East Norfolk Locality Group
Minutes of Meeting held on 7th March 2014
at The Kings Centre, Queen Annes Road,
Great Yarmouth.
Present:
Kenny Nichols
June Greenway, Community LD Nurse, East
Norfolk Learning Disabilities Team
Fiona Young, Transition Link Worker
Billie, Student Social Worker
Janet Woodward, East Norfolk Carers
Michelle Alexander, Support into Employment
Service
Kelly Rayson, Health Trainer, Mytime Health
Carolyn Graham, Independence Matters
Tim Lane, Friendship Group
Elizabeth Peake, Chair of Friendship Group
Sheena Edwards, Opening Doors,
Cathy Huston, Opening Doors
Kieron Smith, Opening Doors
Andrew Palmer, Mental Health Specialist, East
Norfolk Learning Disabilities Team
June Walton, Opening Doors (Co-Chair of
Locality Group)
Steve Nice, Joint Team Manager, East Norfolk Learning
Disabilities Team
Carole Teasdale, Note taker
Apologies:
Great Yarmouth College
Michelle Howe and students, John Grant School
Peter Crawley, Great Yarmouth Library
Linda Pike
Ellie Leggett, Friendship Group
Rebecca Crossley, Acute LD Liaison Nurse,
James Paget Hospital
1.
Welcome
Steve welcomed everyone to the meeting and
thanked all for attending.
2.
Introductions
Everyone around the table introduced
themselves
June Walton explained the use of the
Communication Cards and Feedback forms
which can be completed at the end of the
meeting.
Steve told everyone about the Information
Boards and where to find information requests
on anything presented and expenses claims
forms.
June Walton spoke about the feedback from the last meeting
which was all very positive. Most people had said it was a very
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friendly meeting and that it is good to know what is
happening and to talk about concerns and issues in the
local area. Some people thought the local Member of
Parliament should attend a meeting at least once a year.
3.
Open Discussion
A general discussion took place.
4.
Minutes of last meeting and matters
arising
As no corrections or amendments had been
received the minutes were agreed as a true record
of the last meeting.
There were no matters arising.
5.
Action points
Action point 1 – Norfolk ‘Putting People First’
Issues and concerns about this had been raised
locally, individually and at the Partnership Board.
Norfolk County Council’s planned budget cuts have
been approved by Cabinet. It was agreed Norfolk
‘Putting People First’ should be kept on the agenda
for future focus group and locality meetings.
6.
Partnership Board update
Concerns had been raised at the Partnership Board
meeting about the planned cuts to services and how
this will affect our local area.
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The issue concerning supported living homes and
healthy eating is not moving forward at the present
time.
Good things were reported to the Partnership Board
about the Young Persons Housing Scheme in this area
and the importance of filling the vacancies. Three
young people will move into their own homes.
7.
Guest speaker – Andrew Palmer, Acute Hospital
Pathway
Andrew reported that although this has not been
finished it would be useful to receive some feedback
about the contents of the planned pathway document.
The aim of the pathway is to set standards so the
same health outcomes others already receive can be
achieved for people with learning disabilities who are
going into hospital. The pathway will help staff at
the hospital and make the experience more pleasant
and encourage people with learning disabilities. It
will also make clear what the roles are of staff at
James Paget Hospital, the Learning Disabilities
Team and others involved in the process.
Once the document is completed it is hoped it can
be used at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn as well as James
Paget Hospital.
Andrew said that it is important that all
agreements between services make sure all
personal information is kept safe at all times.
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ACTION POINT 1 – Copies of draft pathway
handed out to group members. All feedback and
responses are to be sent to Andrew or June
Greenway.
8.
Updates from Focus groups
Friendship Group – the group moved from
Gorleston Social Club to the Rumbold Arms in
Great Yarmouth last year but sadly were given
one day’s notice to leave in December as the
Pub was closing down. Just before Christmas
the group moved to the ‘Pub on the Shrubs’ at
the Shrublands Community Centre and are very
happy there. All is going well. People have said
the group’s new venue has a better dance floor,
is easier to get to by bus, the stage is better
and most importantly the drinks are cheap!
The group now meet on a Monday night because
the venue was not available on a Wednesday and
membership has grown.
There is a new monthly activities programme
and lots of events have taken place. Photos
were displayed on a board at the meeting.
The Friendship Group have been fundraising to
help the Great Yarmouth flood appeal.
The Annual General Meeting is on the 9th April
at the Shrublands Community Centre.
There is to be a ‘Gorleston’s Got Talent’ show on the 12th May.
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Employment – Michelle updated - Julia Richards of
Support into Employment has retired and Annie
Goff is the new manager. At the moment
Michelle is covering half of the south area in
addition to Great Yarmouth area because the
lead person has retired. There is now an
extended waiting list from three months to six
months.
There is soon to be a Jobs Fayre at Great
Yarmouth Racecourse and Michelle is hoping to
meet employers from the local area who may be
able to help with future jobs.
Referrals are for paid employment only. There
are no voluntary placements.
Our Lives – concerns were expressed that in the
current financial situation the locality needed to focus
on key Our Lives topics – advocacy, transport and day
opportunities with representatives at local and county
level
Action point 2 - Carolyn Graham agreed to be the
Locality group representative on the county Our Lives
group.
Housing – The Young Person’s Scheme in the Great
Yarmouth area is progressing.
Transition – Fiona Young updated – the group
met in January and discussed planning for school
leavers. 12 students are leaving school and most will
be going to College. Sharon Fradley who is Transition
Lead for the County is now working part-time hours
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and Frank Crowdy, Social Worker will be looking after
Transition countywide the rest of the time.
East Norfolk Carers – Janet Woodward updated
- Walter Lloyd Smith attended the last meeting to
talk about East Coast Community Health Care. Carers
have been asked to help the Community Health Teams
set up and plan training around critical areas.
9.
Safer Places Project
This was discussed at the last Partnership Board
meeting and will most likely be on the Agenda for
the next meeting.
Locally Friendship Group members have been given a card
listing the sixteen businesses in the High Street in Gorlestonon-Sea. Each business displays a sticker in the window. The
Friendship group have tested the scheme and it worked well.
It is hoped the scheme can be rolled out to Great Yarmouth.
Cathy Huston is meeting with the Safer Places team
next week (with Elizabeth and possibly Keiron) and
will obtain cards to send to the Community Learning
Disabilities Team so the names of businesses and
shops can be circulated around Locality group
members.
Cathy will officially invite a Safer Places team representative
to our next meeting.
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10. Around the room
Steve reported positive links between the
Community Learning Disabilities Team and the joint
health and social team teams in Waveney, Suffolk.
All of the teams met on the 5th March and all have
similar approaches to services for example hospital
admissions and discharges.
Changing Places – the locality group were
asked by the Our Lives Group to discuss whether
there are any other recognised Changing Places in
the Great Yarmouth area that could be included in a
countywide list. Discussion took place and it was
agreed that there may be other places available but
all have restricted access. For example there would
be issues around the public using facilities in
schools and colleges.
A Learning Disabilities Awareness
Week is planned for the week commencing 16th
June 2014. Since the meeting a Hearty Lives
Project Health Information Day has been
arranged jointly with the Learning Disabilities
Team and other key partners, agencies and
people for the 18th June 2014. The event will
be held at the Kings Centre between 10 and 4
o’clock
Funding – Steve reported that we still
have some funds available in the Locality
budget. During the year the group have funded
the advocacy group, East Norfolk Carer room
fees and the Young Persons Friendship group.
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The Friendship Group have asked for funds to support
their activities and administration. Elizabeth will
write a letter to the Locality group sending details of
how much they are asking for and what it will be spent
on.
Thinking Ahead Foundation for people with
Learning Disabilities – Planning Guide for families
– this document in easy read version was well
received by the Partnership Board. It was agreed
the Locality group would order 10 copies.
Action point 3 – Carole is to order 10 copies of the
Thinking Ahead Foundation – Planning Guide for
families.
Independence Matters – Carolyn updated on
the new building work for the Dementia Unit at
Suffolk Road Hub. Other work and launch events
are scheduled for the summer.
John Grant School – Tim Lane as a Governor
of the school updated on the swimming pool. The
new entrance has been completed and the pool
work has been finished. It will be open for
community use following Easter during non school
hours and holidays. It was agreed a small group
would meet to look around the pool and changing
facilities. Janet Woodward, Kelly Rayson, Carolyn
Graham, Elaine Albrow and Fiona Young would
liaise with Tim regarding the visit.
Hearty Lives Project – the three year project is
going well. School workshops have taken place and the
feedback has been positive. Work has taken place in
care homes, individual accommodation and supported
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living homes. A need for the service has been identified in
Lowestoft but at present it is only available in the Great
Yarmouth area.
Disability Awareness week starts on the 14th July 2014.
Advocacy services update – Cathy Huston
spoke about a Norfolk County Council project
about learning to use buses. This was started
about a year ago and if anyone is interested in
using business training is available by Opening
Doors for people with learning disabilities.
There is also a project starting soon about the Menopause.
Kieron spoke about a health project to teach
people about exercise and diet. Keiron is an
exercise champion. The exercises involve basic
chair exercises, gym balls and bands and works
at different levels. People in wheelchairs can
join in the exercises.
Cathy asked that her email address is sent out
with the minutes and would also like to attend at
the end of one of the team meetings at the
Community Learning Disabilities Team to talk
about advocacy, self referrals and one to one
referrals.
Action point 4 – Cathy to attend a Community
Team meeting – to liase with Carole.
11. Dates of meetings for 2014
These were agreed as the 6th June, 12th
September and 12th December 2014.
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12. Date, time and venue for next meeting
The next meeting will take place on the 6th June
2014 at 9.30 a.m. in the Norfolk room at the
Kings Centre.
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Action points / things to do from this meeting
Allocated to
Action Point 1
Copies of draft pathway handed out
to group members. All feedback and
responses are to be sent to Andrew
or June.
Action Point 2
Carolyn Graham agreed to be the
Locality group representative on the
county Our Lives group.
All
Carolyn
Graham
Action Point 3
Order 10 copies of the Thinking
Ahead Foundation – Planning Guide
for families.
Carole
Teasdale
Action Point 4
Cathy to attend a Community Team
meeting to talk about advocacy
referrals
Cathy Huston
/ Carole
Teasdale
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