Learning Disability in Herefordshire
Learning Disability Partnership Board
The Learning Disability Partnership Board in Herefordshire is an active forum that meets regular to discuss how the needs are being met for people with a Learning Disability in Herefordshire. The board consists of a variety of members from across the sector. It is co-chaired by a person with a learning disability.
The Partnership Board also hold an annual budget to be distributed across projects that will have a direct benefit for people in Herefordshire who have a learning disability.
There are 6 main areas that the board focus on and have working sub-groups tackling the current issues around these. The main working areas are:
- Better Health
- Housing Opportunities
- More Employment Opportunities
- Personalisation – ‘An Ordinary Life’
- Keeping Safe and Hate Crime
- Transition for Young People
If you would like more information regarding the board and its functions in supporting people please use the link: http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/health/disabilities/5808.asp
Email: pchoppen@herefordshire.gov.uk
Herefordshire People’s Advocacy Network
Herefordshire People’s Union is a self-advocacy group that is made up of members who have a Learning Disability.
The People’s Union was set up in 2006 and is supported by Herefordshire People’s Advocacy Network (HPAN).
The People’s Union hold monthly meetings in Hereford, Ross and Leominster.
They campaign about things which are important to them such as the ‘Changing Places’, ‘Make it Clear’ and ‘Stay up late’ campaigns. More information about these can be found on their website.
The People’s Union also work with other organisations across Herefordshire including Wye Valley NHS Trust, Together and the Local Authority to make sure that the voices of people with a Learning Disability are heard.
For more information on campaigns, projects or getting involved please contact:
Telephone: 01432 263757
Website: www.herefordshirepeoplesunion.co.uk
Email: advocacy@herefordshire.com
Being Safe and Hate Crime
Herefordshire Learning Disability Partnership Board, The Police, The People’s Union and Herefordshire Council have worked in partnership to support people with a Learning Disability in the community to be safe and free from hate crime.
What is Hate Crime?
Hate Crime is a criminal offence. It happens when someone subjects someone else to harassment, victimisation, intimidation or abuse because of their race, faith, religion, disability or because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. A victim of Hate Crime doesn't have to be a member of a minority community or someone who is generally considered to be a vulnerable person - in fact anyone can be a victim.
The police use the following definition when recording a Hate Crime:
A crime where the perpetrator's prejudice against any identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.
Hate Crime can take many forms, and it is not always easy to identify that what has happened is actually a crime. For example:
- Physical attacks, being assaulted
- Harassment
- Threats
- Disputes with your neighbors
- People swearing at you or making abusive remarks
- People doing things that frighten, intimidate or distress you
- Bullying
- Arson
- Spitting or insulting gestures
Report It!
If you have been the victim of a Hate Crime, you should report it. You can also report it if you are a witness or if you have been told about it by someone else. There are a number of ways you can do this:
- In an emergency, dial 999. If there is no immediate danger, you can report the incident to West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000, by using the website www.report-it.org.uk or call into any police station. Alternatively, you can report a hate crime anonymously by completing a True Vision reporting form, available at all police stations or from the council's diversity team (see below). The Police will take your complaint seriously, and thoroughly investigate it.
- Report it to the Race Equality Development Officer who can help in a variety of ways:
- Offer free and independent help and advice
- Provide a local view of equality issues
- Put you in contact with other agencies and act as an intermediary
- Put you in contact with others in the community who have experienced similar problems
- Support any legal action in court or an industrial tribunal
You can contact him on 01432 267307 or e-mail equality@herefordshire.gov.uk. The Race Equality Officer is the author of the useful reference document in the Resources box to the right.
- The Citizens Advice Bureau can give you advice about what to do. In some cases, they may also be able to give you legal assistance and help you to bring your case before a court or tribunal.
- If the incident took place while you were working for, or receiving services from Herefordshire Council, you should report it immediately to the Corporate Diversity Team on 01432 267307 or e-mail diversity@herefordshire.gov.uk.
Ambassador’s in Herefordshire News
We’ll be in Ross and Leominster this month
For information download Ambassadors news or visit: http://www.the-ambassadors.co.uk/events.html
We are now taking bookings for our Step Up confidence courses
For information download Step up course or visit: http://www.the-ambassadors.co.uk/step-up-courses.html
To request an enrolment pack for the Step Up courses please contact Nicky or Caroline
Stay up Late returns in October as the Ambassadors launch party – tickets now on sale
For information and ticket sales please visit our website: http://www.the-ambassadors.co.uk/stay-up-late-campaign.html
The Ambassadors are working on a new project called: Tried and tested
To find out more visit: http://www.the-ambassadors.co.uk/tried-and-tested.html
If you would like to find out more about any of the projects feel free to drop in on Tuesday mornings between 10.30 and 12.30 for our open session at Advocacy House
Nicky and Caroline
Project workers
The Ambassadors
HPAN – Herefordshire People’s Advocacy Network
01432 263757 / 07754606023
Email: advocacy@herefordshire.com
Gaining qualifications in supporting people with a Learning Disability
Contact: Herefordshire Shared Services Learning and Development Team on 01432 261715.
Herefordshire Shared Services Learning and Development department will discuss with you which is the best route for your staff team to take regarding training. The training is available for anyone who works with or supports a person with a Learning Difficulty in Herefordshire.
There is a variety of options to suit your particular staff group ranging from Award, Certificate or Apprenticeship route.
There will be a requirement to complete the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) so that you can access funding towards the qualifications for your staff. You will find information about this in the funding section on our website. To register and complete the data please use the following link www.nmds-sc-online.org.uk
Once this has been completed then you will be able to access a pot of 160k awarded to ACT via Skills for Care to support the learning and development of Health and Social Care Staff in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Links to Learning Disability Support Services
Herefordshire Mencap
Stop Gap Press is a Herefordshire Mencap publication. Stop Gap Press aims to be accurate and fair and we apologise for any errors outside our control.
Herefordshire Mencap works with local people with learning disabilities, families and anyone who is interested in making a difference.
Herefordshire Mencap is affiliated to Royal Society mencap
Rose Hunt, Development worker
Tel: 01885 400379
Mobile: 07969 524476
Email: rosehm@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.herefordshiremencap.co.uk
SIL – Services for Independent Living
SIL is a user led organisation providing services that enable disabled and older people to live independent lives in their own homes within their own community. We work in partnership with Local Authorities, the Health Service and other voluntary and local organisations and individuals in a common effort to improve the lives of disabled and older people and their family carers, and to facilitate their participation in and full integration into society.
SIL Vision
Disabled people, older people and family carers are equally valued members of our society
SIL Guiding Principles
- Everyone is respected and has equality of opportunity
- Responding pro-actively to change through innovation & creativity
- Strengthening communities by developing and using the skills of disabled and older people and family carers
SIL Services
SIL’s focus is on meeting the needs of disabled and older people who need support to live in their own home. Our services are available to people of all ages and all impairments. For example older people, parents of disabled children, people with mental health needs and people with physical impairments or learning difficulties. Our strength is in creating carefully structured services with people to meet their individual needs.
Independent Living Service (3* excellent rated home support agency) provides support for people with high and complex support needs, who select their own team of staff supported by a Team Co-ordinator. Over 30 people are supported, many of whom might otherwise be in nursing or residential care, thus demonstrating our commitment to disabled people remaining within their own community.
Service users value the service highly for the independent and quality of life they have.
We are proud of our low staff turnover which we feel is due to the high level of job satisfaction that comes with being well inducted, trained and supported.
The Direct Payments Support Service (DPSS) provides comprehensive support, information and advice to disabled employers employing their own support workers. Disabled people appreciate the control and choice this gives them over their support arrangements, but being an employer also presents new challenges to people who, by definition, are experiencing issues that make life more difficult anyway. The role of the DPSS is to enable disabled employers to employ legally and safely and to minimise the administrative burden of being an employer.
Service development activity has focused on innovative ways of meeting support needs effectively. Our website now contains many resources, including downloadable templates, enabling employers to access the information they need independently as and when they need it. Job applicants for personal assistant posts can complete an online application form.
SIL also runs a Payroll Service which meets the needs of disabled employers regarding all HMRC compliance. In addition, we also offer a Financial Administration Service where we can hold an individual’s personal budget in a dedicated client account, pay their bills and do their accounts for them.
Active User Participation is encouraged and supported by SIL and Service users regularly volunteer for us in the following ways:
- Making short films
- Service User Forum / Task Group
- Trustees
- New trustee induction
- Meeting quality assessors
- Peer support
- Peer mentoring
- Interview panel member
- Writing articles for our newsletter
- Training delivery
Peer Mentoring can be a very effective way for disabled employers to share their problems and find solutions from others' experience. Experienced employers find it increases their confidence too, as they appreciate just how much knowledge they have acquired and the new skills they have developed.
Support Planning and Brokerage has been delivered again this year in partnership with Herefordshire Council. It has been especially good to see personal budgets being extended to people with mental health issues to support independent living / recovery.
SIL is committed to disabled people being informed about local and national plans that might affect them, and encourages and supports people to get directly involved and influence plans and strategies as much as possible.
Future plans
Our joint work with Age UK and Herefordshire Carers Support has been valuable for reaching new service users and, together, improving our services to older people and family carers. We have been able to achieve more together for service users by offering complementary activities, extend our reach, and / or be more efficient.
We are continually exploring the potential of technology to improve efficiency across the organisation and at service level.
For more information please contact SIL:
Services for Independent Living
1 Owen Way,
Leominster Enterprise Park,
Leominster, HR6 0LA.
Directions
Telephone: 01568, then choose 1 for Payroll Service, 2 for the Direct Payments Support Service, 3 for the Independent Living Service or 4 to speak to Reception.
Fax: 01568 610629
Email: contactus@s4il.co.uk