus person was truly listened to and given the support to create a life that represented their dreams and aspirations. Most systems in health, social care and education, the three main fields we work in, were based on an authoritarian basis, where people were categorised and separated according to their diagnosis and difference. Circles Network was born out of a desire to create radical, bespoke responses based on peoples’ expressed requirements; taking account of lifestyle preferences, personality, age, experience, background, relationships that mattered and, importantly, laced with a keen sense of social justice.

Read more: Circles Network - Fife

  1. A series of new Near Me community hubs, which will give patients access to its simple, safe, and secure video appointment service for planned health and social care appointments at sites close to their home, is being launched by NHS Fife.
  2. Guidance for providers on cyber incident affecting care management systems
  3. Fife Centre for Equalities Equality News Digest Week Commencing Mon 22/08/2022
  4. Revised Scottish Code of Practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel _
  5. Revised Scottish Code of Practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel - Care Inspectorate
  6. Tackling online harms: Working with the Information Commissioner's Office 
  7. Possible race discrimination - Pontins holiday parks investigation
  8. Highway Code changes: updated sentences for driving offence
  9. Adviser Support - Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC Scotland Equality Law
  10. Addressing the equality and human rights impact of digital services and artificial intelligence - Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC Scotland
  11. Experiences from health and social care: treatment of lower-paid ethnic minority workers - Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC Scotland
  12. EHRC Annual Report - Yesterday we published our Annual Report for 2021-2022
  13. Could we fund your race discrimination case? - Equality and Human Rights Commission EHRC Scotland Equality Law Bulletin - July 2022
  14. Census Coverage Survey - National Records of Scotland
  15. A new section for self-driving vehicles has been added to the Highway Code
  16. Parents with special needs children face unique challenges, especially if that child has Down’s Syndrome
  17. New partnership launched to break down barriers for young people with a learning disability
  18. Action plan to tackle sexual harassment culture in hospitality workplaces - Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
  19. Can we fund your client's race discrimination case? - Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
  20. Local authorities and the reasonable adjustment duty to homeless households

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