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Scarborough Whitby and Ryedale Local Area Group

21 October 2015, 10.00 am – 2.00 pm

Castle House, Scarborough

Notes of the meeting

Picture/symbol Agenda item Actions/who 1.

Welcome Rebecca (co-chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting. Everyone introduced themselves. Rebecca explained the ground rules. Jim explained the traffic lights when wanting to ask a question. Jim thanked the previous co-chair Mark and the previous co-vice-chair Stewart for their work with group and gave a certificate and card to both Mark and Stewart.

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Notes and action points from last meeting Jim went through the Notes of the last meeting held on 24 June and asked if the Notes needed any amendments or were an accurate record, updates were also requested.

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Action points Dropped kerbs Item on Agenda today. Traffic lights Item on Agenda today. Pedestrian Crossing near Mencap Jim reported some success with regard to the crossing. PC John Fawcett at meeting today to give feedback. Hate Crime Symbol Shanna reported that her colleague Harriet had attended Forums with regard to this issue. A Report had recently been published with recommendations. Shanna said that the Report could be sent out with the Notes of this meeting. Shanna will check if Report can be made available in Easy Read and Audio versions. The link to the Report is here http://www.northyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/content/uploads/2015/10/Hate-Crime-Report-2015-Final-Version-for-Public.pdf Public Health Charter Item on Agenda today. Community Mapping Item on Agenda today.

Shanna

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Safeguarding training Kirsty reported no further action received from Stephen Joseph Theatre. However this training has been delivered through North Yorkshire. Inclusion North vouchers Kirsty reported that Self Advocates had met and further work is to be done around employment, stronger communities, voting, hate crime awareness and other resources. Issues had been identified for inclusion with Inclusion North. Safe Places Sue to link in with George. Hydrotherapy pool We need to look at the facilities that are available in the area. If we cannot fund a specialist hydrotherapy unit then we need to campaign for better access facilities (lifts/hoists/changing areas) and upgrade what we have to make facilities more available to everyone. Consulting groups actioned to audit facilities in the area. Support family carers to attend the LAG or feedback through a representative Jim reported that Sue had been due to speak with Karen Kelly. This issue

Sue

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would be covered in Group Work being done in today’s meeting. Changing Places Kirsty reported that she had not received anything from Jill. An outstanding action. Hate Crime/Mate Crime Shanna reported that Sue had linked in with Sheila Hall. To find out what it was that the group wished to have raised with the Safeguarding Board? Kirsty reported query of Mate Crime coming up with a supporting issue. What information and training did the Safeguarding Board have in relation to this? Shanna reported she would take this item back. Supported Employment Item on Agenda today. The Crisis Care Concordat/Action Plan An outstanding action for Lynne. Shanna reported that discussion would be held regarding what would be happening to the Crisis Care Concordat and how this would work. Shanna to check and report back. Election of co-chair and vice co-chair Jim reported that Rebecca Buckle had been appointed as co-chair and

Jill

Shanna

Shanna

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Graham Cox as the vice co-chair. Adult Learning Kirsty reported that Jane Jordan had given details regarding a course being held. Course is Introduction to Work Skills and starts on 6 November in Scarborough for 5 weeks, between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon. Course will cover job searching, confidence building, body language, mock interviews (where you can practice interviews). Kirsty asked meeting how information could be circulated. Meeting discussed information could be included in Karen’s newsletter, however Newsletter not out until December. Kirsty asked that the information about this course be circulated out to wider audience by people. Notes of 24 June 2015 meeting were agreed as an accurate record.

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Joint work with Local Disability Focus Group re Paving & road crossings – Shanna Carrell, NYCC and PC John Fawcett (Traffic Police)

Shanna reported that as well as the Self Advocates Group there is another forum called North Yorkshire Disability Forum (for people who have mobility impairment, long term

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health condition or sensory impairment). This Forum is interested in making the roads and streets more accessible for them. They have found that if using a wheelchair there may not be enough dropped kerbs and a dropped kerb may not be in the right place or designed very well. If there is a gully by the dropped kerb then a wheelchair can get stuck. Advice would be to talk with Highways Department who are responsible for the design and placing of dropped kerbs. Highways can then explain their policy and listen to changes that could be made. Shanna suggested that this group and the Disability Forum work together on this issue, then could meet with Highways Department and explain their suggestions and hear Highways Department point of view. Rebecca commented that aids such as walkers can get stuck in gullies, and in Ryedale there were not many dropped kerbs. Shanna reported that Highways Department know that dropped kerbs are important, but they need to know if they are in the wrong place. For example, in Selby there did not seem to be dropped kerbs near to some blue badge parking areas.

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Meeting commented that a lot of cars parked where dropped kerbs are. Shanna reported that members of the Disability Forum had also reported that issue. A Police Officer or Community Police Support Officer could do something about this issue if the problem was reported to them. John reported that regarding dropped kerbs and crossings, the Police had asked Highways Department regarding this and had challenged them regarding locations. John reported that some dropped kerbs were on private land. Highways Department had found that some dropped kerbs had been put in the wrong place. Members of meeting should write to the Police regarding this issue and Police could take issue back to Highways Department.

Shanna asked if the Highway Code said anything about this issue. John reported possibly not as Highway Code is quite an old document. Police can issue a ticket if a car is parked across dropped kerbs. Rebecca asked if a restriction could be put on dropped kerbs.

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John reported that Police could go round and assess, but it would be Highways Department that would put a restriction in an area. Meeting asked if a line could be put across the dropped kerb area.

John reported that Police could ask Highways to take this into consideration. Shanna suggested that two or three volunteers from this group could come to a meeting with the Disability Group to discuss this issue and then to speak with Highways Department. This group could then report back to this meeting. Kirsty reported that Shanna’s suggestion would be discussed in the Consulting Groups regarding who would like to volunteer. John reported regarding issue of people driving along the Valley Road, Scarborough area towards the level crossing in a manner which may cause people distress. John had visited this area and had undertaken a speeding process. John had not caught one person speeding in this area, however Police had educated some road users during this period, and as a result

Kirsty

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they may slow down more in future. A possible reason Police had not caught anyone speeding during this time may have been to do with there being a number of road works at this time. Police were now going to hold a Xmas campaign and will monitor area during this period. John reported that he had noted that traffic coming from the Seamer Road direction under the bridge may be causing a problem more than traffic travelling the other way as traffic coming under the bridge may be causing an echo which perhaps could sound like the traffic travelling fast to a person crossing road in this area. Police would look at the figures for this area between now and Xmas and if an issue will take back to Highways Department. Meeting commented about when person attends Mencap and they go across the crossing some cars are going across when person still on crossing. A lot of boy racers seemed to come down from Seamer Road. John asked meeting if anyone can supply Police with registration number and colour of car then that would help Police to address issue.

John informed meeting that in the Police Reform Act it gives Police the power to give people warnings with

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regard to driving and Police can take cars off people if Police believe they were driving to excess. Meeting asked about having speed cameras at this location. John reported that in that area fixed speed cameras could not be used there as Police could not park on double yellow lines. During the Summer, John had used a hand held device and traffic had been monitored in this way. Meeting commented that people who speed know there is no-one about, but when they see the Police about they slow down.

John agreed that if Police were stood at the bottom of Valley Road and person who is driving sees them then they will slow down. An application could be put in to have the speed lowered in this area; however figures would be needed in order to support this. Meeting commented regarding Prospect Hill, Whitby area. Also in the docks area of Whitby. Request for Police to check these areas for speeding. John reported that these areas would be checked by the Police, and in

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addition to find out if CCTV cameras were installed around the docks area of Whitby. Dave commented that he had spoken informally with both Tom Fox and Janet Jefferson regarding the traffic issue of the area and crossing near Mencap. Suggestion had been made that an application could be made for speed bumps.

Jim thanked John for attending meeting and the work that John had done regarding bringing information to the group.

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Group Work Meeting split into two groups to discuss: What have we achieved in the last year? How can we get others involved with this work? Jim asked for feedback from the two groups. Malcolm reported that this exercise had been a good way of raising individuals awareness. Richard reported that their group had covered similar issues to Malcom’s group. One important aspect was to build personal confidence in order for

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people to attend outside meetings without support. Word of mouth was also an important aspect for raising awareness of the group. What have we achieved in the last year? Raised awareness of other services, new initiatives. Audits of services. Increased friendships. External events. Attending meetings without support. Community Mapping. List of Activities. Mate & Hate Crime. Increased confidence. Transport. Changing Places. Safe Places. Link with Health – Action Plans. Feed into other groups – Health/Housing. Not to lose “issues”. Great at getting indviduals/organisations to listen. Active change and development e.g Trains, GP. Raise our own awareness of what is ‘Good Practice’. Friendly, well attended group. Achieving local issues i.e traffic and engaging with local agencies and organisations i.e Police, SBC. Sharing information. Hate & Mate Crime – keep as an

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issue on the agenda and keep a subject moving. How can we get others involved with this work?

Telling people. Posters. Ask people. Flyers Basics Plus. Avalon. Libraries. Community Centres. Talk to people. Word of mouth. Spread the word. More widely advertised (to include in other organisations newsletters). Mini meetings. Different formats/talking together – i.e 1 subject meeting. Different types of “arrangements” i.e Lunch – (? Too short). Physical layout of meeting place. Times, meeting venues. Meeting management – agenda size, issue based meeting ? Advertise – use I.T i.e Facebook. Talk to Carers Groups. Location – varied. Ask – why not come? What’s important to you? Seek commitment. Achievements – what difference the group has made – story telling – use pics.

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Good news stories. ? more regular/shorter/too many others! Getting people to the right meetings or encourage other “more appropriate” meetings. A good way of raising awareness. Safe Places – use media i.e DVD. New developments/services, Accommodation, Services. Using media to raise awareness – song. Meeting discussed. Malcolm felt it was about getting more people to attend this meeting or getting more feedback from other groups. Importance of where the meeting is being held and what items are on the Agenda. Meeting suggested having a closed Facebook page for self advocates. Meeting agreed that good news stories were needed. Jim suggested that people attend meetings and bring their issues to be discussed and can try to resolve issues. Also, remember to celebrate successes, tell people what the group has achieved.

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Feedback and Information Local Self Advocacy Groups (Scarborough, Whitby & Ryedale Self Advocates) Open Door Group William gave feedback from the Open Door group. Group had talked about Hate and Mate Crime, how to keep healthy and what to eat, employment and benefits. William reported that self advocates were concerned about possibly losing their benefits if they were undertaking paid work. Speak Up Whitby group Graham gave update. Community Mapping group Stewart gave update. The Community Mapping group have produced a flyer to let people know of activities in area. Over the past year the group have been working on large group activities. Richard reported regarding knowing what is available in your community. Shanna reported that a bigger piece of work was being undertaken by NYCC with regard to community

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mapping. There are a lot of organisations and voluntary groups that have their own directory, but NYCC would like to have all of this information in one directory. The information would need to be accessible. Each group would need to make sure that their own information in the directory was up to date. There would be the possibility of directory being online, however this would not work for all and help may be needed to find out the information available. This help could be through library, citizens advice bureau, support worker or living well coordinator. Kirsty commented about having the willingness from self advocates to act as a gauge regarding directory. For example an afternoon could be spent at Castle House with self advocates looking at information that may go into the directory. There would need to be the support in place in order to launch the directory properly. Shannah suggestion to wait for a few months with regard to this piece of work. Safe Places North Yorkshire Safe Places group. Mark gave feedback from the meeting held on 6 October 2015.

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Richard reported he had asked at the recent Open Group for volunteers and a lot of people had offered to volunteer, therefore as only needing a couple of volunteers the names would go into a hat to pick volunteers. Partnership Board Richard gave feedback regarding items covered at this meeting. Sarah and Jim are now the co-chairs. Document is here Health (Local & North Yorkshire) Lynne not in attendance at meeting today. Item to be on Agenda for next meeting.

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Assessment Process John Lawson, LD Team Manager, NYCC John informed meeting that he is the Manager of the Learning Disabilities Assessment Team in the East of the County. John informed meeting that he had been asked to attend meeting as questions had been raised with regard to current assessment process. John reported that previously people

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would have worked with their Care Managers on their reviews. John said there were two big changes at present. One was the Care Act which meant everyone had to have their support needs reassessed and also less money was available to provide for things that had been funded before, which was a big pressure on workers at present. People who receive support through Social Services and their Care Managers should hopefully every year receive a review of that support. They should meet with their Care Managers and discuss how their care is going and what could be done different. When we have reviews we need to talk about what the person’s needs are and what support they require and what the person is aiming to do for themselves and then plan to meet the person’s needs. With the Care Act coming in it is now very important for the person to speak up for themselves and what they need, to ensure their voice is heard as part of their review and assessment. If the person has not got a family member or a friend to help them with their assessment then an advocate can support the person. John reported on a question that had been raised previously, if doing a re-

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assessment and review for a person when should advocacy support be arranged and what happens if advocacy is not available immediately. The answer would be that it is important that an advocate is arranged beforehand, the worker undertaking the review would make a referral for an advocate so the person could get to know the advocate before their review takes place and to discuss what will happen at the review and re-assessment. If the person has not got an advocate then the piece of work should stop until this referral can be made. If the person does not have a family member or friend to support then an advocate would need to be arranged. The review and re-assessment will cover what the person is able to do, what support person currently has and what support may be needed in the future. One of the questions that may be asked – do you need the type of support you have always had? For example, some people may now need only low level support. It may be difficult to be informed that person is not now eligible for support.

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As part of the re-assessment the worker would talk with the person with regard to the support they need and this is captured on the needs assessment. Within the Care Act as part of the needs assessment there is an eligibility determination to find out if the person is eligible to carry on having support for their needs. At the end of the needs assessment the person receives a copy of this document. To meet eligibility, the worker has to look at all information gathered and make a decision. First part is to be very clear that the person has a physical or mental impairment or illness. People who have learning disabilities will often have support needs as they have a learning disability. The second part looks at around 10 different areas asking - do you have difficulty in achieving these outcomes. To be eligible you need to have difficulties in 2 or more of these areas, for example personal hygiene. The third part is about if needing support with other areas then how this may impact on your well-being. If not meeting all of those areas, then worker may decide that person is not eligible for support through Health and Adult Services. People have asked what would happen next. What should happen next is the worker who has done the

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assessment with you will spend further time finding out how your needs can be met. For example, supporting you with different things happening locally, or receiving support through family or friends. One of the ways of supporting would be the START Service from NYCC. The START Service would undertake intensive work with the person on parts of their life that person may need support with. This might only be one area or several. This support can be given over two or three months and person can then build up their own skills. If the person was no longer eligible for support through Social Services. A worker from NYCC may give to the person a copy of the North Yorkshire Care and Support Directory which NYCC produces which details ways people can arrange and pay for their own support. Some other areas may have only given out directory for their area and conversations not held regarding support needed – this would not be expected to happen in this area. John reported there had been a question asking what should happen if person disagreed with the outcome of their re-assessment and how to

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appeal. John reported that he did not think person should be disagreeing with outcome of assessment as in the re-assessment the person should have been listened to, so the person should not feel the need to disagree as re-assessment should be accurate. The person would be given the chance to re-read the re-assessment and make corrections if anything was wrong. However the worker may disagree with the outcome of the eligibility determination, as this is what the worker would complete based on the information gathered in the assessment. John explained this was their professional decision. However, if person does disagree with the outcome of the re-assessment then it is at that point that the person would need to challenge the decision. First of all the person should try and discuss this with their worker, then they can contact John as the Team Manager with regard to the information that the worker has put on the re-assessment. After this, if the person continued to disagree with the re-assessment then the person would have the option to make a complaint to NYCC with the reason being that they were unhappy with the outcome of the re-assessment.

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Question asked. If support was previously given to take your medication and then you are self medicating how would you be sure about the kind of tablets you were taking, when to take the tablets. There could be a serious risk. John reported that if this was the only support the person was receiving it may well be that we would now be looking at re-assessment and eligibility of that person’s support needs. The decision may be that they were now not eligible for support. We would need to look at ways to ensure person is undertaking this task safely. May ask the START service to assist the person to do this task themselves. There may be other support in the person’s life to help with this task. Or it may be that the person has to pay for this service themselves. Question asked. About if someone who appears very able on the outside but do not see the anxious side inside the person – however deep down mentally person could pull back a bit. John reported about looking at the support required for people’s health and social care needs. If person was

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anxious and having changes in their mental health we would need to look at their mental health and support needs at the time. To decide if those areas were important and if person not receiving support how would this effect their well-being. John reminded it is important that when worker undertakes a re-assessment then worker listens to what the person says and people need to explain clearly why they feel they need support in those areas of their life.

Jim thanked John for attending and update. Jim asked if meeting had found John’s presentation generally reassuring. Meeting was in agreement.

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Employment – information and discussion with NYCC representatives – Julie Heaton

Julie had brought along a display showing different areas of work people could look at through Supported Employment. Julie informed meeting that she worked in Supporting Employment for NYCC in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas.

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Julie reported procedure if person was interested in Supported Employment. A referral would need to be made first. Then the person would be required to have a needs assessment . A discussion would be held with the person to include forms to be completed concerning person’s personal profile, benefits currently being received, how much time person has available for work, their interests and skills in work areas. There may be some things the person can do for themselves and other things that they require support with. An Action Plan can then be made and a CV created. (Julie gave out copies of an example CV). Before discussion is held with Supported Employment, person should think about what interests they have that may be able to be transferred to a work place. Supported Employment do a lot of work with providers in the area. However, Supported Employment do not have any training facilities but ask the training providers in the area what training they may have to offer. Training providers that may be contacted include Adult Education, YH Training, Job Match, Princes Trust. Person can also be given advice with

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regard to voluntary work in local areas. Some people may need their confidence building up. Julie gave example of someone who may have worked somewhere for fifteen years in a role but their role may have changed. Supported Employment would look at this and see what else could be done to support them in their new role. The employer may need educating with regard to the type of learning disability the person has and other measures put in place to support the person because of this. Julie informed meeting that Supported Employment did not cover benefits or benefits advice, however they can advise people where to go to for benefits advice. Julie reported that if a person was undertaking Supported Employment, then they would be allowed to earn £107.50 per week over 52 weeks working less than 16 hours per week. If anything over this then it may affect the Benefits that they receive. This would need to be signed off by an Employment Officer to state that they were supporting you, had spoken to your employer and yourself with regard to the supported employment

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work placement.

John commented regarding finding out what people can do, then an assessment could be undertaken. Person may need support to get into work, may be the only area of a person’s life that they require support with. However, there would be the need to look at other areas of a person’s life first before looking at employment area. From the first assessment it may become clear what support would be required for employment for that person. Jim commented that he was involved in interviewing people for social enterprise work and if person has done some voluntary work then this could help them further in employment. Julie informed meeting that Supported Employment are now working with younger people and these people are aware that work can be an option open to them. Julie gave examples to meeting of people who had accessed Supported Employment. Jim thanked Julie for her presentation and commented that it had been very useful.

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8.

What we would like to take to the Partnership Board? Mark showed Jim and Rebecca an article on Hate Crime from the Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper. Jim suggested that this item be taken to the Advocacy Group rather than to the Partnership Board.

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Future agenda items Date of next meeting Feedback Forms Future agenda items Transitions and Personalised Learning – presentation to be given. Dates for future meetings to be advised. Feedback Forms Feedback Forms were given out to all to be completed and handed back in at meeting.

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People who attended this meeting

Rebecca Buckle – Co Chair

Jim Martin – Co Chair

Malcolm Ashton – Team Leader, Castle House, NYCC

Stewart Finney

Sarah Kenny – Keyring

Julie Heaton – Supported Employment, NYCC (attended 12-

2pm)

Richard Hicklin – Keyring

William Steel-Taylor – Keyring

Rachel Ogden – Keyring

Shanna Carrell – Equality & Community Engagement Officer,

HAS, NYCC

Amanda Dill

Mark Hamblin

Kirsty Morgan – Keyring

Graham Cox – Dalewood Trust

Lesley Dixon – Dalewood Trust

Jean Riley – Family Carer representative

David Wall – Cauwood

Rachel Hilton – Cauwood

PC John Fawcett, North Yorkshire Police

Yvonne

Nikki Spiten – Avalon

Angela Fletcher – HFSS Ltd

Dave Wiseman – HFSS Ltd

Sheila MacDonald – Note Taker, NYCC

Apologies from:

Lynne Taylor - TEWV NHS Foundation Trust

Carla Pawson – TEWV NHS Foundation Trust

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Actions and updates from 21 October 2015

Scarborough Whitby Ryedale Local Area Group

Action Update or Action

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Changing Places

Jill Mollon to be asked for update.

2. Hate Crime/Mate Crime What information and training the Safeguarding Adults Board had. Shanna to take back. Shanna will check if Report can be made available in Easy Read and Audio versions.

Shanna to take back and query.

3. Crisis Care Concordat/Action Plan Outstanding action for Lynne. Shanna to check regarding discussion to be held and how will work. Shanna to bring back.

Shanna to take back and query.

4. Volunteers from this group required to attend Disability Forum to discuss speaking with Highways.

Kirsty to cover this in Consulting Groups and couple of volunteers to be

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chosen.

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John to look at speeding figures near crossing by Mencap between now and Xmas and if issue to go back to Highways. Also to check for speeding cars around Prospect Hill area of Whitby and also docks area of Whitby. John to check if CCTV cameras in place in docks area of Whitby.

PC John Fawcett, North Yorkshire Police