August-September 2005 Newsletter In Full

People needed for adult placement panel

St. Anne’s Community Carers Scheme finds carers who offer a place in their home to a person with a learning disability.
This is usually called “adult placement”.

All carers are interviewed by an independent panel. They are looking for people to join the panel. They would like:

• Service users
• Carers
• People who work with people with learning disabilities.

The panel meets for a couple of hours every few months.

If you would like more information contact Martin Ewing on Tel  281 6967

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Case study:

Carr-Gomm supports families to achieve the skills and confidence to take control and live independent lives.
Janice:
“We started working together in November 2004, just after I had moved to this house. I found out about Car-Gomm through my social worker. She was leaving and thought a bit of regular support would be useful.”

I see Ruth every week and she has helped me get settled in my new house. It’s a good chance to talk about whatever has happened in the week and to sort out things like bills and benefits. After moving house, getting to my hospital appointments was difficult, so Ruth sometimes comes with me.

I am about to finish a course at my family learning centre. I didn’t feel confident about starting it, but Ruth encouraged me. She has provided support as I got used to the changes I had to make in my life to do the course.

I’m a lot happier with where I live and what I’m doing. I have more of a bond with my daughters because I am less stressed. My confidence is boosted and I’m starting to think about what jobs I might like to do in the future.”

Ruth, support worker:
“At our first meeting, we did an assessment, along with Janice’s social worker. Then when we started working together properly we worked on an individual support plan. This is a list of things that we have been working on together. Then, every 3 months we look how far we have got and what is left to do. We might run out of things, and then my visits will end.”

For more information contact Carr-Gomm on Tel
 225 0090

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Leeds Socials Services report on Complaints, Comments and Compliments.

Leeds Social Services has several ways of making sure people who use the services can say what they think about them.
One of these ways is the comments, compliments and complaints procedure.

Complaints:
Last year Social Services got a lot more complaints from people with learning disabilities – 42 complaints compared to 24 the year before. Social Services are pleased that more service users and carers feel they can complain and that they know how they can say what they think and be heard.

Social services use the complaints to try and improve services. After complaints last year, social services has:

• tried to improve the amount of information people with learning disabilities get about the housing and support contracts for where they live.

• Made sure some transport drivers have mobile phones to improve communication between drivers, service users and carers.

Compliments:
Social services received compliments from service users and carers about the Home Care team and about the high standard of care provided by social workers and care staff.

If you would like to make a complaint or compliment contact the Complaints team on Tel
 24 78627, or Email
 complaints.socs@leeds.gov.uk

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Interview with Rosemary Archer, Director of Social Services.

By Philip Hawley

1. What is your job title and what do you do?

As Director of Social Services, I am responsible for all the Social Services in Leeds. I work with a team of people in Social Services. I also work with a team of directors in the city to make sure Social Services meet the overall aims of the city.

2. Have you worked with people with learning disabilities in the past?

Yes, I started work in Social Services in 1974, as an instructor at a training centre for people with ‘mental handicap’ as it was called then. Until 1990 I worked in both day services and housing for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues. A lot of my work was around helping people move out of long stay hospitals.

3. Does Leeds Council have an overall Learning Disability Strategy for things like housing, leisure, employment and health?

The Joint Commissioning Service is writing an over-arching five year strategic plan at the moment.

This is not only about Health and Social Care but covers housing, day and evening opportunities, employment and continuing education. It builds on the work of the partnership board and its sub-groups. It will be the guiding document for the modernisation and creation of person centred services for all of Leeds learning disabled citizens.

4. How are "Day Services" going to be modernised in line with Valuing People?

I know there has been a great deal of consultation on day services modernisation. A document explaining the plans is being prepared by the `Day Services Modernisation Group`. The key elements it will need to think about are:

• How we can help all people with learning disabilities access the full range of mainstream services we all use.
• How we can make the services more local to people’s homes and communities.
• How we can give people choices not only in what they do but when they do it.
• The need to continue to provide a respite function for carers but also ensure people with learning disabilities will have a valued experience.
• We need to work with colleges and leisure centres to ensure their buildings have appropriate physical facilities and skilled staff.
• Where we do need to provide services in buildings these need to be modern and right for how they will be used.

The day centre Modernisation Manager post was funded through a development fund and we can’t guarantee that funding would be available beyond next year. At the moment someone is covering the Manager duties, which shows our commitment to modernising the services.

In relation to the existing day centres, most of the buildings are either in poor condition, unsuitable or on isolated sites on the edge of our communities. They create a barrier to independence and social inclusion. These buildings need to be replaced with modern facilities located at the heart of people’s local communities. I know the plans are looking at how we can address this need for capital investment (find the money to do it).

5. What recommendations or actions would you like to see come from the Green Paper - Independence Wellbeing and Choice?

Personally, I hope the Green Paper could bring about a real change in the way Social Services relates to adults and how people get their services. Direct payments and individual budgets mean that people have more control. But, the Green Paper says there is no extra money to make this happen and so I am concerned that the ambitions will be difficult to deliver.

Other questions covered:

• Individual budgets
• Partnership Board developments
• The voluntary and community sector services
• Plans for hostel accommodation

If you would like a full copy of the interview, contact Through The Maze on 243 9919 or email throughthemaze@mencap.org.uk

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Margaret Baines

Some people will have heard of the sad news of the death of Margaret Baines.

Margaret was the secretary of Leeds People First and a member of Leeds Women First.

Margaret had also worked for Connect in the North on the Making Your Days Better project and went to Bramley Day Centre.

As those who knew Margaret will know she was always ready to give her opinion and have her say. She was a loyal friend and her frankness and honesty will be missed by many people.

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Rothwell day centre music festival.

Saturday 24th September, Rothwell day centre, Holmsley Lane. Afternoon and into the evening.

There will be a large mix of music, hopefully including swing, blues, Latin American, brass band, a cover band, folk and Cajun. There will be family activities, including a magician, food and drink.

For more information and tickets nearer the time call Steve or Mark Wallis on Tel  282 6042

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Communication Issues in Children with Down’s Syndrome.

Friday 23rd September, St Mary’s Conference Centre, Sheffield. By the Down’s Syndrome Association
For more information contact Rachel Davies on Tel
 0114 231 5500.

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Choices event for disabled people and carers.

By the Service Users and Carers Alliance (SUCA) Thursday 20th October, St Chad’s Parish Hall. Speakers and workshops on direct payments, employment and education.
For more information contact Belinda at Leeds Involvement Project on Tel Tel:307 3280.

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Ethics of touch Workshop – by David Hingsburger.

Friday 2nd December, organised by Connect in the North.

The workshop is aimed at staff who work directly with people with learning difficulties and who are required to provide physical support.
For more information contact Connect in the North on Tel
 270 3233

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Leeds Learning Disability Partnership Board

The next Partnership Board meeting is on Tuesday 20th September. This is at St Matthias Church Centre.

For more information contact Louise Mills on Tel  247 8894

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Beautiful Octopus Club
The original club night run by adults with learning disabilities. Live shows, DJs, open mic and jam sessions, digital arts, chill out room, dancing ...

Thursday 8th September from 7pm to 11.30pm.
At Club Evolution, Cardigan Fields Leisure Complex, Kirkstall. All tickets £5.00 Over 18s only

For more information contact Nicky on 213 7296 or email nicky.taylor@wyp.org.uk

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