Polly Lord

Director of Engagement and Influencing at Voiceability. Using my voice to help others be heard.

Runs a bit. Eats a lot.

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

As ever, the answer lies in supporting people to be in the community, their community. @DHSCgovuk @NHSEngland

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Our new campaign calling on SoS for Health and Social Care to use her power to end the detention of people with a learning disability and autistic people in mental health hospitals.

#Useyourpower by signing our petition ⬇️

[VoiceAbility @VoiceAbility]

“Becoming yourself, getting yourself back again, doesn’t start until you’re out."

2,000+ people with a learning disability and autistic people are being detained in mental health hospitals. The average stay is 5 years.

This is leading to trauma and loss of life.

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

The principles put children and young people at the heart of advocacy, but without additional funding to #localgov to commission high quality, person-centred, advocacy - they seem doomed to fail.

There is no 'more for less' that can be achieved. It's time now to just do more.

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Nearly 20 years since its last update, advocacy standards for CYP are getting a refresh. Read our response here 👇

https://t.co/o57ZsWDp3Z

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

🎓 Top marks for new content on co-design, whistleblowing, safeguarding and non-instructed advocacy.
❔Could try harder for safeguarding in institutional settings, EDI, independence (and our ability to engage with Gov't) and quality
❎Needs improvement - the wider context...

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

It's drafted, it's got cross-party support, and it's needed. Over to you @RishiSunak

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

"Call me old fashioned – I actually believe that manifestos have a weight to them". Sir @RobertBuckland on need for #MentalHealthAct reforms in #KingsSpeech

[PoliticsHome @politicshome]

Conservative MP Robert Buckland has urged the government to honour its 2019 manifesto commitment and include the “generational” Mental Health Bill in the King’s Speech https://t.co/g3fy8ypvl8

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

A sad day. The seeds of connection you have sown will bloom in a future day. Thank you for all you have done

[The Cares Family @TheCaresFamily]

We are devastated to share that The Cares Family charities have closed due to financial difficulties. We’re fiercely proud of our staff, our communities, and all we’ve built together over the past 12 years. More here: https://t.co/08XuEttfur

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Saw this via @neilmcrowther (an example of X working!) and can't stop watching. Fixing the broken system isn't about "more" - it's about recognising what is already there. https://t.co/UeAgrHdOhf

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Damning assessment on the current #StateOfCare from @CareQualityComm. Not enough funding, not enough access, not enough quality, not enough *advocates*. Not enough care. @VoiceAbility

https://t.co/QvRa5lV3Kd

[VoiceAbility @VoiceAbility]

"The price of planning for suitable community care is a fraction of the cost of these secure units. We can and must do better for all our children and the children to come" - @MsAlisonHume

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

2,200 autistic people or people with a learning disability are in secure care. "Locked up". This is us @LibDems #LDConf explaining how.

[VoiceAbility @VoiceAbility]

“The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has the power of direction to make this change, shifting to community-based support where people’s voices are heard” - @Jonathan_Senker

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

As ever the devil is in the detail, but if @scotgov continue to work with partners such as @VoiceAbility - and (most importantly the Scottish people) - in the design and delivery of these policies, that is some PfG

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

#ScotPfG announced just now looks interesting. An Immediate Priorities Plan for disabled people, a consultation on a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill, and a Mental Health and Capacity Reform Programme...

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

... a desire to work closely with local gov; an extension of Social Security Scotland to 10,000s more people (away from DWP) and a new HR Bill - and reconsideration of UN convention on child rights

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Seeing the news today of schools crumbling, I can't help think it is a metaphor for our times. Our social infrastructure quite literally is falling apart due to government inaction

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Nearly half a year on average. Of being trapped inside, separated from family, without - as @Jonathan_Senker put it "an explanation that you understand as to why, or lacking any effective way of challenging this?"

[VoiceAbility @VoiceAbility]

NHS England have revealed that only 19% of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications are completed within 21 days, with an average wait time of 156 days. We need LPS now. https://t.co/1MTjtlAquv

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

The really frustrating bit is that there is a solution written up and ready to go. Yes it's imperfect, but it is simple. The new LPS were designed to be quicker and have more reach. To provide safeguards. But - along with mental health reforms - they're delayed.

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

... when recommendations were first made to the governments across the UK.

The system is removing the voice, control and power of the very people who it should be supporting. #disabilityrights @ehgovuk

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

Not quite sure where to start with the @EHRC sub to UN on the UK Gov's 'slow progress' in improving disabled people's rights. https://t.co/3l2gvrNQdY
Is it the... (🧵)

[Polly Lord @PLLord1]

There is an urgent need for the UK Gov to step up. The lack of social care provision - which 'has led to acute violations of disabled people’s human rights'. The 'adverse impact of current welfare policies' on those in vulnerable situations. This should have stopped in 2016...