Canon Kenyon Wright explain why he thinks the people’s rights to secure benefits should remain. On the other hand there are moves afoot to change this and........

David Wiseman, Care Commission Scotland will explain why the changes in registration are necessary. Delegates will be drawn from group home residents themselves, relatives, health and social care and support professionals and housing providers.

John McDonald, Senior Manager with Fife Council said: “Fife Council wants to work with the Care Commission to achieve a fair and equitable outcome to the changes in registration which will ensure that people who live in a group home still have the same rights to benefits as other people.

The change of status proposed by the Care Commission is not unique to Fife but will affect a range of group home residents in Scotland. Fife Council has organised this conference because it feels that the people who are going to be most affected by the change in registration should have as much information as possible about what is proposed and the potentially far-reaching consequences for their choice of lifestyle. They and their relatives should also have an opportunity to voice their opinions.”

A group home is where say two, three or four people who are capable of independent living but may also be regarded in some ways as vulnerable, set up home together. A network of home carers, community workers, social and health professionals provide support to enable them to live as independently as possible. In Fife, the houses or flats are either owned by Fife Council or a voluntary housing provider such as The Richmond Fellowship or Real Life Options. There are 56 such properties in Fife catering for 188 adults.

John McDonald continued: “Here in Fife a number of organisations have worked together extremely hard to support people in their right to not only live in their own home in their own community but also to secure financial independence. What the registration regulations currently propose could take away their right to independent living and their entitlement to a full range of benefits - a right that other people take for granted.”