1

Written by Kathryn Sanders - Advocacy Development Co-ordinator - -Learning Disability Development Team

A.C.E.. In this ACE Newsletter we have information about

1. Day Services Modernisation The Puzzle Tree Community Hub in Okehampton.

2. Dates for your diary.

3. “ All About Housing” - Housing Leaflet

4. Some news from MENCAP

5. Changes to the Devon Puddle Board or Partnership Board

6. The Nichols Flats Housing Project.

7. Interview with Kay Baker about her job at county hall

2

Day Service MOdernisation The Puzzle Tree in Okehampton.

A community hub has opened in Okehampton. It is called the Puzzle Tree Drop in Centre. The staff from the Leaze CRC run the hub. Here is an article from Paula, who lives in

Okehampton,

“I used to go to a day centre, but now I don’t

instead I go to the Puzzle Tree Drop in when I want to find out something or see my friends. I go to work 3 days a week and go to college

Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. When I went to the Leaze my days were planned,

now I choose what I like. I drop in on my way to the college or the library. I can use the computer look up places to visit or find out what else I can do at College. I like it better here, as I prefer to pop in when I want, I still see my friends but before I had no time for myself. Some of my friends still need staff to help them, if

they are going out they meet at the Puzzle Tree. They use it as a Hub to meet up and go to other

places, like college

3

I feel more independent and happy in myself I can come and go as I please. Everyone is happier !

Dates for your Diary What is going

on? Where is it? What day

and time? What is it about and who can come?

Who to contact

Advocates Network Meeting

Ivybank, St. David’s Hill Exeter

Wednesday 9th Feb 10.30- 12pm

For people who have jobs about Advocacy

Kathryn Sanders

01392 385507

SURF Meeting

County hall Exeter

Tuesday March 22vnd 11am – 1pm

A speaking up forum for people with learning disabilities from all over Devon. There will be voting for committee members in March

The SURF office

07766207122 01392 876334

4

What is going on?

Where is it? What day and time?

What is it about and who can come?

Who to contact

Devon Advocacy Group Supporters meetings.

Ivybank , St. Davids Hill Exeter

Friday 11th

February 10.30-12pm

For all the people who support speaking up groups

Kathryn Sanders

01392 385507

If you know of any speaking up events going on let me know. You can telephone me on 07974745129 or 01392 385507

5

There are going to be some changes to the Puddle Board Meeting in Devon. The Puddle Board meeting talks about things that are happening for all of Devon.

6

What are the new meetings?

1. Big Puddle Board Meeting There will be a big Puddle Board Meeting two times a year. The meeting will be from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Some of the meeting will be an open meeting. This means anyone can come and see what work the Puddle Board has been doing. Each of the sub groups will have information stands to show what work they have been doing. Lots of people will have the chance to have a say.

2. Puddle Board Action Group Meetings There will be an action group meeting every two months where lots of work will be done and talked about. The meeting will be about two of the white paper themes and about what work the sub groups and JIPs have done.

3. Puddle Board Sub Groups There will be a sub group for each of the parts of the White Paper “Valuing People”

Who will go to the meetings? Big Puddle Board Meetings People from SURF, people from the Carer’s Forum, people from the voluntary sector , people from health ,social services and education, people who provide services like ARC and Job Centre Plus. There will also be people from each Puddle Board sub group and JIP steering group and the members of the public. Action Group Meetings There will be different people at the Action Group Meetings. If the action group is talking about Health all the lead people for health will come to the meetings. These could be people from the Puddleboard Health Sub Group including the service users and carers who go to the meetings and the JIP health sub groups too.

7

There are going to be some changes to the JIP Meetings in Devon. JIP means joint investment planning and in the meetings people talk about what happens in your area

8

JIP Meetings There will be 6 big JIP meetings in Devon one for each area Exeter, East Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, mid Devon, north Devon They will meet two times a year. They will have sub groups like the Puddle board sub groups JIP Action Group Meetings There will be an action group meeting every two months where lots of work will be done and talked about. The meeting will be about two of the parts of the white paper and about what work the sub groups and JIPs have done. Kathi Connick will write new rules for the JIP groups about the things they need to do and who should be at the meetings

Housing Choices

Here is a leaflet about some of the different housing choices you may have in Devon.

9

I want my own place

I want to share a house with my

friends

I want to do more things on my own

Different types of Housing

There are lots of different types of housing for people with a learning disability.

Here are some of them

• Living with other people in a group home

or residential home. • Adult placement

• Living in sheltered housing

• Living in a home that you own

• Living in supported living

• Living with your own family

10

Living in a group home or residential home

This means living in a house or flat with a group of other people. Sometimes they are called residential care homes. They can be large. This is often for people who need a lot of support Staff can help in the day and at night like helping you to go to the toilet, have a bath or getting dressed. Most of the time they do the housework, shopping and cooking.

11

Adult Placement or Living with a Family This is when you live with your own family, or another family. This is sometimes called adult placement, or supported lodging. You can have your own room but share other rooms like their lounge with the family you live with. The family gives you the support you need.

12

Sheltered Housing

This is when a group of people with a learning disability live near each other like in the same street or block of flats. Most people have their own separate flat or house. People usually look after themselves and do their own cooking and shopping There is usually a warden or support worker who can help you with things

13

Supported Living

This is sometimes called independent living. You can live on your own or with other people. You get support you need to do things for your self. Some people rent a house or a flat.

14

Buying your own Home

A few people with learning disabilities have bought their own home. Some people have used benefits or money left to them by their family. If you own your own home you have to look after it. You can still get support to live their if you need it.

15

16

Wanted: writers with a learning disability

23 December 2004

If you like to write and have a learning disability we want to hear from you. Read on to find out more.

'Mencap Matters' is a newsletter. We send it 4 times a year to people who give money to Mencap.

For the newsletter in March we want people with a learning disability to write the stories.

We have 10 stories that need to be written for thenewsletter. They are about lots of different subjects.

If you would like to write a story for our newsletter please contact Robbie Buscombe.

You can call or email him using the details below.

Telephone: 020 7696 6920

Email: robbie.buscombe@mencap.org.uk

17

Do you want to live in your own flat with support?

Have you got a learning disability? You could rent a new flat in Exeter. There will be 20 new flats for people with learning disabilities to rent in Exeter, on the old Nichols site in Polsloe Road, Exeter. You can move into the flats in June. There will be support if you need it. There are 1 and 2 bedroom flats.

You can live on your own, with a partner or friend.

If you would like more information please fill out the form on the next page and send it back to, or phone James Gush on 01392 208744

You can fill this form in and send it back if you are interested

1. My name is ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. My Address is--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. My telephone number is -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Which community team do you get support from? ---------------------------------------------------------

Please send it back to James Gush Franklyn House Franklyn Drive St. Thomas Exeter EX2 9HS

You can talk to James about the project On 01392 208744

18

Interview with Kay Baker about her Job at County Hall.

What were you doing before you got the job at County Hall? “I’ve had lots of jobs before this one, mainly working at ‘Sandwich Spread’ (a catering employment initiative as part of the Axcess Project) and other things at the ‘Centre’ (Exeter Community Centre and formerly the Exeter Nichols CRC). I also worked at the Dennis Taylor Nursing Home as a volunteer taking teas and coffees to the old ladies. I enjoyed this but I wanted a paid job. I worked at Somerfields supermarket, but I don’t want to work in a shop, I have always wanted to work in an office” How did you get the job at County Hall?

19

“Phil Roberts and James Knott (job placement workers at the Axcess Project) told me that there was a work placement, but I would have to do an interview. The people who interviewed me were impressed by what I said. I told them that I had always wanted an office job and that I was good at working in a

team like at Sandwich Spread but also good at working on my own. I did the work placement for a while and now it’s a permanent paid job!” Tell me more about your wages. “I get £83.24 every month. It doesn’t affect my benefits as I only work a few hours. My job placement worker helps me with the benefits office and filling in forms. I get a payslip at work but the money goes straight into my bank account so that I can save it. I want to save for getting married next year and to buy things for my new flat. I will be moving out of home soon! I also buy clothes. I have to look nice at work – no jeans and T-shirts. I wear a skirt and a blouse usually and smart shoes like the other ladies that are in the office. I like to look smart” What is your job at County Hall? What kind of things do you do?

20

“I am Sam Newman’s tea maid!!!! No, not really. I do shredding, photocopying, a bit of filing and typing, I get the post sorted and I can now use the fax machine. I get papers ready for Sam’s meetings, and for other people. I’ve got the use of a laptop computer, but I don’t use it very much. I work 6 hours a week from 9.30am – 3pm on a Tuesday. I get to work on the bus – I have to get 2 buses to County Hall from home, and I enjoy it on the

bus. I bring my own lunch to work and instead of going out to eat it I prefer to stay in the office to have a chat with my colleagues.” What help do you get at work? “Ann Cash (Office colleague/mentor) helps me a lot and shows me how to do new things and she gets my work ready for me. From now on this will be Hannah, Sam’s new P.A. but she has only just started. I also get lots of support from Sam Newman and other people at County Hall like Malcolm Pomeroy and Neil Burnett (Annexe Reception). My job-placement workers help me too. Hazel is now my Placement Officer, Phil having moved to his new job which is within the same building so he is still looking in on me to see how I am progressing. ” Tell me the good things about your job.

21

“Meeting my new friends that I work with and helping someone important like Sam. I love getting the money and I like doing something that gets me out of ‘the centre’. I have my own badge that gets me in and out of County Hall. I like learning new things like the fax and the photocopier. I really like chatting to the people I work with.”

What are the bad things about your job? “Making Sam’s tea because he has lots and lots of meetings!! No, not really. There isn’t anything bad about it.” How do your family feel about the job? “Lovely! They are proud of me” What is your goal for the future? “I’d like to work full time at County Hall. I know that this will mean I might lose my benefits, but I don’t mind – I want to come off benefits.” What advice would you give other people who want to get a job? “Sit down and talk to someone about it. Practice doing interviews so that you know what to say and you don’t get nervous. Try lots of different things so that you know what you want to do and just go for it Is there anything else that you would like to say? “Thank you for making me famous by doing this interview!”

22

If you want to put anything in the ACE

newsletter or want to talk to me about it please contact me

Kathryn Sanders – Advocacy Development Co-ordinator

Learning Disability Development Team Ivybank 45 St.Davids Hill Exeter EX4 4DN

01392 385507 07974 745129

E-mail; kathryn.sanders@devon.gov.uk

23