Notes from our meeting of Wednesday 5 th January 2011 In Attendance Heather WadeyRAD Cath WhiteRAD Donna LanderSurrey CC Keith Spicer Rita WrightYMCA Jen FookesRABDA Sheila CraigColebrook Natalie KeensColebrook VincentColebrook Joyce SmithALDAG President Gaynor GibbinsParent/Carer Marion PriceParent/Carer Barbara EdwardSABP Shirley SaundersSeeAbility Sue Jobson VoiceAbility John WoodProspect Housing Margaret LeatherbyParent Carer Barry Roberts Susann StoneSABP Peter Chang Penny Davies Ian Lander Laura NetleyBentley SCC Apologies There were apologies from Alastair Jack, Claire White (unable to attend as she has car problems today she will present at the next meeting), Hilary Clarke, Diane Czako

Notes of Last Meeting – 3 rd November 2010 The Y Mania event at Liquid Envy on Wednesday 15th December everyone had a good time. They hope to organise another event at Easter. They just broke even this time. If anyone has any information on funding let Rita Wright know. SCC changes they have listened to the feedback and the consultation paper has gone back to be revised. They hadn’t given the necessary consultation period. It looks like the new long term teams wont take effect until April/May time. The Quality Manager – Jen had heard there was going to be one – Donna will check this out. We will ask Clare Richards to come back to up-date about Day services. News Items Joyce said she had heard a radio programme regarding Self Directed Support where they had interviewed two people previously and they had been thrilled that they could develop their lives and they returned to interview them again and found that even though there had been no change in their circumstances they had had their budgets cut by a third. Cath said there is a pilot project on Right to Control and she had asked Abi to attend, she will chase him up. Joyce said she was still unable to receive the group e mail but Gaynor was kindly passing the information on. Marion Price asked to be put back on the mailing list. Mobility component of the DLA consultation feedback is required by 14 th February There is an Easy Read version. They are trying to get carers on to a universal credit which means it will be means tested. Mencap have been asking for people to write to their MP Joyce had a reply from her MP who referred to Maria Miller and answer is if in residential care it is up to them to negotiate a fee rate which includes mobility requirement. If people in Residential homes are not bringing their mobility allowance with them and they will charge more. The Governments argument is that Residential home fees already include a charge for mobility costs and therefore it is being paid twice.

News Items Continued Jen said the response from her MP had been that everyone has to pay for these spending cuts. Cath said they will be talking about allowances at the next Partnership Board meeting. Marion said there is another Consultation from the Commission of Funding Care and Support – about future funding. Mainly for older people but it will have an effect on people with a learning disability it has to be back on 28th January, - Joyce: Who has it gone to? If the consultation doesn’t go to people it affects they won’t get a true feedback. The Care Quality Commission are going to do a consultation, They will also be bringing out a new award of excellence. The award will involve more than just ticking all the boxes. Cath made a note that this could link in with Quality Checkers. Had Alastar Calder here lot of discussion and ask him to come further and invite him back. Redhill Hub builders are in things have been delayed because of the weather so no revised opening date yet. Café ALDAG have a new manager. Jill Walker who worked at Nescot in special needs and she had her own catering business. She starts next Monday she has worked with the previous café manager. Housing Debbie They are writing an Accommodation Strategy. It involves Surrey County Council and the District Councils (Mole Valley, Tandridge, Reigate and Banstead, Redhill and Horley) there will be a chapter on each – a huge document. In 2007 there was a strategy for people with LD we are looking at what has happened since then and trying to find out what went well and what went badly. 40 people with autism have moved into their own homes and 180 option plans have been written. Coveham and Mallow Crescent care homes have been changing so people can live more independently 14 moved into new accommodation. There are new shared life schemes where people live with family or a couple in return for support. There are less people moving into Care homes. There are now more options. We are talking to people about what we need to improve.

We know we need to use equipment better to help people live independently and there is a Telecare conference at Dorking Halls coming up soon. We are working with Councils and Housing Associations. We need to learn about the changes to benefits and Alaster Calder will be talking to us about these soon. We hope that the 2011 strategy will help us to move forward and get things done. There will be an event to launch the Accommodation strategy at the end of March. In the East of the county the Boroughs and Districts have a joint supported housing plan – Donna attends the panel and situations can be discussed and shared there. We need people to join the Housing Register so they know the need. We want to make information more available. We are filming for the website to answer questions that have been asked in the past. Once they find accommodation should they stay on the register? D: Not if it is a long term placement and accommodates their needs. Marion: Their circumstances change and if you are not on the register would they still be aware that people might in future have other needs. D: If they are already in accommodation with a social landlord that maybe fine because they may have to automatically find other accommodation. If you can predict there will be changes then maybe it would be better to sit on the list but people must remember to fill in the renewal this is important. Marion: Bidding for Choice based lettings is complicated people have to be vigilant all the time. D: This will also be on the website, you can go to Help shops or the Hub. You can ask Housing Officers to bid on your behalf so you don’t have to be vigilant all the time, there are systems but it is a difficult process. Cath – Some service users will find it difficult understanding there are other people on the priority list. D: The film on the website will show someone bidding first time unsuccessfully but next time they do get property they bid on. There is a large number of people with learning disability in the East and a shortage of the right type of housing. There are older people living in houses which are too large for them. The boroughs and Districts are working to come up with positive options to free up bigger adapted properties. There is lots being done to develop a database to share information on who needs what type of adaptations and where they are. They are looking at providing the best standard that is suitable for most people and then individual properties can be tweaked for individuals.

They are hoping to develop new services for young people and also people with autism we now have good information on numbers and where it is needed. We are working on these key groups at the moment. Marion: - There are a lot of people with syndromes outside the autistic spectrum they also require specialised care maybe people are beginning to forget about this group. D: Not everybody fits into a category so we try not to use too many names and we won’t focus to the exclusion of others. Through schools we can map and plan. At the moment people can’t have Shared Ownership as it is not affordable because of the changes. We don’t know what will happen next. It is a difficult time to put a strategy together because of the changes. Cath: Alaster Calder will be talking tomorrow to the Partnership Board as there has been a change in rules for housing allowance – it is very complex. Joyce – With increased interest in shared flat or house with no staff all times this makes those people very vulnerable. Hate crime is increasing are we doing enough. Some people are in fear of reporting it. Barry Hobbs will be running sessions at Colebrook to raise awareness on hate crime what it is and what to do about it this will raise self confidence. There will be a film and a booklet. We need to do Support planning about what there vulnerabilities are and ensure they know who to go to when there is a problem. Cath will ask Barry to send info to send out with the minutes and ask him to come to a future meeting. Cath has Debbie’s contact details, if you think of any further comments let Cath know. Debbie will look into putting a draft of the strategy on the Partnership Board for a period to the end of February/ beginning of March. Dates for this Year Dates and venues – next meeting will be 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. at Leatherhead Institute. Marion will have to leave early. Parking will be in the Swan Centre. Park House is fully booked. Ideas for future meetings: Alaster Calder- Update on benefits, Barry Hobbs- Hate Crime Project, Claire White - SDS, Tom Moore - Autism Strategy implementation, Claire Richards - Day Services. Suggest a Health Day in September and on agenda to discuss in June/July. The Big Lunch in April if anyone has any thoughts let Cath know.

Updates Marion – Regional Programme Board very interesting talk on Mental Capacity Act. The training of staff in residential and outside, MCA is one of the issues, not enough staff really understand it and are implementing it. There is an Easy Read version of the Act out, it is quite good. Marion also attends the National Carers Network. At the Carers meeting there was a talk about supporting you and the family as you grow older – Marion will try to carry on doing both meetings. She has retired from the focus group of Surrey and Borders Partnership. Health self assessments, Surrey’s meeting was yesterday. May have feedback at meeting tomorrow. The Dept of Health website has the latest news and updates. You will find the Valuing People Newsletter Launch of autism strategy, launch of Valuing people Now annual report. Launch of Easy Read Guidance, 6 Lives report – (progress report on that). Also on Partnership Board website – how to prepare for cold weather which is a useful document. Are Health Checks being carried out? Susann there are some good GP’s doing that. They check blood pressure, height and weight, blood tests will be done if there is a family history of something. Should parents go with them first? Let the person choose People involved need to ensure they are kept up to date. It is frustrating for the GP if it is not up to date. The Hospital Passport being used at East Surrey Hospital is very good to be kept up to date, Susann and Lynne Ramnanansingh will attend this meeting on a regular basis to keep the group informed of up to date information. Date of Next Meeting Wednesday 2nd February 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. at Room G7 Leatherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead KT22 8AH