BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL  

Borough Hall Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP

Telephone (01234) 267422 Fax (01234) 221606

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Bedford Learning Disability Partnership Board Agenda 

Tuesday 9th February 2010 Council Chamber, Borough Hall 

12 Noon – 3pm  

12.00 noon  Welcome  

12.05 pm        Hot topics from people who use services 

12.10 pm  Hot topics from family carers        

12.15 pm  Hot topics from professionals  

  & 

      Keeping our Promises (previous meetings) 

12.30 pm  Employment 

1.00 pm   Sandwich Lunch  

      followed by Employment – open discussion and          action planning 

2.20 pm   Any Other Business 

Carers Conference ‐ 1st April 2010 

2.30 pm   Dates for future meetings: 

 The agreed dates and suggested topics are: 16th March 2010 (Housing) 

29th April 2010 (Transport) 

1st June 2010 (Transition) 

13th July 2010 (Involving Everyone) 

TBA (Keeping Safe) 

Contact Information:  To book a place, please contact Claire Minney on 01234 228204, claire.minney@bedford.gov.uk

Bedford Borough Learning Disability Partnership Board

Minutes

9th February 2010 1 Welcome:

The Co-Chairs for this meeting were: Ronnie Franklin was welcomed as the co elected chair and Peter Loose. Ronnie Franklin welcomed everyone to the meeting. A list of everyone who attended the meeting is at the back of these minutes.

2 Hot Topics

Hot Topics from Carers Carers asked about the reduction in senior staff at the Kempston Day Centre and timetable changes. Kate explained the manger post will not be filled, but managerial duties of this post will be spread out to other senior staff. Kate explained that the activity timetables are also under review, there will be consultation among service users. Action – Peter suggested a coffee morning would be ideal to discuss any further concerns. A question was raised regarding whether Age Concern will be the permanent host of LINk, if not, when and will stakeholders be consulted on for the final host? Peter stated that Age Concern is the temporary host of LINk and a date for consultation has not been set. There are no changing places fully accessible toilets in Bedford, and Anne Tombs would like the partnership board to raise this with the necessary department. Action – Peter to find out what arrangements will be happening. Helen Cooke from Mencap explained she has already raised this with Bedford Borough Council and they have agreed to meet to discuss this issue further. Peter explained what is being done to enable people to hear properly in these meetings. Both of the meeting rooms are not great for sound. Bedford Borough Council is trying to improve this.

3.0 3.1

Keeping Our Promises (Actions from Previous Meetings) We looked at the progress chart and will send this round with the agenda for all future meetings. Michelle said that just over half of GPs are signed up to the health checks but we don’t know what is stopping the rest. Please see action log for more detailed progress updates. Action – Peter and Ronnie to write to the other GP’s to ask them to sign up for the Health Checks. Linda Hiscott reported back to the board on the waiting times of specialist services, physio etc.

Specialist Services – the current waiting time is an average of 8 weeks. Cases are prioritised as to how urgent they are and this determines how long the waiting time is.

Physio Therapy – average of 11 days waiting time. Community Occupational Therapy – Peter reported that there is currently 17

people on the waiting list which is only a few days wait. More Choice and Control Action Updates

(i) Directory of services - still to work on. To be left on the action plan. (ii) How to get an advocate leaflet - still to work on. Will be picked up when the

new worker in post has returned off annual leave. (iii) Resource directory – will be picked up with the directory of services. To be

left on the action plan. (iv) Direct payments good news booklet – to be left on the action plan. (v) Direct payments leaflets can be printed double size. (vi) Personal Budgets / Direct Payments event – this will be arranged and picked

up under the general raising awareness of Transformation by the Transformation Manager in the summer.

(vii) Person Centred Plan – Peter has only received 1 other person centred review plan. Providers should send to Peter.

4 Employment

The getting involved group reported the following:

Schools should help more and give people more work experience to equip them for paid jobs.

Day centres should help them more with employment. Many members felt job coaching was a good idea. There is confusion about understanding benefits, as losing benefit money stops

them from getting a job. Employers should be more involved in giving people with a learning disability a

chance. Two members of the group felt that in particular public services need to change

their attitudes towards hiring people with a learning disability. Transport is an issue in being able to get to and from work. Employers should

look at paying the travel costs.

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Concern was raised about work based bullying; being given the worst jobs, being told they are too slow at the job, being asked to leave because of “their difficulties” and false allegations of stealing.

CRB clearances are also delaying people with a learning disability from getting a job because they take a long time to process.

They want to be listened to at interviews. More computer courses should be available Workbase employment has been helpful for people with a learning disability, but

some people felt the attitude of employers is very poor. An employment pack should be introduced.

Carers felt that whilst some people with a learning disability wanted a job, the rest were happy to just continue attending the day centre. It is necessary that there is more emotional support available to help coach people with a learning disability. It would also be helpful if adverts were easy to read so people understand what is required. BLPT have an employment policy but have experienced difficulty in paying someone immediately for their work. Kate Walker is leading the work to write an employment strategy for Bedford. The draft strategy needs to be written by the 1st April 2010. All of the things which have been said today will be included in the strategy. Stakeholder consultation will follow and comments from the next partnership board will also be taken into account.

Ellen from Pure Innovations then gave a presentation on ‘Valuing Employment Now’. (see attached slides). If you would like your own copy of “Valuing Emplouyment Now”, you can get it electronically from the internet or order a paper copy by visiting www.orderline.dh.gov.uk and quoting 296550a/Valuing Employment Now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities or you can write to: DH Publications Orderline, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH. John Myers talked about Bromham Millers and their plans to help people with a learning disability get into employment. (see attached leaflet). Kate Walker then talked about the Employment Strategy that Bedford Borough Council are drafting. One of the carers had experience difficulty in obtaining a work placement because of insurance. Ellen and Kate will provide assistance to resolve this problem. Mark Constant said that his company are currently trying to fill 3 posts which have been reserved for people with a learning disability. They are being offered to their residents first but will be made to other people with a learning disability if they are not all filled. People thought this was a good idea. Ellen said that the DWP have also created some jobs which only people with a learning disability can apply for. Linda said that BLPT have a scheme to keep some jobs for people with a learning disability. Linda to report back at the next board how many people with a learning disability BLPT employ. The partnership board challenged Bedford Borough Council and NHS Bedfordshire to

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4.1

identify some jobs for people with a learning disability. Action – Peter and Michelle to take forward. The adult social care system only knows about a small number of people with a learning dsiability in employment. The partnership board would like to make contact with more of these people as a small amount of emotional support might help prevent a crisis. Anne Marie said that people at St John’s School are looking forward to work experience but will need help to find suitable employers. Connexions should be able to help with this and the partnership board agreed to help if there were still any difficulties. Some people have difficulty in transport. This means that some people need travel training help. “Access To Work” might be able to help others. Action Points a. Kate to complete draft of the Employment Strategy by the end of March. The

strategy will include: Arrangements for providing emotional support for people with a learning

disability in employment Volunteering and progress to a paid job Supported employment Support to start at school Interview preparation Training Transport for work Benefits advice A delivery plan

b. All organisations / providers to encourage people with a learning disability from Bedford who are in a paid job to make themselves known to the Learning Disaiblity Team. A social event will be organised for everyone. . Kate to brief the duty desk.

c. Anne-Marie King to ask school friends at St John’s School, about what work experience they would like and to report back at the next partnership board.

d. Ask the Regional Forum about social enterprises. e. The Learning Disability Team will use annual reviews to find out about peoples

plans for employment and encourage everybody to think about this. f. The workbase scheme will be reviewed during the next year and the government is

changing the funding rules.

5. AOB Regional Innovation Fund - NHS East of England’s 2009/10 Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) is being launched to find ways to support innovation at the front line to help improve the lives of those with long -term conditions in the region.

Applications invited for between £50,000 and £300,000 Closing date 29th March (10am) Check website for more details. www.eoe.nhs.uk

If anybody has any ideas, please let Peter know of them.

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Stakeholder Consultation for Commissioning Strategies – Thursday 18th March at the Harpur Suite, Bedford Corn Exchange. There will be a morning and afternoon session (only need to attend one). For more information see attached email. Slot to be booked at the next partnership board to discuss further. Health Self Assessment – The Health Self Assessment is due in at the beginning of March. Michelle will consult with Advocacy Alliance and carers to produce a draft which will be sent to partnership board members for consultation and the final document will come to our next meting. Action - Michelle to address. Learning Disability Carers Conference – Save the date in your diaries for the 1st April 2010, 10am – 3pm at the Harpur Suite, Bedford Corn Exchange.

6. Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 16th March 2010 at 12 noon in the Council Chamber at Borough Hall.

Housing briefing paper was given to all at this meeting.

Attendee List Peter Loose Bedford Borough Council Claire Minney Bedford Borough Council Anne Tombs Signpost Volunteers Neil Brandon Service User Harry Nash Support Worker, Papworth Trust Vanessa Wilson Bedford Mencap Michelle Robertson Lansdowne Care Services Patricia Brodie BLPT Sandra Green Bedsnet Peggy Todd Bedsnet Joyce Struthers Bedsnet Flavia Service User Mark Service User Cheryl Service User Mark Constant Community Care Solutions Trish Crowsley Social Care Solutions Sue Gillard Service User, Kempston Centre Fred Gillard Carer Anne Tombs Signpost Volunteers Dick Crabbe Bedford Mencap Alan Hunter Carer – Carers Forum 229 Helen Cooke Mencap Gary Thorpe Craegmoor Michelle Bradley NHS Bedfordshire

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Tricia Atkinson Carer – Carers Forum John Myers Bromham Millers Andrew Bedwell “My Time” The Fremantle Trust Stephanie Stebbings Fremantle Liz Harris Fremantle Nicki Ward Choice Support John Farrar Hockley Aldwyck Housing Association Linda Hiscott BLPT Sharon Hart Beds Garden Carers Steven Brill Beds Garden Carers Alison Hesford Loveys Lodge Jane Hensman Loveys Lodge Matt Tylee Bedford Independent Living Team Fiona Walshe Direct Services, Bedford Borough

Council Dennis Smith Julieann Slingsby Bedford Centre Ian Morgan Bedford Centre Claire Crawford-Smith Advocacy Alliance Ed Norris Advocacy Alliance Apologies Sheila Hartnett Bedford Hospital Colin Ovington Bedford Hospital Andy Lowden Smith St Johns PTA Lorraine Taylor Affinity Trust Jackie Golding NHS Bedfordshire Jo Jones Graham Wiseman Alison Wood Stables Christian Centre Evelyn Mobbs Bedsnet Pam Walker Bedsnet Dinah Berry Carers Forum Sue Crabbe Carers Forum Marian McEwen Aldwyck Housing Association Mel Thomas Bedford Borough Council Vicki Airs Advocacy Alliance

Learning Disability Partnership Board  

   Getting a Job  

 

The Bedford Learning Disability Partnership Board will be talking on 9th February 2010 about getting a job. Lots of things can make this hard for people with learning disabilities at the moment. We need to know how to make this easier so when people want to work, they can.

Lots of words are used when people want to start working:

 

Job Centre

 

 

 

To make it easier for people to get jobs we need to change the way that other people

think about people with learning disabilities so they know they can work.  

Work

Pay

Employment

Job Centre

 

Work based Volunteer

Supported Employment

Experience

Some ideas about what can change to help more people with learning disabilities to get jobs

Getting ready for work

Schools and colleges could start to help people to get ready for work when they are younger to help and advise them to think about what job they will want to do.

Day Services

People who go to a day centre could be supported with employment options much more. This includes people with complex needs.

Job Coaching Benefits Help

People could have better benefits advice and job coaching to help them to learn skills for a job. This happens in Supported Employment.

Your own personal budget

Personal Budgets could start to be used to help people to choose how they live their lives- including job support.

Having the same job chances as other people

We could involve more employers and tell them they should employ people with a learning disability – to make sure people have equal chances.

Showing the way

Public Services, like Bedford Borough Council, Hospitals and Schools could start setting a better example and employ more people with a learning disability.

Transport

We could work with public transport services to make it easier for people to travel.We could also do more travel training so people can get to work from near where they live.

At the Partnership meeting on 9th February 2010 we want to ask you what you think about getting a job and what more could be done

1. Are the services that you use now helping you to think about getting a job? How is this happening?

2. What else would help people with learning disabilities to get a job?

3. Do you know where to go to find out about work options?

To find out more about the Partnership Board contact Claire on 01234 228204.