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 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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 6 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. 7 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. 8 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 9 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. 10 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. 11 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 12