Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment Partnership Board

Tuesday November 17, 2:00pm - 4:15pm

March Community Centre, Station Rd
March PE15 8LE

Minutes
Present
EB Erika Brown

Hunts Society for the Blind

SC Sally Cleghorn

Admin Officer, Cambridgeshire Alliance

HD Heather Davison

Healthwatch

CE Chris Eleftheriou

Service User, Headway Representative

SE Stacey Evans

Acting Team Manager, Sensory Services, CCC

LG Laura Green

Carers Trust Cambridgeshire

SH Cllr Samantha Hoy

Member for Wisbech

DI Daniel Ingram

Community Navigator Coordinator, Care

Network

SL Sue Last.

Ass. Director of Public Engagement &

Membership CCG

LM Lee McManus

Service Development Manager, CCC

SM Sarah Moss

Evelyn Community Head Injury Service

MS Mick Scadden

Service User

AS Anne Streather

CEO, Cam Sight

AT Alena Taylor

CEO, Cambridgeshire Alliance

1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies

Apologies: Ron Bennett, Cllr van de Ven, Pauline Brown, Frances Dewhurst,
Elaine Fleet, Helen Sismore, Graham Lewis.
AS stood in as temporary Chair for the meeting.

2. Updates from Board members

2.1 Independent members feedback
CE gave feedback about the response to his official complaint regarding the
provider who is responsible for his care. He has asked for a new care company
and understands this is in the pipeline. However he expressed his unhappiness
at the general tone of the response and felt that complaining had not been
worthwhile . He stressed he had no complaint against individual carers.
There followed a general discussion about the best course of action.

Action: LM will take this issue back to the Physical Disabilities Team.
He stressed that the Council encourages complaints in order to improve
services. He agreed to check what ASCF has done so far and then take the
issue to the Contracts Team. The importance of ensuring such issues are fed
back to the contracts team was highlighted.

HD added that Healthwatch has logged the general problem of carers not turning
up as an issue of concern.
AT said this has been taken to the Adult Social Care Forum. She added that
Beth McCabe has been instrumental in pursuing this issue and has raised the
fact that the response was not sent in a suitable format for Chris.
Action: CE agreed to collect further evidence from other Headway members.
AS thanked CE for raising this whole issue.

MS reported
MPs will vote to prevent parking on pavements
3 out of 38 guided buses now have audio.
Floating bus stop on Huntingdon Rd. MS wants to go with a wheelchair
user and a visually impaired person to test how to use these bus stops.
CE commented that in Leeds this type of bus stop has lights.
Action: CAIL will take this forward as part of the Transport Focus Group

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2.2 AT reported on the Cross Board event which CAIL held in October.
Independent members had requested a skills and training event purely for
independent board members. Overall they fed back that it was very helpful.
The Cross Board Transport Focus Group is working on the Adult Social Care
transport leaflet. The report will go out to all board members and in the CAIL
bulletin.

2.3 Hunts Society for the Blind

has been very busy helping people with the requirement to scan
documents when reapplying for a Blue Badge. There seems to be no
understanding that many people do not have access to scanners or even the
internet.
The Society has fed back to Stagecoach and Whippet bus companies
about the floating bus stops so that they can train bus drivers appropriately.
MS asked why Blue Badges cant be renewed automatically .
AT said this is because some conditions fluctuate and because there have
been changes in the benefits system.
2.4 Care Network has seen an increase in people coming for information. Finding
rented and accessible accommodation is very difficult.
2.5 Healthwatch
HD handed round the latest Healthwatch newsletter. People can sign up
for it online.
Healthwatch has been working with CAIL and Pinpoint on the Wheelchair
Services. The survey should go live next week. Hard copies will also be
available or else a response can be given over the phone.
2.6 Cam Sight
Cam Sight has a tactile model of the floating bus stop so people can
understand what they are like. The model can be borrowed.
Cam Sight is working on the issue of privacy whilst voting.
2.7 LM said the main focus is the Children and Families Act Strategy particularly
in the face of financial challenges and a rising population.
Action: LM will coordinate with GL

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3. Feedback from other meetings (Adult Social Care Forum, Cross Board
Transport group etc.)
See 2.2

4. Services for Carers

The Carers Support Team transferred to Carers Trust Cambridgeshire

(CTC) in April.

LG stressed that they work across families and across the County.
The aim is to have some support before a crisis occurs
CTC is modelling the Transforming Lives programme for adult social
care.
Partnership working
What If Plans will replace ICERs
Caring communities underpin this approach

DI asked what the time frame for Carers Assessments is.

LG - new assessments are being dealt with in a timely manner. The Review
Team is a little behind but aims to complete assessments by April 2016.

5. Acquired Brain Injury Forum

LM asked the Board if they should incorporate the Forum into the Board. Its remit
was based on housing issues
SM The Forum has been running for 5 years. Initially it included Headway,
Papworth Trust and the Brain Injury Unit because there had been nowhere
suitable for young people with brain injuries to live.
AT asked if there were cost implications for the Board. How is the Forum
funded?
LM confirmed this was not an issue
LM - where does the Forum fit?
SM - are peoples interests in housing being dealt with?
MS - where houses are adapted it is a shame they cant be kept for people who
need them.

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SM - The Forum looks at new housing developments. Cambridge City has

particular difficulties.
AS - is there any forum that looks at housing across the board?
AT - the PDSI PB is already professional heavy. GL is aiming to recruit more
independent members.
LM - the Board could invite someone from housing to the next meeting. Different
districts vary in how active they are on housing issues.
HD - Angie Skipper from Huntingdon DC is Specialist Housing Officer.

It was agreed by the board that housing issues were important and that further
investigation into existing housing forums and how both the ABI forum and the
PDSI board could most appropriately deal with these.

Action: Board members to send GL any contacts they have in housing.

6. Update from health
The System Transformation Programme is looking at how to be more
effective in the quality of care.
Have had public involved in discussions
There will be a future consultation about the Vanguard strategy which
aims to keep people out of hospital and also one on Wheelchair Services
The Consultation on Non-emergency Transport Services such as going to
hospital appointments is ongoing
Dr Rob Bailey deals with end of life care
Action: SL will send CAIL information for circulation.
EB - What sort of response has CCG had to its consultations?
SL - consultation on Older People was good but mixed on Transport
EF there is good evidence for one point of access.
Action: SL invited members to email her with comments.

7. Adult Social Care Forum

AT briefly summarised what ASCF does.
She reminded Board members that the link to the minutes can be found on
CAILs website.
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Report on the Forums last meeting was postponed.

8. Matters arising, Minutes of last meeting and Action Log
The Minutes were agreed.
AT Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living has continued to look for
suitable venues. Members to feedback.
Cllr Hoy suggested using Fenland District Council meeting rooms.
AT - there is still a need for a Co-Chair. She asked members to think seriously
about this and what alternative the Board could consider such as a floating Chair.
9. Any other business
AT 17 December Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living Christmas
party. All partnership board members have been invited.
LG Carers Week in June 2016. CTC is looking for partners.

Date of meetings in 2016:

Thursday 25th February, 2:00pm 4:15pm, Orchard Community Centre,
Cambridge
Tuesday 17th May, 2:00pm 4:15pm, March Community Centre, March
Thursday 8th September, 2:00pm 4:15pm, Orchard Community Centre
Cambridge
Tuesday 29th November, 2:00pm 4:15pm
Kindly note there will be a meeting of service users just before each
meeting between 1:15 and 1:45pm

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