The aspirations of people with learning disabilities and autism are changing and the adults of the future are looking for something different. The Ideas Festival gave providers a chance to hear what young people in Sandwell want the future to look like and share how they may be able to contribute. The event informed people about the future commissioning intentions of Adult Social Care.

The Ideas Festival also launched the Quality of Life standards, which have been written by over 650 young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism. The standards are an important tool in assuring the quality of services.

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We need to reflect on how far we have come as a community over the last 30 years. People with learning disabilities once had no choice or control over their lives. Now we have supported living, personal budgets and direct payments, but are in danger of getting stuck, as over the last 5 years very little has progressed for people with a learning disability.

Over the coming years there are more cuts to be made. We can either move into a pit of despair or try to do new things in a radical and new way. The Council, service providers, and people with learning disabilities themselves, will all have to work together to find new ways of providing services at lower cost.

We will work together with providers and organisations like Changing Our Lives to empower people to use universal services like everybody else and live ordinary lives like everyone else.

John GarrettDeputy CEOSandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

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Thought provoking and

ideas about new ways of doing

things.

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The greatest thing about today

was that every voice was heard.

To hear from people who are at the

forefront of what we do.

I’m really excited about today! Working with commissioners, providers and people who use the service all in the same room – working together.

What people want and expect is changing. We have difficulties supporting people to be more independent because we are too risk averse. What we commission now will be based on what people need and want. We hope everyone will be excited about the challenge ahead. This is a chance to develop a responsive market place.

We are going to ensure we achieve positive outcomes and that we can evidence this.

Neil CoxOperations ManagerComplex CommissioningSandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

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The positive environment

really showed how peoples lives improve

with the right support.

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An awe inspiring day,

with great ideas to improve the

services we provide.

We want to hear your offer, it needs to match customer aspirations. Lets work together positively and make the best use of available resources.

Sam HayComplex Commissioning ManagerSandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

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It was good that the talks were

not only delivered by professionals, but by the people who use

the service.

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Informative, emotional

and thought provoking. Job

well done!

I always hear someone isn’t suitable to live in the community, what does that even mean?Don’t we all live in a community?

I am passionate about Intensive Interaction and what this approach has to offer people who communicate in different ways. We need to change the way we communicate with people.

Mark SturgeonOperations ManagerAffinity Trust

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Hearing first hand

what’s wanted and needed.

Keeping it real and no tokenism in

delivery.

Watch the Pledges

Communication passports are vital for people that don’t use words to communicate, but they are no good to anyone if they sit in a drawer. I don’t put my voice in a drawer!

Support staff need to understand people’s journeys, to support and respect them. We all have a common goal, which is to provide good quality services.

Gary DixonQuality Improvement ManagerCommunity Integrated Care

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I enjoyed

the talks of how people have changed their

lives for the better.

The content of the day was thought

provoking and as a new provider it has given me an

insight into how people want their care delivered. Would recommend this day and

would want to attend more like this.

We move forward for their aspirations and they keep us on our toes.

Live Well Care

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Valuing People Vs

The New Generation.

Very thought provoking.

An excellent

Ideas Festival

The Ideas Festival will be followed up by a series of Dragons Den’s and providers will be invited to submit their ‘offer’ to commissioners. This is an exciting opportunity for providers to implement a ‘Quality of Life’ approach to shaping services and supports to strengthen their position in the future market.

Providers will be invited to present their ‘offer’ to the Dragons. The Dragons will be made up of professionals and people with learning disabilities and autism. They will consider the offers as part of their future commissioning intentions towards a more progressive and aspirational approach.

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Changing Our Lives22-24 Hagley Mews

Hall DriveHagley

West MidlandsDY9 9LQ

Tel: 0300 302 0770Email: ask@changingourlives.orgWeb: www.changingourlives.org