Welcome To Wirral

The Board is responsible for:

• Overseeing the implementation of Valuing People
• Overseeing and co-ordinating inter-agency planning for integrated and inclusive learning disability services in the Wirral that give real choice
• Overseeing the development of consistent services for people with learning disabilities across Wirral
• Recommending to the Modernisation Executive the use of the Health Act Flexibilities where appropriate
• Ensuring that rights to a service are consistently met to agreed standards
• Ensuring arrangements for a smooth transition into adult life are in place
• Referring decisions on commissioning and finance of learning disability services with recommendations, if appropriate to the Modernisation Executive
• Acting as the meeting point of representatives of the wide range of stakeholders in learning disability services across Wirral
• Providing a place to which the views of stakeholders in learning disability services in Wirral can be referred for discussion
• Championing inclusive integrated learning disability services in Wirral
• Overseeing and developing the work of the Learning Disability Modernisation Team

The board meets 4 times a year.

The board will ensure that:

• representatives of people with learning disabilities and carers are enabled to take part as full members of the board and able to make a real contribution to the board's work;
• The cultural diversity of the local community is reflected in the board's membership;
• Local independent providers and the voluntary sector are fully engaged in the board's work

The Board is not a statutory body, but is to operate within the framework provided by Local strategic Partnerships, as such it is accountable to the Modernisation Executive.

Membership

Suggested Membership (2004 onwards)

• Chair - currently Department of Adult Social Services Head of Service for Learning Disability services
• Joint Commissioning Manager (responsible for implementing the boards work  and progress of Valuing People)
• Department of Adult Social Services Service Managers for Learning Disabilities
• Children and Young People Services Service Managers for Disabled Children and Young People
• Department of Adult Social Services Carers Development Officer
• Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust (2 representatives)
• 1 Representative from Wirral's PCT
• Children and Young Peoples Services (1 representative from Education)
• Connexions (1 representative)
• Regeneration Department (1 Housing representative)
• Wirral Metropolitan College (1 representative)
• Carers (3 representative)
• People who use our services (3 representatives + support)
• Advocacy services (2 representatives)
• Independent Sector Providers (upto 3 representatives)
• Representatives of ethnic minority communities (2 representatives)

People with learning disabilities who are board members are entitled to bring whatever personal support they require in order that they can play a full part in the meeting. Their supporters are only to attend in this capacity.

 

Expenses and support to members

The board will make available resources to facilitate people with learning disability and their carers to be full members of the board by:

• Providing resources/facilities to meet specific needs of attendees who would otherwise be unable to participate in the board's meetings e.g. caring support and help with transport;
• To provide necessary out of pocket expenses to attend meetings for service users and carers who are board members

 

Sub Groups

The board will have a number of sub groups, each of which will have Terms of Reference and work plans agreed by the board. The board can setup or disband sub-groups as and when it considers necessary, in order to undertake particular pieces of work and lead on implementation of strategies.

At the current time ( Dec 2003), the sub-groups will be:

• Transition
• Person Centred Planning
• Quality and Information
• Workforce Planning
• Housing
• Day Services Modernisation
• Community Teams
• Provider Forum
• Service User Group(s)
• Carer(s) Groups
• Ethnic Minorities
• Employment

Each sub-group will normally be led by a member of the board. When this is not the case, the leader will become a member of the board.

 

Decision making

The board and its sub-groups should normally make decisions based upon a consensus of their members. Normally this should be defined as agreement by more than half of the members present, including the chair.