Development Day Feedback Held on 9th February

Why do it? Reps on Board said…... I like to chair, give information, so I can feedback to others, I want to speak up for people with a learning disability, I want to make things happen and make a difference.

Why do it? Carers said……... To help improve the life and prospects of people with a learning disability, To ensure carers have a say, To make sure carers are included in decision making.

Why do it? Staff said……….. To network and learn about local concerns, To support elected reps, To help people with learning disabilities have a say and empower them to get their voices heard.

County Board – What’s working? Meet and greet New chair arrangements Themed meetings Homework Time to network Feedback from local groups Using symbols as well as words Microphones Using red and green cards More time to talk to each other

County Board – What’s not working? Still too much jargon Too much on agenda Not enough focus on people with high support needs Feel we a losing presence of decision makers Unclear Terms of Reference Unclear on what decision making power it has Too many professionals or not the right ones! Availability of information other than via the website Actions not always followed up More links with local groups Consistent support for reps Don’t know who many of the professionals are?

Local Boards – What’s working? Opportunities to network Using red and green cards Guest speakers Reps like to share the chairing role Time to reflect on effectiveness of group Meetings arranged in different places enabling more people to attend Successful campaigns and influencing changes in the community Better communication between members Regular attending professionals Transport Having champions for people with high support needs Consider the budget and good health at every meeting

Local Boards – What’s not working? People not sure of their roles Not enough information about the budget Too much on agenda Need more elected reps on some Boards Consulting with local people and promotion of the local Board Good News can take up too much time Adult Care Managers chairing Not always relevant professionals attending Actions not always followed up due to capacity Too much paperwork Not enough carers on some Boards

Other Groups – What’s working? Community Lives and Communication Sub-Group Good Health Group Choice and Control Task Force – they are ‘buzz’ days and involve a lot of people County sub-groups Local sub-groups i.e. Housing Group Volunteer chair for Good Health Group Big Health Day

Other Groups – What’s not working? Admin support Life beyond the meeting – what happens outside the meeting i.e. What happens with Choice and Control feedback? Transport Limited consistency of reps attending Work feels less important to decision makers Not enough reps on Board and carers attending groups from the South Tracking of decisions/actions not effective Information about changes to groups i.e. choice and control local groups closed without consultation No guidance on expenses to attend extra meetings

Action o Short life Sub-group to consider what’s not working and come up with ideas of how to improve things – agree the ideas at the next Board in May Volunteers please!!

Key Topics for 2012 for High Peak and Nth Dales Local Board 1.Transport, 2.Recruiting volunteers to accompany people to where they want to go, 3.Short slot near the end of the meeting to review who is doing what by when, 4.Improve links with NHS, and provision in Stockport, Glossop and Macclesfield.

Key Topics for 2012 for Amber Valley Local Board 1.To provide various avenues for people with learning disabilities to be able to experience various activities whilst feeling safe, comfortable, valued and involved.

Key Topics for 2012 for Erewash Local Board 1.Better understanding on the budget and regular updates, 2.Easy to follow language in meetings and minutes – we tend to forget how important this is…. 3.Need to track that we do the things that we say we will do Elected reps and carers form an engagement team in order to monitor and influence audits of providers of services for people with learning disabilities.

Key Topics for 2012 for Chesterfield Local Board 1.To make our flip Board better, 2.To talk to more people in Chesterfield about what’s important to them, 3.We want to increase our membership of our local Board by: Holding a coffee morning in March (in place of our next meeting). Do the planning for it at the February meeting.

Key Topics for 2012 for Sth Derbyshire and Sth Dales Local Board 1.Be more inclusive, 2.Focus on the themes for the County Board, 3.Increase the number of people with a learning disability in the group.

Questions ?