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SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST MEETING ON 14 SEPTEMBER 2001 AT BLACKBURN REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, OLDHAM (LEAD DIRECTOR FOR LEARNING DISABILITY) NORTH WEST TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM (SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY) 1. Matter for Consideration: Social Services North West are asked to note and endorse the proposal made by the Association of Directors of Social Services (North West Branch) in relation to the North West Training and Development Team. At its meeting on March 9th 2001, the Branch agreed to endorse the outline work programme of the NWTDT, and the extension of subscription funding through to April 2004 at the levels agreed currently Introduction: The North West Training and Development Team has operated in the region since the mid 1980’s. Originally set up by the previous North Western Regional Health Authority, the Team played a major role in development and training activity associated with the resettlement from Mental Handicap Hospitals, jointly co-ordinated by Health and Local Authorities. NWASSA played an instrumental role in this process and have supported the NWTDT over this period. The NWTDT is currently funded by all Health Authorities and Social Service Departments in the area covered by the NHS Executive North West. 3. Information: 3.1 The team provides policy advice, development projects, consultancy, training programmes and produces and commissions briefings and guidance publications. The mission of the Team incorporates working at the interface between the needs and aspirations of people with learning disabilities and their families and the commissioning and delivery of services by responsible agencies. In this way the Team is able to help in supporting the voice of people and their families and to provide practical support in assisting agencies to interpret and implement policy. This activity is particularly important in the context of the new White Paper, Valuing People, A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century   3.2 Some key strengths of the Team are its: multi stakeholder composition, including people from a range of professions and backgrounds linkages to the policy and operational infrastructure in the North West links and relationships with family carers and self advocates good connections with academic bodies and other development agencies and consultants 3.3 The draft annual report and proposed work programme for the NWTDT are attached to this report. The NWTDT can be contacted by telephone on 01254-821-334 and e mail: www.nwtdt.u-net.com   4. Recommendation That the Annual Report and Outline Work Programme of the NWTDT be endorsed and that authorities be recommended to agree the extension of their subscription funding, at the levels agreed currently, until 31 March 2004 North West Training and Development Team Annual Report 2000/1   Introduction In 2000/1 the NWTDT have delivered a combination of courses, programmes, networks, information provision, events and publications. The following report provides some information about specific parts of the programme. For more detail please contact the Team. Partnerships Programme A Warrington based Partners in Policymaking course is now well underway and will run to June 2001. The Partners Steering Group is exploring options for a new course in 2001/2. The First Sharing the Challenge Course, for family members of adults with learning disabilities and self-advocates took place in 2000. Evaluation has been very positive. A second, Lancashire based, course will run in 2001. This course features as a good practice example in the family carers report produced alongside the Valuing People White Paper. Development work has taken place for a partnership course for children’s service professionals and this will run in 2001 Liverpool Partners Graduates have formed themselves into an organisation which aims to run at least one Partners in Policymaking course a year. We have supported them in this development and a bid has been submitted for financial support We are supporting the development (based from Liverpool) of a National Partners in Policymaking Faculty which will bring organisers and presenters together in order to preserve quality as Partners becomes bigger scale. An important role for the NWTDT will be training and mentoring new course organisers and co-ordinators. Given the lead from Valuing People the development of local capacity to run leadership courses becomes of high priority and NWTDT will support this capacity building. Initial work has also taken place on making these courses properly accessible to people from minority ethnic communities. Plans are in on course to train facilitators from South Asian communities. Partners graduates continue to form part of local development groups in a number of districts. There will soon be approaching 180 graduates in the region, thus becoming an increasingly powerful force to promote inclusion in partnership with professionals In May NWTDT facilitated a regional White Paper consultation conference for self-advocates and their supporters. This event was attended by 120 people and a report was forwarded to the Department of Health   Primary Health Care Programme In brief the main work of the programme has included: Lead Practitioners: Each specialist learning disability team across the Region has been contacted and asked to nominate a person to lead on the establishment of better access to primary health care in their particular district. Networks: Five networks have been established, over the past year, covering most of the Region. Representatives from each district meet on a monthly basis for two hours The purpose of the network meetings have been agreed as: sharing of information & best practice, networking, development of sustainable care pathways, problem solving, inclusion Pathway development: Individual district work to implement the development of sustainable care pathways is the first step in the establishment of pro-active, primary care based surveillance and monitoring systems for individuals with a learning disability. Draft material on Pathways is currently being consulted upon. School Nurse Network: A regional network forum for school nurses engaged with special schools has been established. This network meets quarterly Community Care Development Centre Project: The NWTDT is linked, via Janet Cobb, to a national project aimed at getting learning disabilities effectively into PCG/T agendas Inclusive Education: Work is taking place in one District looking at potential restructuring of Child Health Services so that they can support the inclusion of children and young people.   Transition Significant consultancy work continues in several districts seeking to develop or improve transition policy and practice. In two districts this work has been undertaken alongside graduates of the Partners in Policymaking course. A regional conference on transition developments took place in September From the September conference, listing of transition work taking place in a number of districts around the region has been written up as a North West Transition Directory (available in hard copy or via the NWTDT website). This provides outline information about practice and contact details for follow up The Health in Transition programme commenced in November 2000 with a full day event, including a presentation from the National Development Team Positive Health in Transition project. Follow up sessions have taken place in the five participating districts to set programme and district priorities. The next full day session takes place in May. This session will review progress from the district teams and there will be a series of presentations on policy and practice.   Specifying Learning Disabilities Health Provision (Better by Design) This project, sponsored by NHSE NW, was launched with a workshop on January 18th. Four multi-agency teams from districts are participating. A brief for the project is available which is focussing upon the development of specifications for specialist health services. In addition to the establishment of specifications in the participating districts, the learning from the programme will inform other regional guidance.   Supported Employment Welfare to Work Joint Investment Plans Following discussions with a number of Welfare to Work JIP lead officers and managers of supported employment services a free regional seminar on this topic took place in February to start the supported employment project. The programme included: The latest on government guidance and feedback on best practices in developing and preparing to implement Welfare to Work JIPs Developmental opportunities and partnership working What will help successful implementation Expectations of people who receive supported employment services Feedback on the recent SSI national inspection on Welfare to Work Opportunities to look at a range of approaches to supported employment; The chance to network and problem solve around particular issues, e.g. mapping, consultation, joint working, setting outcomes, performance management, etc. The opportunity to determine longer-term support needs for JIP Lead Officers and to plan for how to respond to these.   Small multi-agency teams from each district were invited to participate and there were displays and interactive sessions put on by around approximately ten supported employment services from around the region. A report from this event is available. It is anticipated that this will be followed a three or four events for Welfare to Work JIP leads in the next year, and that a series of a similar number of seminars for agencies wishing to develop/further develop supported employment services will also be provided.   Developing local services for people at risk of needing secure facilities An external consultant (Richard Williams, Paradigm) has been engaged to co-facilitate this project with Paul Clarke. Funding has been made available from the Wirral and West Cheshire Education and Training Consortium and NHSE Regional Office. Following an initial meeting, including a representative of the Regional Office project team, the following have been agreed: A multi-disciplinary, multi-agency reference group has been developed. This will determine the agenda for a series of events designed to determine and disseminate best practices (throughout the region and from elsewhere) Seek additional funding through the NHS Executive Regional Office to develop a training strategy and associated materials around risk assessment/management.   Regional Trainers Network Andy Gilbert (Halton and Warrington Joint Training Partnership) is now leading this project. Recent meetings have focussed on: The Learning Disability Award Framework Approaches to physical intervention Possible training implications from the Learning Disabilities White Paper Implications of the Human Rights Act Community Connections A launch conference was held in May to put community connecting back onto the agenda for service agencies. The conference introduced the eight day community connections course. The course involved 12 teams. Each team included someone who uses services, family members (where possible) and staff. The course was completed in April 2001. Stories from the course, and lessons learned from it, are being included in a publication that will be available at the end of the year. Person Centred Planning Training programme Two training programmes were provided. A six day course in implementing essential lifestyle planning, and a two day course in PATH and Maps. Two conferences took place in October with Michael Smull from USA. The first was for staff facilitating person centred plans, and the second was for managers in developing a person centred culture. The first workshops for parents using the ‘Families Planning Together’ manual were held, to enable parents and carers to plan for their son or daughter. A workshop for essential lifestyle planning trainers also took place in October. Publications   Work in Progress’ – Implementing Person Centred Planning in Oldham was produced. A facilitators guide to essential lifestyle planning is being printed in May, to accompany training. Implementation group support Support has been provided to implementation groups in three districts. Individual mentoring Individual support has been provided to one district which has a dedicated post to support the development of person centred planning. Research and guidance The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has commissioned the NWTDT to prepare a book of guidance on implementing person centred planning. This guidance will be published by December 2001 and will be available free to NWTDT subscribers. The NWTDT was invited by Professor Emerson of the Institute for Health Research and the Community Care Development Centre to jointly submit a bid for a major research and development project on person centred planning. The main role for the NWTDT would be to support and evaluate implementation approaches in two North West sites (from a total of 4 national sites). One product would be a workbook to advise on effective implementation approaches. Shortlisting of bids is to take place in the Spring with projects to start in the Summer Quality A Quality Network Pilot in one District has now been completed. This pilot was very successful and the service agency came up with excellent list of actions based on the findings. Two people who use service and a parent were part of the evaluation team. We have held preliminary discussions with the Quality Network organisers to consider how best to integrate their work and that relating to the North West Residential Audit materials. NWTDT have promoted the use of the North West Audit Tool including providing training on its use (see below) Supported Accommodation A development programme with the Housing Support Partnership has run throughout the year for teams from six districts. Four districts have been supported in use of the North West Audit Tool as part of the programme. NWTDT have provided support and training in use of the North West Residential Audit Tool and workbook for one district undertaking a Best Value review A one day event combining lessons from research on support and accommodation and the Supporting People changes was attended by about 45 people A one day workshop for commissioners, managers and providers on re-shaping supported accommodation services was led by Maurice Harker and Nigel King NWTDT have provided advice for districts seeking to take best advantage of the Supporting People changes. Direct Payments The Direct Payments development project was taken up by three Districts and a cross district family based organisation. The first full day session took place in October and follow up sessions took place in each district, facilitating action plans. A follow up series of district based sessions took place between January and March with a full day event in April. Teams from all districts have made progress and all are now better positioned to support improved take up. A well introductory session on Direct Payments was held for families from several districts An information session for self advocates from a number of districts explored what direct payments are and how they can be used. Creative approaches were used to make information accessible and the sessions participative. Integrated Commissioning and Joint Investment Planning Work has been underway to turn the draft material on commissioning prepared earlier this year into guidance for regional use. A workshop in February brought together regional commissioners and others to add in material. This workshop was also used to inform NHSE NW and SCR in respect of the development needs of people coming into joint commissioning roles. The guidance will be published in June. NWTDT supported the preparatory work for the regional Integrated Commissioning Network event JIP/IC event held in November. This was written up by Derek Thomas and MC Dunne Team members have responded to requests from districts for assistance and advice in strategy and JIP development. We ran stakeholder days in relation to Learning Disability Joint Investment Plans in two districts. We provided training for facilitators of ‘stakeholder’ events in one county. Day Services Network Deborah Gale has now taken over the leadership of the day services network. During the last year, four small-scale meetings took place. A survey and analysis of developmental needs has taken place and this has informed a conference programme for the coming year. The Team was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of day services in one district. Other events and consultancy In May we ran an introductory one day course on the Managing Change Through Innovation Approach Two well subscribed events took place with John O’Brien in November Parents as Partners What’s Worth Working For – Leadership session During his November visit John held a session with Partners graduates to learn from their activities for sharing with others. The NWTDT also funded John to work for a day with a large (approx. 100) group of staff, families and self advocates in one district who were exploring how to move forward with person centred planning Support and mentoring for people involved in two joint training groups has been provided. Mentoring and support to staff developing individualised supports was provided in two districts NWTDT designed and co-facilitated a training event for one district on partnership working and protection of vulnerable adults. We have been involved in supporting self-advocates in one district who are developing their own training package for staff In February the Team put on a conference for self-advocates, front-line staff and first-line managers to look at supported living and participatory management in partnership with Hope House Foundation, Virginia, USA. In one district we have supported work to develop a care management training programme Web site The NWTDT website has been revamped. Quite a lot of material is available for downloading. More will soon be added, including most publications.       North West Training and Development Team Outline of Work Programme for 2001-03 Introduction The NWTDT work programme for 2001/3 will be closely integrated with regional implementation of the new White Paper. It will aim to offer support to districts in key implementation areas. Subscriptions to the NWTDT cover the employment of 3.5 WTE advisors plus administrative support and office costs. In order to offer a substantial development programme at low cost to participants it is clear that more resources are needed. At the same time it is not appropriate to seek this directly from subscribing agencies. The NWTDT has therefore been successful in 2000/1 in starting to attract additional external funding to subsidise several programmes. We hope to extend this in 2001/3 and have already been successful in attracting some finance. Programme outline The proposed programme for 2001/3 will include: A substantial leadership programme for those with local responsibility for implementing the White Paper. This will be offered in partnership with The Institute for Health Research at Lancaster University and certification is currently being sought. This programme will include input from the main acknowledged experts in the key fields and aims to offer a combination of policy and technical inputs alongside key skills development. The course will be open to those in key White Paper implementation roles from subscribing districts. A subsidy has already been provided by regional NW NHSE to cover about 40% of the costs. This will ensure that the course can be provided at reasonable cost to subscribers. A range of development programmes in key areas anticipated to be included in the White Paper, including: Welfare to Work Person Centred Planning Direct Payments Transition from Childhood to Adulthood Access to health care Building partnerships with families and people with disabilities Developing supported employment Reshaping supported accommodation Reshaping day services. These programmes will vary in format and type but will typically be offered to district based teams seeking to develop their service or practice in the specific area. In most cases these will be multi-agency teams. In a number of cases family members and self advocates will work alongside professionals. Where this is not appropriate, design and presentation of programmes will reflect input from people who use services. Clearly this is an ambitious and expensive programme. In order to keep costs to participants modest, the NWTDT will seek subsidies from various sources. Development of guidance/workbooks in a number of areas, including most of those covered by the development programmes. Copies of these will be made available free to subscriber organisations. The NWTDT is hopeful that the development and publishing of some of these workbooks will attract external subsidy. A number of development projects and courses, some of which got underway in 2000/1 Specification of specialist LD health services (funded by NW NHSE) Developing good practice in supporting people at risk of admission to secure services (Funded by NW NHSE and Wirral and West Cheshire Education and Training Consortia) Managing risk (Bid submitted to NW NHSE) Making community connections. Course to be completed and publication produced Partners in Policymaking™ - - The current course to be completed and a 2001/2 course to be run Sharing the Challenge (for family members of adults and self advocates) - A new course to run 2001/2 (commissioned by agencies in East Lancs) Kindred Spirits - A course for children’s service professionals and families, based upon Partners in Policymaking™, to be piloted in 2001/2 Interest Networks Continued facilitation/support for developed networks including: Trainers - We hope to attract funding to develop a workforce and training strategy for implementing the White Paper alongside TOPPS and others Transition Day provision Short term support Consultancy and information service Given the scale of the proposed programme, the ability to offer direct consultancy will, of course, be limited. Our proposed solution to this is to offer: Optional consultancy linked to the development programmes and built into their cost Some availability around assisting launches and planning for local White Paper implementation A continued information service by telephone, e mail and post. This will include the expansion of our web site as a resource Helping subscribers wishing to access other sources of advice and consultancy Support to policy groups, professional and stakeholder networks. The NWTDT will play a continued role in support of regional groups as part of the process for regional implementation of the White Paper. As well as agency and professional groups, this will include self advocacy and family based groups. This activity may be regular, as in attendance at PO/ADSS meetings, or activity specific for example provision of information to self advocacy networks. Research The NWTDT have submitted bids in partnership with other research and development agencies to the National Learning Disability Research Programme. If successful these will promote both research and resources for implementation for NW districts in the areas of person centred planning and development of supported accommodation.     Clicking on these links will help you to use SSNWeb, the website of Social Services North West (NWASSA) Go to Home Page Go back to top of this page Email us Home Page Latest! Members Aims and Work Policies Partners Events Publications Contact Us Links