Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment Partnership Board

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

March Community Centre, March PE15 8LE
Minutes
Present
AB Amanda Bavin
Speech To Text notetaker
EB Erika Brown
Hunts Society for the Blind
PB Pauline Brown
Independent member
SC Sally Cleghorn
Admin Officer, Cambridgeshire Alliance
KC Kathy Cornell
Care Network, Community Navigator
Coordinator, Fenland
HD Heather Davison
Coordinator, Healthwatch
CE Chris Eleftheriou
Service User, Headway Representative
GL Graham Lewis
Development Officer, CAIL
LM Lee McManus
Service Development Manager, CCC
AP Andy Palmer
CEO, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
MS Mick Scadden
Independent member
JS Jane Scott
Independent member
DSS Debbie Stickler-Singh
Adult Social Care, CCC
AS Anne Streather
CEO, Cam Sight

1.0 Welcome, Introductions and Apologies

1.1
MS welcomed everyone and said as it was his first time chairing the Board
he would welcome feedback.
1.2
Apologies: Barbara Cassey, Frances Dewhurst.
1.3
Minutes and matters arising
p.2 LM - the comment was about CFA Strategy and circumstances about
timing. There was no action arising.
AS Cam Sights spare office space is now taken.
p.4 GL to follow up on action about staff chart.
p.6 The correct name of Dhiverses patron is Andy Bell of Erasure.
Apart from these corrections the Minutes were agreed.

2.0 Updates from Board members

2.1 AS apologised that she had not sent in her updates before the meeting.
Cam Sight is conducting a review of its services. Those who receive the
Newsletter will already have been invited to take part.
2.2 AP congratulated Mick Scadden on taking the Chair.
Cambridgeshire Deaf Association (CDA) has new workers for drop in
centres around the County.
is advertising for carers who can sign
there is a new 50+ Club
wants to organise BSL walks
the British Deaf Associations new film Power in our hands will be shown
on 28 June at their headquarters and at the Wildwood Cinema.
has produced a BSL card to take to health appointments. This is proving
very popular.
Is now providing advocacy in Peterborough as well as Cambridgeshire.
2.3 Care Network
is very busy. Attends many events. Celebrates 30th year this year.
Is working with Health for a more holistic approach.
KC encouraged board members to use Care Networks Facebook page
KC said she really appreciates the Board coming to Fenland. It is good to
see so many people at the meeting.
2.4 EB - Patient Experience Group is to represent visually impaired people at
Hinchingbrooke.
PB commented that similar cards for those with hearing impairment would be
useful otherwise they need communicator guides.
AP responded that CDA will try to produce other cards on communication
support.
3.0 Feedback from other meetings
3.1 Cross board member training GL reported that the training had been on
chairing a meeting and how to speak about CAIL to other people. The external
trainer Alasdair Cant was well received and provided good interactive sessions.
3.2 Advocacy consultation A number of service users contributed to questions
to be asked in the new tender for advocacy services. They met last week to
evaluate the answers. The results will feed into the final tender.
AP declared an interest because Cambridgeshire Deaf Association in partnership
with other providers has submitted a bid.

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3.3 Community Navigator consultation

PB attended this consultation.
4.0 Updates from the PD and SI teams
for the Advocacy contract several contracts are to be amalgamated
into one. An evaluation has been done involving service users. On 18
May the team will be discussing the moderation i.e. what different
consultees felt. The results should come out shortly.
The Physical Disabilities team is reviewing assessments in line with
the Care Act 2015.
Transforming Lives aims to direct people towards more community
based support.
new staff are settling in
the HIV support contract is to be combined with the Public Health and
Sexual Health contract
Cambridge Housing Society is to become part of the PD budget at
Russell St in Cambridge.
DS-S outlined the team and said they are interviewing for 2 or more
social workers. Have already recruited new social workers and adult
support workers.
Q&A
HD asked if there was a chart of the team structure
JS - is there a similar one for SI team?
Action: LM can send out the PD team chart and will ask Elaine Fleet for the SI
team structure.
PB - there should be a representative for people with deaf-blind impairment
because their needs are different.
Action: GL will explore how to work more closely with Sense but he reminded
the Board that according to the Terms of Reference there was a limit on
numbers and a requirement to have 50% members who are service users.
There are already 3 sensory impairment organisations on the Board.
LM now covers both.
PB reminded everyone about the work Sense and Deaf-Blind UK do.
5.0 Health
HD spoke on
a/ the change coming on quality issues
b/ the work Healthwatch is doing on peoples experience of health services.
HD asked if the Board could be more specific about the health information they
wanted to hear about. She suggested that the Kings Fund videos which explain
the structure of health services might be of interest.
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Action: HD to send SC the links to Kings Fund videos for distribution.

PB said there would be a problem for sight impaired people if there were no sub
titles.
HD asked who would be the best group to talk to about that/ will follow up with
Healthwatch England.
PB added that a summary would help.

From July onwards anyone who needs services from Cambridgeshire

County Council or Health or service providers will be entitled to specify the
format they want any communications to be in.
Healthwatch Cambridgeshire wants to work with organisations which
support people to find out if they notice any actual difference and is
always keen to hear about peoples experiences. She handed out the new
leaflet that lists Healthwatch Cambridgeshires services.
PB asked how it was funded.
HD - it is independent but ultimately the funding comes from the NHS but the
contract is with Cambridgeshire County Council. She explained that an individual
can feedback to Healthwatch on their experiences.
PB there are major complaints about GPs and hospitals. Where is the action
on these issues?
Healthwatch wants to hear about good and bad experiences.
A complaint is formal. All organisations have complaints procedures with time
scales for responding. The last resort is the Health Ombudsman. Healthwatch
does not deal with complaints
there are about 140 independent Healthwatch organisations. They collect
and identify common themes or track particular providers. They can then
feedback to the commissioners.
MS - what feedback does Healthwatch get, do they post it on the website, do
they contact people?

Healthwatch reports quarterly to the different hospitals and to the Clinical

Commissioning Group (CCG) on its findings. On specific issues it can ask
what they are going to do to change. It works closely with the Care Quality
Commission (CQC). Healthwatch England is now part of the CQC and
does preparatory work on its behalf.

6.0 Floating bus stops update

These are only in Cambridge in this county.
GL attends the Cambridge City Council Disability Panel and has asked about the
consultation process. The initial response was that they didnt know which
organisations to approach. This is despite the fact that Cam Sight and others
have been very vocal on the issue.

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PB - if theres a serious incident who is responsible? The Cambridge City Deal

spends a lot on cycling but theres no mention of pedestrians.
MS - the scheme has too many flaws. It would his dog that would be hit first if
there was a collision.
GL - Guide Dogs has been vocal. The Whippet and Stagecoach companies dont
like them.
AS - Cam Sight has a tactile model of the floating bus stop.
PB - wheelchair users arent allowed to cross to the island until the bus arrives.
EB - could the Access Team work with a selection of users?
GL will look into the possibility.
CE - how wide and how long will the islands be.
GL didnt know.
7.0 Wheelchair Service
Following on from concerns about the service Pinpoint, the Alliance,
Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Healthwatch Peterborough ran a series
of drop ins for wheelchair users.
HD circulated a table of figures and a summary of Healthwatchs findings.
There were problems on support, contact and communication,
maintenance, repairs. The staff at the provider didnt seem to appreciate
the impact of a poor wheelchair on the user and their families.
Assessments were not pro-active particularly for adults.
CE - whats the point of a company that can only provide two types of
wheelchair?
The Commissioning Manager Jane Coulson is keen to re-tender within the
year. She wants to involve service users in the tender process.
Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living hopes to have partnership board
members and people with lived experience involved in the tender process.
MS - how many wheelchair companies would there be?
GL - not known. Currently Bartrams do the repairs and Provide do the
assessments.
8.0 Adult Social Care Forum
8.1 Issues to take to the ASCF
The floating bus stop issue cant be taken to this forum.
CE asked why the Council cant employ carers direct.
LM - this is because central government has said local authorities should
put services out tender as much as possible.
GL is going to visit Headway soon to discuss the non-attendance of personal
assistance with users there.

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KC in Fenland Health colleagues are concerned that lot of people are waiting 4-6
months just for a ramp.
Action: GL will contact KC.
LM - thinks it is the District Council that provides ramps.
Action: GL to find out.
8.2 Issue from the ASCF
Accessible information - Healthcare providers are required to provide
communications in a format that the service user needs.
9.0 Action Log
9.1 Self Directed Support (SDS).
Action: GL to circulate a presentation on the upcoming Cambridgeshire Alliance
for Independent Living project Voices for Choices.
9.2 On Health Sue Last from the CCG is a member of the PDSI Partnership
Board. HD has given more information today to help clarify what members want
to know.
9.3 Housing Representative on the Board - this is ongoing.
9.4 PIPs and Assessments GL is still looking for the most appropriate speaker.
9.5 AP has given PB information about sub-titles on TV.
9.6 LM - as there is no further information on PAs could this item be removed?
The Board agreed that if there is no further action it can be removed after the
next meeting.
10. Any other business
PB on PIP and Assessments. She wants feedback from users.
She circulated a leaflet on the Hard of Hearing social group.
MS commented on his own experience of the PIP process. He didnt get
enough points initially even though his guide dog which would warrant 12
points was by his side.
The Board thanked Mick for agreeing to chair todays meeting.
Date of meetings in 2016:
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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