The Local Health Champions will be part of a Peer Review Team that will visit their area of the West Midlands, to check that what people have said in the Health Self Assessment Framework is really happening. The team will compromise of representatives from the Strategic Health Authority, Equip 4 Change, family carers and Hayley and myself as the Regional Champions. Part of our role as Regional Health Champions, meant training self advocates from across the West Midlands to become Local Health Champions. This training spanned over two days, where we showed self advocates the main areas of the health self-assessment framework, including the red, amber, green system and what the colours meant. We also explained to them what's expected of them at the validation days in the different areas that they will visit across the West Midlands. Finally we told them the importance of working in co-production.
On day one, we started the training with an icebreaker to get to know everyone. We looked at the self -assessment framework and presented scenarios, so everyone had an opportunity to discuss the evidence that they were given. They had to decide in their groups if their response was red, amber or green. In the afternoon, we looked at what it meant to be a good leader and a good supporter. Lucy and I explained about co-production and how we work.
On day two, we used the same scenarios, which we had looked at on day one and brought them to life using role play. We did this so Local Health Champions know what to do and what to expect on the validation days. We created a similar scene to the meetings that will take place and by doing this session they understood their role better and, thought of relevant questions to ask professionals.
After his interview, Siraaj reflected on the importance of self-advocacy, “Self-advocacy gives people a voice. If there was no self-advocacy how would people’s voice get out there? When I joined the self-advocacy movement I saw the benefits; it makes people aware of their rights, opens their eyes to know what’s out there in the world and tells them they can say what they want. Even now I see people struggling to have their say, people who have low self-esteem and who are stopped doing what they want to do simply because they have a disability'".
When asked why he wants to work in self-advocacy he said, “I want to contribute to society and make a difference to my life and the lives of people with learning disabilities. I want to be out there doing the things I want to do, and work as part of a team on projects which affect people with learning disabilities not only in the Black Country but beyond. Now I know a lot of people nationally and regionally so I can make links and help the organisation to build those links as well.”
Gina and Siraaj supporting the launch of Dudley People's Parliament
Changing Our Lives is launching a new People's Parliament in Dudley on 30th July at Dudley Council Chambers. Both Siraaj and Gina have played an important role leading up to the launch and we are extremely proud of the commitment they have shown.
Siraaj said "We will use the People's Parliament model that we have successfully developed in Sandwell and Wolverhampton. This model trains and supports self-advocates to lead the Parliament and link with key strategic leads from public bodies to hold them to account and improve the employment chances for people with learning disabilities in Dudley. We have worked with this model successfully for 4 years achieving a range of outcomes".
Gina Patel has worked tirelessly to develop the Parliament with Siraaj and has been crucial in the recruitment and training of Members of Parliament (MP's). Gina said "We have met close to 100 local people with learning disabilities, some who have a real passion and motivation, that will with the training will stand out as powerful MP'S. Their commitment to this work will help to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities in their local community".
Gina and Siraaj Dudley help MPs put together the employment White Paper and meet with Job Coaches
Then in the afternoon, we met with two Job Coaches in Dudley called Kay Cartwright and Judith Rumble to tell them about this Parliament. A Job Coach is there to help people with a disability to find a job. We told them about what the Parliament is and who we already met, who we are going to meet and what we have done. We explained the 3 outcomes. One of which was about Job Carving. The Job coaches told us about how they supported people to find a job. They also told us a couple of success stories when they have helped people. As Job carving is one of the targets, the Job Coaches told us about how one of the people they support has being doing a job as a PA in Andrea-Pope Smith's office through Job carving.
They agreed to come to the first People's Parliament meeting to talk about Job carving on the 30th July 2012.
We made a film of the Getting Ready event which was run before the Big Health Day.
Siraaj speaks at West Midlands Getting Ready Seminar on Learning Disability Health Self-Assessment
The aim of the day was to look at the health self assessment framework and to see how we can work together and improve the health care for people with learning disabilities.
My presentation focused on the importance of involving people with learning disabilities in this health self assessment from the very beginning. It also looked at co-production, between the professionals and people with learning disabilities. The reason for this is, people with learning disabilities may look at an issue that the professionals may overlook and miss out on. I also talked about how by looking at numbers we do not learn anything. We need to go out in the individual areas and listen and talk to people with learning disabilities, about good and bad stories and experiences about healthcare in their area.
Other keynote speakers were Ranjit Senghera, from the Strategic Health authority who talked through the health self assessment framework. Lawrence Moulin, Learning Disability lead at the Strategic Health Authority and Wendy Ewins, Joint Commissioning Manager from Wolverhampton also presented.
The day was very well attended by partnership boards and other professionals from across the region. Everybody contributed their ideas on how to move forward with this health self assessment.
Ron SilvesterRon has been part Changing our lives for over 7 years. He is a strong leader and has many skills. Ron is also a part of our training team. |
Robert WhaleRobert is an active MP in Sandwell People's Parliament who owns his own home. Robert is a champion for people with a learning disability owning their own home. |
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 Colleen Johnson Colleen has been involved with Changing Young Lives for 3 years and is an active leader in Young Voices Netwrok. She is a reliable, committed and a powerful self advocate. Colleen is a role model to all young people. She champions the rights to equality for all disabled young peopleand believes you should see the person first and not the disability. Colleen was one of the young people who developed with her peers the Quality of Life standards. |
Nazia RafiqueNazia is a powerful self advocate and established Sandwell People's Parliament MP committed to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. |
Steven ProctorSteven is one of the most experienced Quality Auditors. He has audited residential homes, supported living and hospitals. He has spoken about his role as an Expert by Experience at a national conference to over 200 people. |
Catherine CarringtonCatherine has worked with us since 2008 as a Quality Auditor inspecting residential homes, day services, hospital and mental health services. |
Steven EllisSteven is one of the founder members of Sandwell People's Parliament and has been a Changing Our Lives Leader since 2004. He is always positive and cheerful |
 Samee Ahmed Changing Young Lives welcomed Samee in February 2012 as a young leader in the Young Voices Network. Both passionate and committed, Samee is an active champion for their rights of young people with disabilities. He attends all the monthly leaders meetings and keeps professionals at Sandwell Council to task! |
Sarah BentleySarah is one of the younger Sandwell MPs and a member of the Young Voices Network, The Rights Squad and The Quality Crew. |
Issy BrantIssy is co-chair of the My Life, My Dreams group in Sandwell. She has trained teams of professionals on learning disability awareness through the Rights Squad and has done a lot of paid work auditing domiciliary care providers in Sandwell with the Quality Crew. |
Matt Doleman
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Roy PuriRoy as been an MP for the People's Parliament for 2 years. Roy has been involved in lots of work led by Changing Our lives. Roy is an active champion of the rights of people with disabilities, and is not afraid to challenge professionals! |
Rickie NichollsRickie has been involved in Changing Young Lives since 2008. He is a member of the Young Voices Network and a quality auditor. An MP since 2009, Rickie has worked on the employment parliament, securing paid work for people with learning disabilities. |
Amanda DaySince 2009 Amanda has been an MP, working on the hate crime campaign, and the employment parliament in 2010. Amanda has been a representative on the Learning Disability Partnership board. |
Linda SuttonLinda has direct experience of out-patient mental health services and is part of the service at Simpson Street. As part of our Making Our Voices Heard work, Linda has audited Edward Street Hospital and Hallam Street Hospital. |
Mark WoodMark has direct experience of in-patient mental health settings in Sandwell and he is a volunteer walk leader for Strides. As part of our Making Our Voices Heard work, Mark leads audits of Edward Street Hospital and Hallam Street Hospital. |
Maxine PriceMaxine, a powerful young woman, has led lots of campaigns to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Her work includes being a member of Young Voices Network and an MP. Maxine has been involved with Changing Our Lives in since 2008. |
Bryn Owen JonesBryn is a Sandwell MP |
Andrew BodenAndrew has recently started working with us a Sandwell MP and is a keen photographer. |
Gemma CaffreyGemma is a strong member of the Young Voices network and supports the My Life, My Dreams group. She has also trained and presented to professionals and recently led the Young People's Forum Day with confidence. She is also a popular regular at our Spotlight Open Mic nights. |
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