ecdp email bulletin 34
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Monthly Bulletin 34
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
This update includes articles on the following topics:
ecdp news
1. Fulfilling Potential discussion
2. Health and social care: effectively capturing your views and experiences
3. Working with Skills for Care to give you the information you need as an employer
local news
4. Job Opportunity at Terrence Higgins Trust
5. A new animal in Essex: Dancing Giraffe
national news
6. Joint Committee publishes report on the human rights of disabled people
March 2012
Dear Members,
Welcome to the March edition of ecdp’s monthly email bulletin. This has been an exceptionally busy month at ecdp, and we have been working on some exciting projects with our members.
This week we held our second Fulfilling Potential focus group with young disabled people and people with learning disabilities. It was great to see so many people engaged with the work and offering practical solutions to tackling some of the barriers disabled people face in their lives.
Hugh Pullinger, Deputy Director of Disability Strategy at DWP introduced the session and spent the day listening to the suggestions of participants.
You can read more about the event and how you can contribute your lived experience to this important work on page 3.
We welcome member contributions to the bulletin, our website and the ecdp magazine. If you would like to write something, or comment on any of the articles in this edition of the bulletin, please get in touch with us using the details below.
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Monthly Bulletin 34 – March 2012
7. Disability Rights UK launch hate crime guidance
8. Disability Law Service Training Courses
9. Disability Rights UK networking and empowerment events
10. New smartphone app based on Braille
11. Inclusion London – A matter of survival
If you have missed a previous email bulletin, they are all available on our website: ecdp monthly email bulletin.
Best wishes,
Rich WattsDirector of Policy and Development
If you want to get in touch with us about any of the articles included in this bulletin:
Telephone: 01245 392 300Email: [email protected]: Ivan Peck House, 1 Russell Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3AA.
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Fulfilling Potential discussionThe Government is currently engaging with disabled people and their organisations on a new cross-Government disability strategy.
ecdp has been working with disabled people in Essex to inform our response to the Fulfilling Potential discussion exercise, which will inform this strategy. Last month we shared details of our first focus group.
ecdp held the second event on Tuesday 28 February. All our members were invited, but we particularly wanted to ensure the perspective of young disabled people and people with learning disabilities was represented.
We were delighted to welcome Hugh Pullinger, who is Deputy Director of Disability Strategy at Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). Hugh introduced the sessions by talking about the importance of the Fulfilling Potential work and the purpose of a disability strategy.
Participants were then able to ask Hugh questions; including how the disability strategy will address particular issues they had.
Smaller groups discussed three questions; about achieving in education and employment, about having choice and control and living independently and about changing attitudes towards disabled people.
You can follow the conversations through a Storify available on the ecdp website: Fulfilling Potential: the story so far… (part II) All participants made a huge contribution and had a lot to say about how to improve the lives of disabled people.
Damon Rose, a journalist from BBC Radio 4 joined us during the event to record a segment for the Radio 4 You and Yours programme which was broadcast today. We will share the recording with members as soon as it is available.
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
ecdp news
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Stephen Hodgkins produced a ‘graphick’ representing the wide ranging discussion we had on the day, resulting in the fantastic image below.
Remember, there is still time for you to share your lived experience through the ecdp Fulfilling Potential survey, which will close this Friday 2 March.
If you’d like any further information on the Fulfilling Potential work, please contact Faye Savage at ecdp: email [email protected] or call 01245 214 023.
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ecdp news
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Health and social care: effectively capturing your views and experiences
ecdp has recently been asked by Essex County Council to find out how to best capture your views and experiences of the health and social care systems. This is to ensure that your views and experiences are reflected in the way decisions about health and social care in Essex are taken.
Over the coming months, we will be finding out what you think are the most practical and effective ways of capturing what people think, and how we can ensure that everyone has a chance for their voice to be heard.
How we will do this work
Very soon we will be using our website, our monthly email bulletin and our various social media (such as Twitter and Facebook) to let you know more about the work and how you can get involved. We will also keep you updated on the progress we are making so that you can let us know if we’re including the sorts of things you would expect us to.
We will be hosting a range of focus groups through March, April and May, where we will bring people together to talk about how they would like to be involved in shaping health and social care. We will also have an online survey so that you can tell us your views at any time.
We’re very keen to ensure this work covers as many different groups of people across Essex. This means we will work with:
People with learning disabilities People with long-term health conditions People with mental health conditions People with physical and/or sensory impairments Young people People from BME backgrounds LGBT people Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
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ecdp news
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Our colleagues at Age UK (Essex) will also be working closely with us to ensure the views of older people in Essex are included.
Contact us
If you’d like to ensure you receive information about the research work we’re doing, or if you’d like to make sure your voice is heard, please contact: Rich Watts on [email protected] or 01245 392 324. We will be able to pay people for their time and travel in being involved in this work.
Our experience
ecdp has a wide range of experience in capturing the views and lived experiences of disabled and older people in Essex. We do this in a variety of different ways, including varied communications techniques, focus groups, interviews and surveys. We have used this experience to do work on a number of different topics, such as:
Disability benefit reform Access to Work Blue Badge reform Disability Hate Crime The personalisation of social care The Right to Control
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ecdp news
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Working with Skills for Care to give you the information you need as an employer
ecdp is delighted to be working with Skills for Care to support disabled people in Essex and beyond who employ their own staff to access Skills for Care’s useful and time-saving resources.
Skills for Care wants to ensure that the people who work for disabled and older people in providing care – often paid for by Direct Payments or Personal Budgets – have the right skills and qualifications to do so.
We know Direct Payments can be a very beneficial way of arranging your social care. But we also understand that it can sometimes take time to get the right information to feel fully in control.
This is why ecdp is working with Skills for Care to ensure their useful information is made as available as possible to you. We also want to make sure you have the opportunity to let Skills for Care know how useful their resources are: what is good, what can be improved, and what new things you might like to see.
How we will do this
Over the next four months, we’ll be telling you much more about the resources that Skills for Care have. We will be using our website (www.ecdp.org.uk), our monthly bulletin, our quarterly magazine and our social media (Twitter, Audioboo and YouTube) to keep you up-to-date on the support available and how you can access it.
We will also be holding three dedicated focus groups in March, April and May. This means you’ll have the chance in person to find out from Skills for Care about the work they do, and let them know how it could be improved.
We’re also keen to let you know about a very useful source of information that Skills for Care has developed: it’s called a “Social
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
ecdp news
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Care Data Set”, and what it can tell you is the types of skills you can expect to find for carers in Essex, what types of qualifications they might have, and all sorts of other useful information you might need to help you make a good decision when looking for your next carer / Personal Assistant.
Keep in touch
If you’d like to ensure you receive information about the work we’re doing with Skills for Care, or if you’d like to take part in the planned focus groups, please contact: Rich Watts on [email protected] or 01245 392 324. We will be able to pay people for their time and travel in being involved in this work.
You can find out more about Skills for Care and what they do here: http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/
About ecdp’s payroll support service – ecdp pass
Our payroll service – ecdp pass – supports disabled and older people with employing Personal Assistants (PAs). ecdp pass provides a vital support system for people who want the independence that a Direct Payment / Personal Budget / cash payment can give them, but for whatever reason feel they need some support to do so. We have a personalised payroll service to meet user’s individual needs through offering as much of a tailored service as possible. This includes payment facilities, quarterly returns to Councils, staff recruitment and checking, and PA training. To find out more about ecdp pass please visit the ecdp website or contact them on 01245 392 320.
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ecdp news
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Local News
Job Opportunity at Terrence Higgins Trust
HIV is the fastest growing serious health condition in the UK today with 6,136 new cases diagnosed in 2010 alone. Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is at the forefront of the fight against HIV and poor sexual health, working with both individuals and communities to raise awareness and understanding, and to provide support and guidance to individuals to empower them to make decisions around their own sexual health needs.
Terrence Higgins Trust is looking for a Case Worker, who will be responsible for a caseload of clients with a direct focus on improving long term condition management for people living with HIV. You will be competent in assessment and care planning and review procedures. You will be a good communicator both verbal and written, be able to cope in a crisis and have skills in team working and working alone. You will be computer literate and able to use a database recording system.
This post requires travel across the Essex area so you must be a car driver and have a current UK driver’s licence. This role requires an Enhanced CRB disclosure.
THT will reward your energy and enthusiasm with a great range of benefits including generous annual leave, season ticket loan, family friendly policies and support for flexible working agreements.
Role: Case WorkerHours: 35 hours per weekStarting salary: £22,624 per annumLocation: ColchesterRef: EWE010Closing date:19 March 2012Interview: 26 March 2012
THT Case Worker - Job Description and Person Specification. To apply online and for information on all vacancies go to: http://www.tht.org.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/
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Local News
For enquiries: email [email protected] quoting the reference number EWE010.
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Local News
A new animal in Essex: Dancing Giraffe
A new Colchester-based organisation, that aims to bring new opportunities to disabled people throughout Essex, has recently launched.
Dancing Giraffe is an online community which enables people to access information, products and services. It was founded and launched by Shaun Moffat, a Colchester-based businessman and campaigner, and received Big Lottery Funding to enable it to launch in January 2012.
Its Mission Statement is:
To provide a platform to inspire, inform and represent the Essex disabled community. Through this internet portal, Dancing Giraffe will offer support and advice for people with disabilities, their carer/s, professionals, organisations and the media. It will bring together comprehensive information and data about services and facilities available and will present them in one easy to access place. Dancing Giraffe will also provide a forum for disabled people to discuss and compare access issues and solutions.
To find out more about what Dancing Giraffe do and how you can get involved, visit their website: www.dancinggiraffe.com.
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National News
Joint Committee publishes report on the human rights of disabled people
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its Report on the implementation of the right of disabled people to independent living.
The report looks at how the law is or isn’t working to ensure that disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. It particularly looks at what the United Nations thinks governments should be doing – through something called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People – and whether this is happening in practice.
The report unfortunately finds that there is still a lot to do if the right to independent living is to be achieved for disabled people. It also expresses concern that a lot of the current changes happening – such as to benefits and social care services – risk leaving people without the support they need to live independently.
You can read about the JCHR’s report on the Parliament website: Joint Committee on Human Rights.
The full report is also available as a pdf on the Parliament website: Joint Committee on Human Rights – full report
ecdp was delighted to be involved in the Joint Committee’s work on this report. In September last year we hosted a visit of the Committee to our offices in Chelmsford (see photos). You can read about their visit in two articles on the ecdp website:
ecdp hosts visit of a group of MPs and Lords The story of JCHR visit to ecdp
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
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National News
We were pleased to see that the Joint Committee including reference to our work on Disability Hate Crime over the last 18 months. You can read what the Joint Committee said about this work in paragraph 206 of their full report. You can also read about ecdp’s work on Disability Hate Crime on the ecdp website: Disability Hate Crime in Essex and beyond.
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
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National News
Disability Rights UK launch hate crime guidance
Disability Rights UK has launched a new guide on reporting hate crime experienced by disabled people. Maria Miller MP, the Minister for Disabled People spoke at the launch alongside Liz Sayce, the Chief Executive of Disability Rights UK. The guidance was developed by Disability Rights UK in alliance with ODI and the launch was attended by senior stakeholders from the disability movement.
Reports of hate crime against disabled people are growing and so are prosecutions, which went up to 579 in 2009-10. However, around half of disabled people say in surveys that they have experienced disability-related hate crime or harassment – so these convictions are only the tip of a large iceberg and there is a major discrepancy between the number of disabled people who have been the victim of disability hate crime and the number of disability hate crimes that have been recorded.
The guidance has been developed for local disabled people's organisations to support them to report incidents of hate crime to the police. In addition, guidance has been produced for carers, friends and families
Liz Sayce said: "Hate Crime against disabled people is shocking and has to stop. I hope our guidance will lead to change locally, enable disabled people to report hate crime and support new partnerships between disabled people's organisations and local agencies, ranging from housing associations through to the police and the CPS."
Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller MP added: "Hate crime in all its forms is intolerable as it perpetuates segregation and creates fear. It has no place in our society, whether it is verbal abuse from children on street corners, mental persecution by those who are meant to provide care or physical attacks carried out by callous bullies. We will not tolerate it.”
The Let’s Stop Disability Hate Crime guidance documents can be downloaded from the Radar website.
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National News
ecdp’s work on disability hate crime is available on the ecdp website: Disability Hate Crime in Essex and Beyond.
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
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National News
Disability Law Service Training Courses
Disability Law Service (DLS) has announced the next session of training courses delivered by their specialist legal team. If you are involved with advice, advocacy or campaigning, or provide services to disabled people or carers, you may be interested in the courses below.
For further information, please click on the course you are interested in attending (see below) and the link will take you to the DLS website.Legal courses delivered by DLS expert lawyers:
Understanding mental capacity and the law - 14 March (10am–1pm)
Introduction to Community Care Law - 15 March (10am–1pm)
Supporting people facing discrimination at work - 19 March (10am–4:30pm)
Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance – A Guide to Successful Claims - 21 March (10am–1pm)
Using the Equality Duty to challenge decisions and promote disability rights - 23 March (10am–1pm)
A basic guide to Employment and Support Allowance and to appealing decisions - 26 March (10am–1pm)
Disability Discrimination Overview: Challenging discrimination at work and promoting access to goods and services - 28 March (10am–1pm)
Additional non legal courses delivered by DLS development team:
Knowledge is power? Empowering disabled people through public legal education - 2 April (10am–1pm)
Personalisation – taking stock and moving - 16 April (10am-1pm)
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National News
Courses are delivered at DLS’s accessible offices in Whitechapel and cost £63 + VAT for half day/ £105 + VAT for full day (voluntary sector rates). Discounts are available for multiple bookings. All legal courses are accredited with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and attract CPD points.
For additional information or to discuss DLS training, please call 020 7791 9819 or email: [email protected]
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
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National News
Disability Rights UK networking and empowerment events
Disability Rights UK is a new organisation formed from the recent merger of Radar, Disability Alliance and the National Centre for Independent Living.
They are holding a series of regional events to introduce the new organisation to disabled people and their organisations across the country. This is an opportunity for you and / or your organisation to find out about Disability Rights UK, to ask questions, and crucially, to get involved. Disability Rights UK aims to be a user-led organisation, so they need you to be part of it.
Thursday 1 March, Birmingham, RNIB Tuesday 6 March, Ipswich, IP City Tuesday 13 March, London, SCOPE, Market Road Wednesday 14 March, Southampton, Southampton CIL Monday 19 March, Sheffield, The Circle Tuesday 27 March, Manchester, Breakthrough UK Wednesday 4 April, Plymouth, HQ
For Darlington, Sheffield and Manchester download the Booking Form or contact Cheryl Gowar, 020 7503 6176, [email protected]
For Leicester, Birmingham, Ipswich, London, Southampton and Plymouth download the Booking Form or contact Karen Earl, 020 7587 1663, [email protected]
March 2012 – Monthly Update 34
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National News
New smartphone app based on Braille
A new app has been developed to help people with visual impairments to use smartphones. The new system is based on the Braille writing system, and could make typing up to six times faster than existing methods for texting without sight.
The system is faster because users do not have to move their hands to text as they do with the Qwerty keyboard.
The app, Brailletouch, was developed in America and will be available on Apple and Android phones.
The full Brailletouch story is available on the BBC website.
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National News
Inclusion London – A matter of survival
Inclusion London have published an important new report on recent research they carried out into the funding cuts experienced by London’s Deaf and disabled peoples organisations and the implications these cuts have for users and wider social and disability equality policy.
There are an estimated 120 Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) in London. DDPOs have played a pioneering and pivotal role in the progress towards equality for Deaf and disabled people over the last 30 years - promoting the rights, equality and inclusion of Deaf and disabled people and providing a wide range of essential projects and services that enable many thousands of Deaf and disabled Londoners to have more choice, control and independence in their lives.
Despite plenty of anecdotal evidence of significant cuts to DDPOs, there has been no specific research on funding cuts experienced by DDPOs and the implications these cuts may have for social and disability equality policy.
In response, Inclusion London – a pan London DDPO – carried out a survey with 54 London DDPOs on the funding cuts experienced by these organisations and the implications these cuts have for DDPO users and wider social and disability equality policy. The research was funded by Trust for London.
Key findings included:
1 in 5 of the DDPOs surveyed face closure this year or next. Of the 54 DDPOs surveyed 40 had experienced cuts in funding in
2011/12. 8 of these DDPOs had cuts of up 20% of their total income. 5 DDPOs had cuts of between 20% -50% of total income.
31 DDPOs expected further funding cuts in 2012/13. 12 of these DDPOs expected cuts of 50% or more of their total income
The biggest reductions in funding came from Local Authority funding sources.
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National News
The full report, including the implications of these findings for DDPOs, is available on Inclusion London’s website
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