Community Lives in Derbyshire

Community Connector Service

Community Lives

• Community Lives is a new programme looking at the way people with learning disabilities are being supported.

Community Lives

• We know that some people’s needs are not being met in a way that is personal to them.

• Community Lives wants to change this. We want to find better ways of meeting the needs of everyone.

Community Lives

• Community Lives wants people to have more opportunities.

Community Lives

• It wants people to have more choice and control.

Community Lives

• It wants people to have opportunities to do paid or voluntary work.

Community Lives

• It wants people to have opportunities in leisure and education.

Community Lives

• It wants people to be healthy.

Community Lives

• It wants people to be safe, and feel safe, in their community.

Community Lives

• It wants people to have opportunities to make friends and have relationships.

Community Lives

• It wants people to have opportunities to be included in their local community

Community Connectors

• As part of the Community Lives programme a new service has been set up.

• This is called the Community Connector service.

What does the Community Connector service do?

• The Community Connector service offers an alternative to day centres and supports people to do things in their own community.

Community Connectors will:

• Support people to find out what is happening and become more involved in their local community.

• Support people to think about the things they would like to do in their lives and look at ways to help them achieve them.

Community Connectors will support people to:

• Develop new skills and interests.

• Develop and maintain friendships and relationships during the day, in the evening and at the weekend.

Community Connectors will support people to:

• Plan how to use their personal budget, if they have one.

• Develop their own support plan.

Community Connectors

• People will receive 1-1 support from a community connector for 2 days a week for up to 12 weeks.

• At the end of the 12 weeks it is hoped they will be able to continue with their chosen activities without the support of a community connector.

What is a Personal Budget?

• At the moment a lot of people do not have much choice about the support and services that they get.

• A personal budget is money to pay for support.

What is a Personal Budget?

• People can have more choice about the support that they get by getting a personal budget and using it to get the support that is right for them.

• The amount of money that someone gets depends on the level of support that they need.

What is a Support Plan?

• A support plan shows how someone will spend the money from their personal budget to get the support and the life that they want.

• The council has to agree to the support plan.

A Support Plan should answer these questions:

1. What is important to you? 2. What do you want to change? 3. How will you arrange your support? 4. How will you spend your money? 5. How will you manage your support? 6. How will you stay in control? 7. What will you do next?

A community connector can help with this.

Who can use the Community Connector service?

• To begin with the following people will be able to use the Community Connector service.

• People who go to day centres but do not want to and would like to try something new.

Who can use the Community Connector service?

• People who, after being assessed, are not entitled to help from Adult Care.

• Young people who are leaving school or college. This is sometimes called transition.

More Information

• You can find more information about Community Lives by looking at the website on a computer.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/communitylives

• You can also ask questions and get information by telephoning Call Derbyshire.

Telephone Number 08457 058 058

Questions

• What happens after 12 weeks if people need more time or ongoing support?

• Do support plans cover emergencies or do carers have to step in and cope?

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