Who am I? My name is Sally Warren. In May I took up the post of Project Manager

1. ‘My Life My Support My Money’ Moving Forward Together in Wandsworth Project News July 2007 Who am I? My name is Sally Warren. In May I took up the post of Project Manager for the Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities working to improve future Opportunities and Support for PEOPLE with Learning Disabilities in Wandsworth. My job is to ensure that the vision of the strategy is developed into action and that all developments in Wandsworth for people with learning disabilities are driven by the four principles adopted for the strategy. These are the principles of: a) Individuality: That each person needing support is regarded as a unique individual with her/his own strengths, aspirations and needs b) In Control: That as far as possible, each person should have the opportunities and support to take control of their life c) Inclusion: That as far as possible, these opportunities should be in the mainstream of life together with fellow, and mostly non-disabled, citizens d) Equality: These opportunities and support should seek to reduce the inequalities between disabled and other citizens (as the new disability equality duty requires) News Flash! Funding has been secured for a full time worker for 1 year to develop Health Action Planning … more news soon! Keeping You Updated The success of the project is largely dependent on all of us working together. So we can all be kept up to date this e-mail newsletter will be circulated every 2 months. In addition we have the new web-site and lunch time workshops. Please let me know if you have news to include in this newsletter. New Head of Community Team Jo Darrow joins us Community Health and Social Care Service Manager for Adults with Learning Disabilities. Welcome Jo!

2. The Vision for PEOPLE with Learning Disabilities in Wandsworth in 2012 We are working towards a future where people with learning disabilities have greater choice and control over all aspects of their lives. In order for this to become a reality we need to support people to have equal access to life, where people can choose from a range of options and a community where people with learning disabilities are accepted. We are developing the diagram below to detail this vision. Opening Up the Community e.g. Access to and involvement in Putting People in Control community activity and the realisation that services are not the only answer Strengthening the Voice e.g. support to make choices, plan your future, have a say on who, how of People and Families and when people support you e.g. people knowing what they want, and the support to try and get it Having a Good Place to Live e.g. choosing where you live, who you live with, having the right support Improving Health and ‘My Life Well-being My Support e.g. improved understanding of each Having Good Opportunities individuals health needs, improved access to My Money’ Outside of Your Home health care, support for healthier lifestyles and improved health e.g. support to plan your days doing the things you enjoy, learning, working, leisure. Equal access to LIFE: Education Health Work Leisure Friendship Choice Relationships Learning Home Community Citizenship There is a Strategic Implementation Group (SIG) steering the strategy and we have a number of people from the statutory and independent sector supporting the work as Champions for the different areas of the strategy. If you want to know more or want to get more involved please call Sally on 020 8871 8424 or e-mail swarren@wandsworth.gov.uk

3. New Commissioning and Service Development Officer Alastair Bearne has now taken up this new role and is based at the Fairfield Annexe. Looking at how we commission and develop appropriate support is crucial to the strategy and this work will be part of our moving towards self-directed support. Contact Alastair on: 020 8871 8130 £ • My Life Working Group • The My Life group has been established to drive forward person centred • work in Wandsworth. The 25 people from a range of agencies in Wandsworth • are working together to: • Become more person centred in our day to day work • Offer independent facilitation to those who need it and • Raise awareness in agencies through support, training and intervention • We are in the process of setting clear goals, one of which is for each of us to start • supporting at least on person to develop a person centred plan. • Dynamite Project • We are in the process of facilitating a successful Dynamite Project with the support of Paradigm and in Control. The project has been developing and supporting • a number of young people and families with individualised funding • the skills necessary for people to take control of funding • a support network of facilitators and brokers for the young people and their families • Person Centred flexible supports for young people to buy • a system of allocation that acknowledges all the funding and support being delivered to an individual young person • accountability and audit process • A pilot is being facilitated over the summer with 9 young people managing a small budget. We will be celebrating the successes of the summer in September and then working towards the 9 people having individual budgets for next year. • Contact Lisa Geary for more information: 8700 0467 Independent Living Fund and Direct Payments Few people in Wandsworth access the Independent Living Fund or Direct Payments. Lisa Geary is now working to support people to access both. If you want to know more please contact Lisa on 8700 0467

4. Moving Forward Together in Wandsworth • The NEW Partnership Board Website • An important strand of the strategy is communication and • some great progress has been made in this area with • the development of the Partnership Board Website……. • the site is designed to be used by all: people with learning • disabilities, families, the public and professionals. • The Website will give you : • information about the past, current and future work of the Partnership Board • regular reports on the progress of the strategy • news and information in relation to people with learning disabilities • local stories of success and change • this newsletter • PLUS an image bank for you to use when developing accessible information will • be developed over the next few months • Have a look ………………….. www.mylifemyworld.info Learning Together • We will be running a series of monthly workshops to give people a chance to come together an talk, listen, learn and share. • The workshops will be from 12 - 2pm at Platform 1Cafe on the first FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH from 7th September. The workshops will be free and you will have the chance to buy a great lunch as well! • Topics to be covered include: • What MY Person Centred Plan has meant to me • Moving toward Individual Budgets • Work and Benefits • Making the most of your days…… • More information will be with you soon!