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Dover District Partnership Group Annual Report 2013-14
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Contents
Introduction
3
Summary
4
Health:
� Easy Read Information Packs for opticians and people with a learning disability
� Support people with learning disabilities to have a voice with local Health Service Providers
� Promote awareness of Health Action Plans and Annual Health Checks
7 9
11
Employment:
� Hold a Careers Fair to make sure people have information about preparing for work
� Find out if people are getting the support they need from Job Centre Plus and other employment support organisations
13 14
Housing:
� Raise awareness of the need for people and their families to plan for future housing needs, especially those living with older parents
� Provide information on equipment and technology that can help people to live safely and independently
16 17
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Personalisation:
� Promote Direct Payments and how these can improve choice and control in people’s lives
� Produce a District Partnership Group Newsletter � Measure impact of changes in benefits system on people with LD.
� Find out if people are able to make use of the changing places toilets when they need to
18 19 20 21
Citizenship:
� Make sure people, including family carers, are being supported well through the changes to day services
� Raise awareness of the issues people with learning disabilities face in the community
22 23
Transition:
� Make sure young people and their families have access to the information and support they need during transition
� Promote the District Partnership Group and Valuing People Now to children aged 16+ and their families/carers
25 27
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Introduction
East Kent Mencap manages the District Partnership
Groups in
� Ashford
� Canterbury
� Dover
� Shepway
� Swale
� Thanet
It is part of the Kent Valuing People Partnership, a group
of organisations who support Kent County Council to
make Valuing People happen.
Each District Partnership has a District Valuing People
Worker who works with people to make the District
Annual Plan happen. Michelle Hosken is the Valuing
People District Worker for Dover.
District Partnership Groups look at the 6 main things
within Valuing People Now:
� Health
� Employment (jobs and getting ready for work)
� Where people live / housing
� Being in control of your life (Personalisation)
� Citizenship
� Young people becoming adults (Transition)
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Summary
The last year was an exciting time for the District
Partnership Group (DPG) with many new people including
school age children, attending events. We have had a lot
of interesting and interactive workshops, games and
presentations from different organisations, which has
brought a new energy to the events.
The DPG has been talking to lots of people to find out
what is working well for people with a learning disability
and their families and what is not working very well. This
information has been used to decide on the projects for
the District Plan.
The District Partnership Group has met 4 times this year.
In-between these meetings a Planning and Checking
Group has been working with people with learning
disabilities, family carers, support providers, community
groups and public services on the District Plan projects.
The DPG Advisory Group has met regularly bringing
together people with learning disabilities and others in the
local community to share information and views. We
have had many issues raised and people have been
supported to give views on a variety of consultations. We
have had more key speakers visit the Group including the
Police, community wardens and Carer’s Support.
Members of the DPG have also been supported to be part
of the Kent County Council Valuing People structure
including Delivery Groups that work on projects for the
whole of Kent.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
The District Partnership Group has been working on a
number of health projects to make sure people have good
information about staying healthy and can use health
services easily.
The DPG is a member of the South Kent Coast Health
Reference Group and is making good links with South Kent
Coast Clinical Commissioning Group.
A careers fair provided people with information on how to
prepare for employment.
A member of the DPG was also supported to present at
the Job Centre Awayday to improve customer service for
people with learning disabilities.
The DPG has been working with the Carers Advisory Group
to raise awareness of the need for people and their
families to plan for future housing needs.
We have also provided information on equipment and
technology that can help people to live safely and
independently.
Members of the DPG have a better understanding that
personalisation means the choices they make about their
lives. Members of the DPG have continued to produce a
Newsletter giving information on social events in Dover as
well as the District Partnership Group and Advisory
Groups.
Kent Police often come to the DPG meeting Advisory
Groups and make sure people know how to keep safe in
the community. The DPG is also a member of the Police
Independent Advisory Group.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Good links have also been made with Community
Wardens.
The DPG has had regular updates on the Good Day
Programme to make sure people have good information
on changes to the day services.
The DPG has been building links with young people to
make sure they and their families have access to the
information and support they need during transition.
Aspen II Unit supported a group of students to a DPG
about Person Centred Planning so that people understand
the importance of this.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Health:
Easy Read Information Packs for opticians and people
with a learning disability
Why we did this work
To make sure that the easy read Information Packs
produced by Kent Association for the Blind and the
District Partnership Groups are making it easier for people
to use high street opticians.
What we did
We gave a window sticker to the Opticians who have an
easy read resource pack. This will help people to see that
they have easy read information available.
We have updated the resource packs with more easy read
information. All opticians have been given a new CD with
lots of easy read information for customers.
Details of all Opticians that have received easy read
Information Packs has been shared with DPG members,
on Facebook and websites. We will gather feedback
through the DPG meetings of people’s experiences of
visiting the Opticians now that easy read information is
available.
What has changed as a result of this work
Optician staff are more aware of the needs of people with
learning disabilities.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Easy read information is available for people on different
eye conditions, looking after your eyes and wearing
glasses.
People will feel more confident visiting opticians.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Support people with learning disabilities to have a voice
with local Health Service Providers
Why we did this work
To make sure that Health Service Providers think about
the needs of people with learning disabilities when they
plan health services in the Dover district.
What we did
The DPG has represented the views of people with
learning disability at public meetings of South Kent Coast
Clinical Commissioning Group (SKC CCG). The CCG is the
organisation that plans and buys health services for
people living in the Dover District.
The DPG is also a member of the South Kent Coast CCG
Health Reference Group. This is a patient participation
group and one way that the CCG involves patients in its
plans.
Six DPG members have been supported to be part of Kent
Community Health Trust Patient Experience Network.
DPG members have continued to work with the Kent
Community Health Trust Patient Information Group to
produce easy read information for patients.
Information they have looked at includes: Catheter
Passport, Minor Injury Unit and Tetanus leaflets.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
The DPG Valuing People Worker attended the East Kent
Hospitals Trust Out-Patient Consultation public meeting.
The event was not easy to understand. This has been
reported back to the Hospitals Trust. People have also
been supported to give their views via paper consultation
questionnaires.
What has changed as a result of this work
The needs of people with learning disabilities continue to
be highlighted in the planning of health services.
Efforts are being made by South Kent Coast Clinical
Commissioning Group to make the Patient Reference
Group easier to understand. The DPG hopes that someone
with a learning disability will soon be supported to be the
DPG representative on this group.
The need for easy read information has been recognised
by Kent Community Health Trust.
More easy read information is available for people about
health services, treatment and conditions.
Although the East Kent Hospitals Trust Outpatient
Consultation meeting was not easy read they did produce
an easy read version of the questionnaire and people
have given their views this way.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Promote awareness of Health Action Plans and Annual
Health Checks
Why we did this work
To make sure that people know about Health Action Plans
and how these can help people to lead healthy lifestyles.
Lots of people didn’t know if they had been for an Annual
Health Check.
People told us they need encouragement and information
on keeping healthy.
What we did
Using interactive activities at a DPG meeting, people were
given information on the following:
- Personal hygiene showing the areas which need daily
cleansing
- The amount of sugar content in certain foods.
- Oral hygiene and the importance of brushing your
teeth and regular dental check-ups.
- Different eye conditions people can develop and how
regular check-ups at the opticians can help prevent
some by early detection.
Through the DPG we have given people information about
new “apps” that they can use to stay healthy. These
“apps” let people check their symptoms and suggest
where they should go for help. They can be used on
computers and smart phones.
People have been reminded about Annual Health Checks
and that they can ask for one at their GP surgery.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
What has changed as a result of this work
People have more information about what they can do to
keep themselves healthy including information about
annual health checks.
This topic has also been talked about in smaller advisory
groups and has supported people to realise the
importance of having regular check-ups and personal
hygiene.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Employment:
Hold a Careers Fair to make sure people have
information about preparing for work
Why we did this work
People told us that they didn’t know what they needed to do to get a job. People did not know who could support them to find work. What we did We held a Careers Fair to give people information on how to prepare for work. We invited organisations to share information on education, training and volunteering, as well as those who offer employment support to tell people how they can help them. We ran workshops at the event on writing a CV and interview skills. People talked about the benefits of having a job. People with learning disabilities who have jobs talked about what it means to them to have a job. What had changed as a result of this work
People know what they need to do to prepare themselves for work. People know who can support them to prepare for work, to find work and what support they can expect once they have found employment.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Find out if people are getting the support they need
from Job Centre Plus and other employment support
organisations
Why we did this work
Those people that had visited a Job Centre told us that
they did not like going there.
The Security Guards made people feel uncomfortable.
People did not know what support the Job Centre could
give them.
People did not know very much about vocational
opportunities or employment support available locally.
What we did
The DPG District Worker supported someone with a
learning disability to talk at a Job Centre Staff Meeting
about things that people with learning disabilities find
difficult when visiting the Job Centre.
Suggestions were made on changes that could be made
so that people with learning disabilities are better
supported by Job Centre staff.
Job Centre staff said that they found the presentation
“interesting and informative”.
A Directory of Employment Support has been produced
giving information and contact details for all
organisations in the Dover district that provide support to
find employment.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
This Directory includes services offered by the Volunteer
Bureau and organisations who offer vocational
opportunities.
What has changed as a result of this work
The presentation has now been turned into a short film.
This film will be presented by other DPGs to their local Job
Centres across Kent to raise awareness of the support
people with learning disabilities need from Job Centre
staff.
Job Centre staff will have a better understanding of how
to support people with learning disabilities.
People are more confident about visiting the Job Centre
and know that staff will understand their needs.
People have information about organisations that can
support them to find employment and what support each
can offer.
People have information about vocational opportunities
they may like to try.
People have information about how to contact the
Volunteer Bureau if they are interested in voluntary work.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Housing:
Raise awareness of the need for people and their
families to plan for future housing needs, especially
those living with older parents.
Why we did this work
Family Carers told us that they find it hard to think about
the future and make plans for their sons and daughters.
Carers told us that they often put this off because they
didn’t know where to start.
What we did
Through our DPG Carers Group we gathered information
on what family carers most wanted help with.
We spoke to the Carers Support organisation to find out
the best way to get information to carers.
We have decided to hold a public event for carers across
east Kent to give information on setting up wills and
trusts, person centered planning, support for carers,
housing options and keeping safe.
This event will take place in the Spring of 2014.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Provide information on equipment and technology that
can help people to live safely and independently
Why we did this work
People in the Advisory Groups asked where they could get
information to help them support people to live more
independently, but safely.
What we did
We held a meeting about ‘Keeping Safe’. Part of this
included supporting people to become more independent.
We invited organisations to come and showcase their
service including :
Shepway Lifeline, Fire safety, Message in a Bottle and the
Independent Living scheme.
What has changed as a result of doing this work
People are now more informed about the support which
is available to them and how they can access the various
services.
Carers paid and unpaid, are more informed and able to
support the person they care for to plan for their future
and become more independent.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Personalisation
Promote Direct Payments and how these can improve
choice and control in people’s lives
Why we did this work
Lots of people are not accessing Direct Payments.
People wanted more information on how to get Direct
Payments and what they could be used for.
People were worried about what they needed to do once
they had a Direct Payment.
What we did
The Kent DPG Co-ordinator and some DPG Valuing People
Workers met with staff from Kent County Council.
Kent County Council were changing the process for Direct
Payments. We wanted to make sure everyone in Kent got
the same information about these changes.
Kent County Council have new Direct Payment staff
working across Kent. These staff will link with DPGs in the
future to make sure people get good information about
Direct Payments.
Kent County Council will be visiting DPGs to tell people
about the changes in Spring 2014.
The DPGs in South West Kent have been working with
Kent County Council on some easy read information about
Direct Payments. This information will be available when
the DPGs talk about Direct Payments.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Produce a District Partnership Group Newsletter
Why we did this work
The DPG wanted to make sure people had information on
local social events, clubs and organisations supporting
people with learning disabilities.
People told us having this information helped them be
more involved in the local community.
DPG members wanted to share things they had done with
other people to encourage others to try new things or join
similar clubs.
What we did
The DPG Valuing People Worker supported a newsletter
group to produce a quarterly newsletter.
Local organisations are invited to send information about
events and opportunities for people.
People were supported to write articles to share their own
experiences.
What has changed as a result of this work
More people are writing articles to share their
experiences.
People have information about their local community and
events and clubs they may wish to attend.
The newsletter group is looking to interview local people
for articles and reports on local events.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Measure impact of changes in benefits system on
people with LD.
Why we did this work
The DPG wanted to find out how people had been affected
by changes in the benefit system and whether their
experience of the process had been good or bad.
We wanted to know if people had been supported with
assessment forms and appeals.
We wanted to raise the need for information from the
DWP to be easy read.
What we did
It has been hard to get feedback from enough people to
have a good view of how this has affected people.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Find out if people are able to make use of the changing
places toilets when they need to.
Why we did this work
Some people had heard that the Changing Places toilets
were not meeting the needs of those people that need
them.
We wanted to check that the Changing Places toilets in
Kent were meeting people’s needs.
What we did
We asked for feedback from people who had used
Changing Places toilets.
We did this through an on-line survey.
There have been some problems with the survey. Some
people could not access it so we had to repeat this piece
of work.
What has changed as a result of this work
The results of the survey will be published on our
Facebook page, the Kent Partnership Board website and
reported to the Kent Partnership Board and Kent County
Council.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Citizenship
Make sure people, including family carers, are being
supported well through the changes to day services
Why we did this work To check that people at Walmer Centre get all the information and support they need while changes are made to the Day Service. To make sure people know they can speak to an Advocate if they need to. To offer a place that people can talk about any concerns they have about the changes. What we did The DPG has good links with the Day Service and people were supported to attend District Partnership Groups and the DPG Advisory Group where individual concerns were shared and peer support was available. Meetings were held at the Walmer Centre for families and carers of people who attend the Centre. The DPG Valuing People Worker was also kept up to date by the HUB focus group. What has changed as a result of this work People from Shepway Resource Centre shared their positive experience of the changes to their day services to reassure people.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Raise awareness of the issues people with learning
disabilities face in the community
Why we did this work
People with learning disabilities need to feel safe in their
community.
Feeling safe makes people feel more confident and
independent.
The DPG wanted to make sure people continue to feel
safe when out and about in their community.
What we did
The DPG has continued its good links with Kent Police and
Community Wardens with both regularly attending DPG
meetings.
Community Wardens also link with the DPG Advisory
Group and the DPG Carers Group.
People are regularly reminded about ways to keep safe
and where they can get support on keeping safe.
The DPG is represented at the Kent Police East Division I-
PAG meetings to make sure issues for people with
learning disabilities are raised.
What has changed as a result of this work
People know about keeping themselves safe.
Carers are re-assured about support available to keep
people safe.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
DPG members have regular updates on information from
Kent Police and community safety issues.
A number of volunteers have been chosen to sit on the
Independent Police Advisory Group (I-PAG) to represent
communities across Kent and help Kent Police in the way
it responds to victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.
The DPG is one of the volunteers on the I-PAG and shares
information and experiences of DPG members.
People are comfortable talking to the Police and
Community Officers.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Transition:
Make sure young people and their families have access
to the information and support they need during
transition.
Why we did this work
The DPGs across Kent wanted to find out about young
people’s experiences of the Transition process.
To find out what information parents most want, if they
know about carers assessments etc.
We wanted to know if young people were given
information and opportunities for work experience.
We wanted to find out if young people and their families
felt supported to plan for the future.
What we did
Working with the special schools in each area, DPGs
collected feedback from young people about their
Transition reviews.
We did this through an on-line survey.
The results of this survey will be available in Spring 2014.
We will also share the results with the Becoming an Adult
Delivery Group.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
What will change as a result of this work
Once the survey results have been collected we will
produce a report to show what young people in Kent think
of their transition reviews.
This will help schools to see what things work well and
where changes might be made.
We hope that the Becoming an Adult Delivery Group will
use the results to produce some good practice guidelines
for transition reviews.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Promote the District Partnership Group and Valuing
People Now to children aged 16+ and their
families/carers
Why we did this work
To raise awareness of Valuing People Now and Person
Centred Planning so that people understand the
importance of these.
To let young people and their parents know about the
District Partnership Group and Carers Advisory Group.
What we did
The Valuing People District Worker shares information
with Aspen II Unit at Christchurch Academy.
A District Partnership Group meeting focusing on person
centred planning was held with interactive group work
and activities.
17 young people and 3 members of teaching support staff
attended.
What has changed as a result of this work
The District Partnership Group has an improving
relationship with Aspen II Unit.
Information about the District Partnership Group is
reaching young people and their families.
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Dover District Partnership Group – Annual Report 2013-14
Who we have worked with over the past year
Community Nursing Learning Disability Team
St Mary’s Parish Centre
Carers
Kenneth Bird Opticians
Walmer Centre
Local Residential Homes
Baileys Opticians