Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Zoe Sutherland, Andrew Clark and Deborah Dow.

The Chairman explained that Debi Game was attending the meeting today to give an update on the Co Chair Elections for the Board and that the agenda item on National Benefits Reform would be deferred until the January meeting.

The minutes of the meeting were agreed as correct subsequent to Maggie Murphy being added to the attendance list.

Matters Arising

Page 3 – Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board

Clarification still awaited on how those with hearing impairments make a report to the safeguarding team.

Action: Sharon Griffin

Page 4 – PSDPB Priorities Action Plan

Nadiya Ashraf is to be invited to the March meeting of the Board.

Action: Chris Reid / Sharon Griffin

Report from Graham White, Community Safety Coordinator.

Graham White, Community Safety Officer was welcomed to the meeting.  Graham began by explaining that he is part of the Community Safety Team which comes under the Localities and Safer Communities Drugs and Alcohol Team service area.

Part of the role of the Community Safety Team is to raise public awareness of crime and link into Thames Valley Police Crime Prevention strategy. 

The definition of Hate Crime agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is as follows;

‘Any criminal offence which is committed against a person or property

that is motivated by hostility towards someone based on their disability,

race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.’

Examples of behaviour are physical attacks on a person or a place, threat of attack e.g. offensive letters, abusive phone calls, cyber bullying & verbal assaults or insults.  Hate crime can be experienced by an individual or a whole community.

Several reports have been published in light of particular incidents.  The ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ report (Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC 2011) reviewed 10 disability cases where victims were seriously injured or killed.  There were three critical aspects to be addressed; recognising the scale of the problem, proactive prevention and dealing swiftly and fairly when incidents occur.  From the report seven core recommendations and a range of targeted recommendations were made.

‘Challenge It, Stop It, Report It’ focuses on the three core issues of preventing hate crime, increasing reporting and improving operational response to hate crimes.  This also includes improving support for victims.

A survey was carried out in Buckinghamshire which gave a snapshot audit of people’s experience of hate crime and incidents and views of services available.  The survey ran from 14 November 2011 – 6 January 2012.  There were 257 respondents. People reported against seven strands; race, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender and gender reassignment.

For the period of 1 April 2011 to 30 April 2012, there were 231 reports of Hate Crime to the police in Buckinghamshire.  A breakdown of the type of Hate Crime and a comparison to national figures is;

Findings from the survey suggest an under-reporting issue (when comparing this survey and national data).  The three top issues reported were; insults and harassment, threat of violence and unwanted sexual contact.

Reasons for not responding to the survey were;

• 55% didn’t think the police could or would do anything
• 45% too common to report
• 41% didn’t think it would be taken seriously
• 67% didn’t know where they could get any support

Focus groups were set up across the county but this proved challenging in terms of engagement.  1 to 1 sessions were also offered but were unsuccessful.

The findings of the survey show;

• Bucks has residents who are experiencing hate crime
• Need for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Update from Christopher Reid

The Chairman explained that Ted Piker, Scrutiny Support Officer and Councillor Brian Pollock, Wycombe District Council had attended the March meeting of the Board to give an overview of Wycombe District Council's review of services to people with Disabilities.

The review has now been completed and a report has been produced which includes recommendations on the way forward.  The report has been accepted by Cabinet, Wycombe District Council and the County Councillors.

The suggestion was made of inviting Ted Piker and Councillor Brian Pollock to the January meeting of the Board to give an update on the report and recommendations.

Action: Christopher Reid/Sharon Griffin

The Chairman added that he has been asked to contact other District Councils to find out what they are doing in terms of access to services for those who have a disability.  A response has been received from Philip Black, Aylesbury Vale District Council advising what the District Council is doing to build in the legacy of the Paralympics.  Mr Black is to be invited to the January meeting to provide an update to Members of the Board.

Action: Christopher Reid/Sharon Griffin

The Chairman welcomed Debi Game, SUCO to the meeting.

Debbie began by explaining that SUCO has developed into its own organisation and is very committed to becoming a charitable status as soon as possible.  The programme for development has recently been endorsed and a timetable will be available shortly.

SUCO is currently in the process of recruiting a new chairman of the Board.  There have been some expressions of interest.  The application process has been completed and work is currently taking place on the interview process.

Two new members have now been recruited (bringing the total to 10 members). Talks continue with Community Impact Bucks and Mind about the recruitment of further members.

The draft process for the elections of Co-chair on the Partnership Boards has been completed and was sent to the County Council in October to be sent out for consultation.  An update from the County Council is awaited.  Nadiya Ashraf is to be contacted.

Action: Stephen Archibald

The Partnership Boards can only elect a Co-chair once the advised number of Service User and Carer representatives has been recruited to the Boards.  Recruitment of Service User & Carer Representatives has been discussed at a number of the Partnership Boards and a presentation has been given to 10 support groups (MKB Care, Crossroads, The Stroke Association, etc).  There has been a fairly slow take up.  Four people have expressed an interest in becoming a Board member and one has completed and returned the application form.

An induction pack has been complied and has been handed out at the Carers Partnership Board.  The pack is also available for existing Service Users and Carers upon request.

An induction workshop is taking place on 30 November 2012 which will focus on the Carers Partnership Board. The workshop has been developed in conjunction with Sarah Gammon, Learning & Development Team and Carl Etholen, Vice Chairman, Bucks County Council (BCC).  Evaluation is ongoing.  The induction is available for all Service Users and Carer Representatives.  BCC and a number of other providers will be consulted about individual training opportunities.

The website goes live on the 5 November 2012.  Included are details of a number of organisations which may be useful to visitors to the website.  A bi-monthly news/information bulletin will be sent out as from the 17 September 2012.

During the update the following questions were raised and points made.

The Chairman asked how many members are SUCO trying to recruit to the Carers Partnership Board?  Ms Game explained that the contract states that each Partnership Board must have 50% member representation from Service Users and Carer Representatives.  Following a discussion with Nadiya Ashraf, the decision was made that larger Partnership Boards should have Service User and Carer Representation of between 5-8 people.

The Chairman asked if it was possible to go ahead with the Co-Chair elections once Service User & Carer Representation has reached 5 people.  Mr Archibald explained that it is difficult to recruit Service Users and Carers and that it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Report from Christopher Reid

Christopher Reid referred to the spreadsheet detailing the PSDPB Priorities for 2012-2013 and Action Plan.

Following on from a meeting with Dr Maggie Murphy, the action plan has been amended to a similar style to the one used by the Older People’s Partnership Board to include details such as the Lead Agency/Sub Group and progress.  The previous version of the Action Plan included specific actions from BuDS and Bucks Vision.  These details have now been removed as this was felt to be more of an individual action for the named organisation not for the Board.  The areas of priorities important for the Board have been agreed and the Action Plan has been sent to Andrew Clark and Deborah Dow for their comments.

During discussion, the following questions were raised and points made.

Health was generally a difficult area to address.  The action plan needs to be more specific and the Board needs to look at how they feedback problems and look at how actions can influence the Health and Wellbeing Board strategy.  Christopher Reid explained that if there was an important future issue in Health which the Board felt needed to be addressed i.e. Wycombe Hospital, a relevant representative would be invited to attend a meeting of the Board to present on the issue, answer questions, carry out any actions and if necessary, return to a future meeting to provide an update.

The suggestion was made of inviting Diana Fentiman to the next January meeting of the Board to give an update on Brokerage services.

Action: Christopher Reid/Sharon Griffin

Members were asked to forward any comments they have about the Priorities and Action Plan to Christopher Reid by 14 December 2012.

Action: All

Update from Elaine Norris, The Pensions Service.

The Chairman welcomed Elaine Norris, from The Pension Service to the meeting.

Ms Norris began by explaining that very little further information had been received about the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) since the update given at the September meeting.  The rates for Personal Independence Statements were expected to be announced on the 5 December 2012 as part of the Autumn Statement and therefore a more detailed update could be given at the January meeting.

Ms Norris advised that part of her role is to visit organisations to deliver information about PIP and to upskill partners to help Service Users.  Users are signposted to the Department for Work and Pensions website where further information can be found.

Stephen Archibald said that information could also be put on Carers Bucks website following the Autumn statement.  Ms Norris explained that a quarterly update will be sent to organisations with whom engagement it taking place.

The Chairman told members that Bucks County Council has set up a Working Party to look at the impact of Working Benefits Reform.  The Working Party is being co-ordinated by Danielle Henry, Partnership Project Officer.  Andrew Clark is a member of the Working Group and will be contacted to ask if he can provide an update at the January meeting.

Action: Sharon Griffin

Update from Andrew Clark, BuDs

This item was deferred to the January meeting.

Christopher Reid explained that it was agreed at the last meeting that Dignity in Care would be added to the agenda as a standing item to give the opportunity to provide an update on what Board members are doing in terms of Dignity in Care in their own organisations.

Paul Rogerson, Cabinet Spokesman for Health & Wellbeing explained that the Older People’s Champions’ Forum has agreed to champion Dignity in Care.  The main action points for the Forum are:

• To consider how they receive feedback on services from those who use services and how this feedback is used to inform what they do.
• To consider how the group promotes its work and its importance.
• Develop a data base to record people’s views / experiences of services in relation to the 8 dignity factors.
• The draft action plan "Delivering Dignity" due to be circulated for sign off in January 2012, will form the basis by which the Champions can monitor the development / improvement of services against the 8 dignity factors.
• The governance arrangements to escalate concerns / report on achievements it is suggested should be through OPPB, who can then escalate upwards for action.

The Chairman advised that the Delivering Dignity Action Plan needs to come to the PSDPB for comments and that he would discuss the document with Paul Rogerson and Maxine Foster.

Action: Christopher Reid

Members were advised that a report has been published by the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group who were commissioned to visit a hospital in Beaconsfield to see how it was performing against Dignity in Care standards.  The report also provides feedback to Bucks Healthcare Trust and recommendations to be considered. A copy of the report would be circulated to members of the Board.

Action: Christopher Reid/Sharon Griffin

No items of other business were raised.

The next meeting of the Board will take place on Thursday 31 January 2013, 10.30am, Main Hall 2, The Coach House, Green Park, Aston Clinton.

The next meeting of the Board will take place on Thursday 31 January 2013, 10.30am, Main Hall 2, The Coach House, Green Park, Aston Clinton.