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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/11/neil-heslop-disability-rights-benefit-assessment-government-leonard-cheshire
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| Neil Heslop: Loud and clear on protecting disability rights | Neil Heslop: Loud and clear on protecting disability rights |
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| Neil Heslop, the new chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability, welcomes the government announcement earlier this month that people with the most severe, lifetime conditions will no longer be assessed again and again to qualify for their out-of-work benefits. This was followed by Damian Green, the work and pensions secretary, promising to “work tirelessly to give disabled people better life chances”. | Neil Heslop, the new chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability, welcomes the government announcement earlier this month that people with the most severe, lifetime conditions will no longer be assessed again and again to qualify for their out-of-work benefits. This was followed by Damian Green, the work and pensions secretary, promising to “work tirelessly to give disabled people better life chances”. |
| “When Green spoke about the philosophy of wanting to offer work to those who can … and care for those who can’t, that feels like a more nuanced perspective than we’ve seen previously,” says Heslop, who took up his role at the second biggest disability charity last month. The government is “genuinely trying to set out an agenda about how to close the employment gap,” he adds. | “When Green spoke about the philosophy of wanting to offer work to those who can … and care for those who can’t, that feels like a more nuanced perspective than we’ve seen previously,” says Heslop, who took up his role at the second biggest disability charity last month. The government is “genuinely trying to set out an agenda about how to close the employment gap,” he adds. |
| Less than half of the 5.5 million working-age people in the UK with work-limiting health conditions or disabilities have jobs. And only 8% of sick and disabled people without a job move into work in any one year. Finding work for 1.2 million of them by 2020 is a “bold” target, Heslop concedes, but the right one. “It is absolutely imperative that the May government prioritises action to make this a reality and does not lose focus.” | Less than half of the 5.5 million working-age people in the UK with work-limiting health conditions or disabilities have jobs. And only 8% of sick and disabled people without a job move into work in any one year. Finding work for 1.2 million of them by 2020 is a “bold” target, Heslop concedes, but the right one. “It is absolutely imperative that the May government prioritises action to make this a reality and does not lose focus.” |
| Heslop, who lost his sight at 20, due to a degenerative condition, had a 20-year career in the telecoms industry, holding senior roles in North America and the UK, and co-founded Blind in Business, a charity that helps people who are blind or partially sighted into work. Before joining Leonard Cheshire, led RNIB Solutions, the sight-loss charity’s consultancy service, advising firms on making goods and services more accessible. | Heslop, who lost his sight at 20, due to a degenerative condition, had a 20-year career in the telecoms industry, holding senior roles in North America and the UK, and co-founded Blind in Business, a charity that helps people who are blind or partially sighted into work. Before joining Leonard Cheshire, led RNIB Solutions, the sight-loss charity’s consultancy service, advising firms on making goods and services more accessible. |
| He says he feels “passionately” about improving the job prospects of disabled people. Yet he is the only disabled leader of Leonard Cheshire in more than 25 years, and the charity’s management systems don’t accurately measure the number of disabled employees. (A Leonard Cheshire spokesman later tells me it is certainly “not less than 312” out of more than 6,000 staff and promises that the employment of disabled people will be a “key” target for Leonard Cheshire). “I believe that our representation of disabled people isn’t good enough,” says Heslop. | He says he feels “passionately” about improving the job prospects of disabled people. Yet he is the only disabled leader of Leonard Cheshire in more than 25 years, and the charity’s management systems don’t accurately measure the number of disabled employees. (A Leonard Cheshire spokesman later tells me it is certainly “not less than 312” out of more than 6,000 staff and promises that the employment of disabled people will be a “key” target for Leonard Cheshire). “I believe that our representation of disabled people isn’t good enough,” says Heslop. |
| Its lack of disabled staff, coupled with a failure to involve service users in decision-making and to help them live more independently, has led to run-ins with disability rights activists who accuse the charity of institutionalising disabled people in crumbling mansions. | Its lack of disabled staff, coupled with a failure to involve service users in decision-making and to help them live more independently, has led to run-ins with disability rights activists who accuse the charity of institutionalising disabled people in crumbling mansions. |
| Leonard Cheshire provides a wide range of services, from 107 residential care homes to 24 supported living centres, various day services and employment and skills support across the UK for 6,000 people. So how does Heslop respond to the criticism? | Leonard Cheshire provides a wide range of services, from 107 residential care homes to 24 supported living centres, various day services and employment and skills support across the UK for 6,000 people. So how does Heslop respond to the criticism? |
| “We need to modernise our organisation in a way and at a speed that takes the people who work for us and the people who use our services with us,” he replies. | “We need to modernise our organisation in a way and at a speed that takes the people who work for us and the people who use our services with us,” he replies. |
| It has certainly been a turbulent time for the charity. Both the former and acting chief executive left earlier this year, while the new chair, Sally Davis, has only been in post one year. A strategic review of all the charity’s activities, to report in six months’ time, will “ensure the voice of disabled people is at the heart of all decision-making,” says Heslop. He also wants to “rebalance” the charity’s social care activities. “In the UK we need to increase the proportion of our care services that are delivered through supported living activity, while remaining fully committed to high-quality care for those with the most complex care needs,” he says. | It has certainly been a turbulent time for the charity. Both the former and acting chief executive left earlier this year, while the new chair, Sally Davis, has only been in post one year. A strategic review of all the charity’s activities, to report in six months’ time, will “ensure the voice of disabled people is at the heart of all decision-making,” says Heslop. He also wants to “rebalance” the charity’s social care activities. “In the UK we need to increase the proportion of our care services that are delivered through supported living activity, while remaining fully committed to high-quality care for those with the most complex care needs,” he says. |
| He is looking at the viability of its 20 poorest-performing homes. “In such a diverse portfolio, you inevitably have to look at the long-term sustainability in terms of our ability to deliver quality of service,” says Heslop. Yet on the issue of home closures, he stresses “no major closure programme is envisaged”. | He is looking at the viability of its 20 poorest-performing homes. “In such a diverse portfolio, you inevitably have to look at the long-term sustainability in terms of our ability to deliver quality of service,” says Heslop. Yet on the issue of home closures, he stresses “no major closure programme is envisaged”. |
| If the government is doing bad things to the people that we are here to serve, we will be loud and clear about that | If the government is doing bad things to the people that we are here to serve, we will be loud and clear about that |
| Any closures would have to be handled sensitively. The charity was heavily criticised earlier this year by Rochdale council and local health bosses for showing “uncaring disregard” over the way it closed a local care home with just eight week’s notice. He is also keen to improve the working conditions of employees, many of whom are not paid the £8.25 living wage, as opposed to the government’s £7.20 “national living wage”. “Philosophically and morally, and from the point of view of leading a large complex organisation with some of the poorest paid workers in society, I’m absolutely committed to ensuring that the way we treat and reward all of our people is consistent with them having a financially appropriate return from us,” he says.We want to be famous for how we treat and look after both our staff and volunteers, and people we work for [disabled people].. There are parts of what we do that are doing a fantastic job, but equally in my short time here, I’ve seen that we have a great deal of work to do to live up to that aspiration,” he says. | |
| Leonard Cheshire may also be more vocal about its role and legacy, as the charity celebrates the centenary of its founder’s birth next year. With around 90% of Leonard Cheshire’s £160m budget coming from government grants (the remainder from fundraising), Heslop is hopeful that good relations will continue, but vows to speak out if need be. “If we think that the government is doing bad things to the people that we are here to serve, then we will be very loud and clear about that,” he says. | Leonard Cheshire may also be more vocal about its role and legacy, as the charity celebrates the centenary of its founder’s birth next year. With around 90% of Leonard Cheshire’s £160m budget coming from government grants (the remainder from fundraising), Heslop is hopeful that good relations will continue, but vows to speak out if need be. “If we think that the government is doing bad things to the people that we are here to serve, then we will be very loud and clear about that,” he says. |
| Curriculum vitae | Curriculum vitae |
| Age 51. | Age 51. |
| Family Married, 18- and 20-year-old daughters. | Family Married, 18- and 20-year-old daughters. |
| Lives Beaconsfield, Bucks | Lives Beaconsfield, Bucks |
| Education Clark’s College, Guildford; RNIB New College, Worcester; University of Newcastle, law degree; Cranfield School of Management, MBA. | Education Clark’s College, Guildford; RNIB New College, Worcester; University of Newcastle, law degree; Cranfield School of Management, MBA. |
| Career 2016-present: Chief executive, Leonard Cheshire Disability; 2013-16: managing director, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Solutions; 2012-13: interim CEO, KFX Technology; 2011-12: interim chief operating officer, JJB Sports plc; 2009-11: managing director, Kontrol Freax Ltd; 2004-08: divisional CEO, Cincinnati Bell Inc; 1996-2004: senior leadership roles including general manager retail operations, and head of strategy, Telefonica 02 (formerly BT Cellnet); 1994-96: co-founder/director; ChinaMedica Ltd; 1989-94: joined as a graduate trainee and had various roles including business planning manager for global access products, Nortel Networks. | Career 2016-present: Chief executive, Leonard Cheshire Disability; 2013-16: managing director, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Solutions; 2012-13: interim CEO, KFX Technology; 2011-12: interim chief operating officer, JJB Sports plc; 2009-11: managing director, Kontrol Freax Ltd; 2004-08: divisional CEO, Cincinnati Bell Inc; 1996-2004: senior leadership roles including general manager retail operations, and head of strategy, Telefonica 02 (formerly BT Cellnet); 1994-96: co-founder/director; ChinaMedica Ltd; 1989-94: joined as a graduate trainee and had various roles including business planning manager for global access products, Nortel Networks. |
| Public life Co-founder/trustee, Blind in Business, OBE for services to BT and charity. | Public life Co-founder/trustee, Blind in Business, OBE for services to BT and charity. |
| Interests Sport, literature, education and employment. | Interests Sport, literature, education and employment. |