Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment (PDSI)

Partnership Board (The Board)

Terms of Reference (ToR)
* The term people with disabilities refers here to those adults with a physical disability, or
long-term condition such as acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis or HIV; it also includes
sensory impairments.
Purpose
To bring together people with disabilities, their representatives and the public and voluntary
sectors, to work together to ensure the highest quality and best value services for people
with disabilities locally.
Reporting and Governance
A Co-Chair of the Board will attend meetings of the Adult Social Care Forum (ASCF) to
raise awareness of issues and influence strategic decision-making. They will in turn report
back to the Board. The Board will feedback on, and report to its members on any local
initiatives affecting people with disabilities.
Tasks
1. To work closely with the other Cambridgeshire County Council, (CCC) Partnership
Boards and other participation bodies (e.g. SUN Network) to identify common areas of
concern, or need, for people with disabilities, then to seek solutions that resolve the
issues.
2. To act as a critical friend to CCC and other public authorities and services operating
within the County to ensure that people with disabilities are treated as full and equal
citizens.
3. Contribute to, and comment on the councils future plans for social care for people with
disabilities in Cambridgeshire and also on service delivery changes as appropriate.

4. Create reporting links (Cambridgeshire Alliance, chairs and co-chairs) between the
other Adult Social Care Partnership Boards as well as up to the Adult Social Care
Forum thereby enabling joined-up working.
5. Link to other public bodies and agencies to influence their plans and priorities (e.g.
Local Strategic Partnerships) and agree on reports/issues to be shared.
6. Act as a vehicle for partnership planning for people with disabilities across and between
different service areas.
7. Carry out an annual review and provide an annual report of activity for stakeholders.
8. Review the induction, support and training needs of board members on a regular basis.
Board Members (Please see the current membership list and Roles & Responsibilities
document for more details).
The Board will have a maximum core membership of 20 individuals. It will operate a two tier
membership comprising:
1. Full members who attend and participate fully in Board meetings
2. Corresponding members who do not attend (all) meetings but receive all information
and minutes and are invited to participate and contribute via email / telephone etc.
The Board will be made up of the following:

50% (of Full members) will be local adults with a disability

Appropriate Third Sector Organisation representatives

A limited number of Statutory Services Representatives to include Social Care staff

& appropriate Health representatives e.g. UntingCare and /or Clinical Commissioning
Group.

Additionally, a member of the Adults Committee will be nominated to, and expected to
attend.
Furthermore, the membership of the Board should aim to be representative of the diversity
of Cambridgeshire.
Members will remain on the board for a period of 1-3 years except under exceptional
circumstances and at the discretion of the board.

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Co-Chair
The role of the Co-Chairs is to facilitate the smooth running of meetings and to ensure that
the views of all members are duly considered. Elected Chairs will ideally be adults with a
disability and will remain in office for two years and may be elected for a further one year.
Except in exceptional circumstances, two meetings notice is required of resignation from
the position of Co-Chair.
People with disabilities
People with disabilities play a crucial role in delivering lived experience expertise. The
people with disabilities on the board must be adults representing the age range and span of
disabilities, health conditions and impairments that the PDSI team supports. They may, or
may not, be users of services commissioned within Cambridgeshire, but must have a local
connection. No member of the board will be asked directly, or indirectly, to reveal whether
or not they have a disability, or long term health condition. Nor will any member be asked
to divulge the nature of their disability or health condition, or any other personal health
information.
Third Sector Organisations and Statutory Service Representatives
These representatives are required to take responsibility to use their networks and links to
people with disabilities to support voice and consultation activities when required.
Prospective new board members
Prospective new board members will meet with the chair and Cambridgeshire Alliance by
whom they will be given an overview of the work of the board and the responsibilities of
membership. Following this meeting, the chair, Cambridgeshire Alliance and the individual
will decide on whether membership of the board is appropriate.
Frequency and agendas

Meetings will be held every three months.

Extraordinary meetings can be called by any of the group members, in consultation with
all other members and to be agreed by the Chair

Any member of the group may suggest agenda items to the Chair or Cambridgeshire
Alliance at least 3 weeks before each meeting to be agreed by the Chair

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Agendas will be sent out to members at least 1 week before each meeting; these will
also be available on the Cambridgeshire Alliance website

Referral Onwards

Where relevant issues are raised at the Board which require detailed scrutiny, a Task
and Finish group will be convened, which will feed back to the Board on completion of
the task.

Where individual issues arise, which would more appropriately be referred on for
individual resolution through the Complaints Process, or through presentation at
another specialist forum, members will be encouraged and supported to do so.

Communications
Minutes and other relevant information will be published on Cambridgeshire Alliances
website, on which there is a dedicated Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment
Partnership Board page.
Lifespan of the Group

The Terms of Reference of the Partnership Board will be reviewed on a three yearly
basis.

Any developments or changes to the Board will be reflected in the amended Terms of
Reference.

Last updated: August 2015

Approved by the Board: 20th August 2015
Date due for review: 20th August 2018

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