“REACH – constantly aspire for better” Reflections on Supported Living today
Blog by Jayne Knight, Learning Disability England member
Read more ““REACH – constantly aspire for better” Reflections on Supported Living today”Latest News
Latest News
Human rights reform outrage – social care sector unites in open letter to Ministers criticising careless Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
Learning Disability England has joined over 100 social care sector organisations that have come together to unite and sign an open letter to the Minister of State for Social Care, Caroline Dinenage MP, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lords), Baroness Blackwood seeking clarification and change on concerning aspects of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill. All firmly believe that the Bill will adversely affect the rights of people who rely on care and support services.
Read more “Human rights reform outrage – social care sector unites in open letter to Ministers criticising careless Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill”What we will do if things go wrong or we do not agree with a member
Learning Disability England wants to work our members to create a strong, positive network built on trust and shared aims.
Over time we will develop a list of the kinds of policies or ways of working we support. This will be based on evidence from lots of places, especially what people with learning disabilities tell us is important.
We will work out what is on that list by asking our members (a vote), consultation through meetings or from information other people tell us from research or feedback they have had.
We will have this list to give ideas and principles for what matters to people with learning disabilities. It will not be what we expect everyone to agree with or use but it helps Learning Disability England and our members work in good ways that are based on rights, choice, independence and inclusion.
The Representative Body make the final decisions on what Learning Disability England supports to help makes it aims and values happen.
Some examples of what Learning Disability England has talked about so far include:
- The Building the Right Support policy and model
- Registering the Right Support Policy
- Driving Up Quality Code
- REACH standards for supported living
We do not have the time to check on every member but if we are told or find out that what a member says or does is not following Learning Disability England’s aims, purpose or beliefs then we will find out more to check if it is true or affects Learning Disability England members.
We will offer help or ideas for putting something right if we all agreed there was a problem.
We may ask them to leave if we decide that what they are doing does not fit with the aims of being a member.
A subgroup of the Representative Body will be the lead for this. A group with at least a rep from self-advocates, families or allies or organisations will look at any complaints or worries and make the decision on if a member is asked to leave.
That group might ask other Learning Disability England members to join them, but they will make the final decision on behalf of the members Representative Body.
What we will do if it looks like there is a problem
- We will contact the person and organisation. We will let them know what we are worried about or the complaint we have had
- We will ask them what they think is happening or if they want to give us any other information.
- We will offer to meet or talk about what has happened
- The subgroup will look at all the information from the member, Learning Disability England’s aims, values and policies we support and decide based on that
- We will then tell the member what they decided
- If the member thinks it is wrong or unfair they can send a complaint or appeal to the full Representative Body via the co-chairs
The staff team’s job is to help make this happen, not to control it or make the decision.
Shaw Trust Power List 2019
The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List is an annual publication celebrating Britain’s 100 most influential disabled people. The Disability Power 100 List is compiled by an independent judging panel.
Read more “Shaw Trust Power List 2019”
Our work on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill – update January 2019
Last year we asked our members what they thought about the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill. Self advocates, families, professionals and organisations all agreed on the main points – they were worried about people’s rights, people and their families’ voice being heard and potential conflicts of interest in the proposals. You can see what people said here
Read more “Our work on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill – update January 2019”
The law commission are thinking about driverless vehicles
The law commission are thinking about driverless vehicles. They want to know what disabled people need so that vehicles without a driver are accessible to everyone.
Read more “The law commission are thinking about driverless vehicles”Conference Pop-ups
| Pop- Up Sessions 10.15 - 10.45 | |
|---|---|
| Our way of checking Quality The Association of Quality Checkers (AQC) is a non-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the work of Quality Checkers with disabilities. We believe that people who have experience of services are in the best position to judge quality. Join the directors from The Quality Company and Choice Support to see how we check quality our way! | Click for session presentation |
| LB Toolkit The session charts the story of Connor Sparrowhawk which inspired the toolkit. From its inception to the actual toolkit and how accessible information can enable people who have communication difficulties have their voice heard without having a professional advocate directly involved. The use of the toolkit enables people to take their time in developing their understanding of the complicated process of a social care assessment explaining issues within the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act. People can choose to do this themselves, with people they trust or with professionals. The unique things about the toolkit is that not only does it give easy to understand information, it also prompts and offers space for people to express their feelings, wishes and needs with every booklet. Our Justice for LB Toolkit was created from feedback from those who have benefited from our support, those with learning difficulties and those who have undergone care assessments. | Click for session presentation |
| The NHS Long Term Plan: building partnerships The NHS Long Term Plan was published on 7 January. In this session, talk to member of the NHS England learning disability team about the Long Term Plan and how they can work with people to get the best results. Hear about the main things in the plan and share your ideas about who should be involved and how. | Click for session presentation Please click for session notes |
| Great Communities A partnership project between MacIntyre, Community Catalysts CIC and the people of Warrington. Finding ways to help and include people who don’t get the care and support they need…people who fall through the gaps. We are: • Identifying people who are falling through the gaps • Engaging them and other local people and organisations - working in partnership • Focussing on the good stuff - making the most of Warrington’s assets, especially its people • Enabling people falling through the gap to live a good life, connected to and contributing to their community • Seeing if the learning can be used elsewhere | Click for session presentation |
The NHS 10 year – what we are thinking so far
We have done a short briefing for Learning Disability England members on the plan and Learning Disability England’s thoughts on it.
A chance for people with learning disabilities and autistic people’s life and care to matter?
Celebrating 70 years of Human Rights – action, resources and inquiry
Learning disability England is one of the 155 groups or organisations that has signed this letter to the prime minister asking her to commit to looking after those freedoms for everyone
Conference Pop-up Sessions
| Pop- Up Sessions 10.15 - 10.45 | |
|---|---|
| Our way of checking Quality The Association of Quality Checkers (AQC) is a non-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the work of Quality Checkers with disabilities. We believe that people who have experience of services are in the best position to judge quality. Join the directors from The Quality Company and Choice Support to see how we check quality our way! | Click for session presentation |
| LB Toolkit The session charts the story of Connor Sparrowhawk which inspired the toolkit. From its inception to the actual toolkit and how accessible information can enable people who have communication difficulties have their voice heard without having a professional advocate directly involved. The use of the toolkit enables people to take their time in developing their understanding of the complicated process of a social care assessment explaining issues within the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act. People can choose to do this themselves, with people they trust or with professionals. The unique things about the toolkit is that not only does it give easy to understand information, it also prompts and offers space for people to express their feelings, wishes and needs with every booklet. Our Justice for LB Toolkit was created from feedback from those who have benefited from our support, those with learning difficulties and those who have undergone care assessments. | Click for session presentation |
| The NHS Long Term Plan: building partnerships The NHS Long Term Plan was published on 7 January. In this session, talk to member of the NHS England learning disability team about the Long Term Plan and how they can work with people to get the best results. Hear about the main things in the plan and share your ideas about who should be involved and how. | Click for session presentation Please click for session notes |
| Great Communities A partnership project between MacIntyre, Community Catalysts CIC and the people of Warrington. Finding ways to help and include people who don’t get the care and support they need…people who fall through the gaps. We are: • Identifying people who are falling through the gaps • Engaging them and other local people and organisations - working in partnership • Focussing on the good stuff - making the most of Warrington’s assets, especially its people • Enabling people falling through the gap to live a good life, connected to and contributing to their community • Seeing if the learning can be used elsewhere | Click for session presentation |