1. Core Standards response John Greensill Head of Disability Services

2. Annual Health Check 2008-2009 The Learning Disability Partnership Board have been asked to tell the Government what they think about services provided by NHS Walsall The Healthcare Commission keeps a check on local health services to help to improve local services They do this by setting ‘ 24 Core Standards’ which describe a minimum level of service

3. Annual Health Check 2008-2009 The Board do not have to comment on all of the standards –Some of the Standards are things that the Board will have no information about The information from the Government was not in ‘easy read’ and the information was wanted quickly so we had to discuss things with Tim and Graeme the Co- Chairs

4. Annual Health Check 2008-2009 We were allowed to do this and give our views in a form that suited us We could only comment on things that happened in 2008-2009 The things that we said could not include confidential or personal information

5. Consultation on Core Standards The views of the Co-Chairs of the Walsall Learning Disability Partnership Board were sought Graeme Smith represents people with a Learning Disability – in addition to his Co-Chair role Graeme also attends –Choice & Control Group (Chair) a sub-group of the Partnership Board –Member of ‘Making our Choice’ citizen advocacy group representing people with a learning disability in Walsall –Member of the Walsall Disability Forum a pan disability advisory and advocacy group

6. Consultation on Core Standards Tim Oliver is a Councillor in Walsall and Leader of the Labour Group –Tim has been Chair of the Partnership Board for some years and Co-Chair for the last two years –A Non Executive Director of Walsall PCT –Chair of the Health & Social Care Scrutiny Panel for Walsall Council The views of the Co-Chairs and information provided to the Partnership Board have been taken into account and this feedback will be presented to the Board at its May meeting for agreement

7. Important (Core) Standards We agreed with the Co-Chairs that the following were issues that the Partnership Board could comment on The Core Standard descriptions have been changed to an ‘easy read’ format –C01 Safety of Patients through systems –C1b Safety of Patients through information – C06 Cooperate to meet peoples needs –C07 a&c Make certain that there is quality and safety –C07e Challenge discrimination and promote human rights –C13a Treats everybody with dignity and respect –C13b Makes sure people consent –C14a Provides information and helps people complain –C14b Makes sure people are not discriminated against if they complain

8. Important (Core) Standards –C14c Learn and make changes from complaints –C16 Provides information about what people can expect during treatment –C17 Finds out what people think about services –C18 Helps everybody access services equally –C20a Make sure buildings are safe and secure –C22 a&c Cooperates with the Council and Partnership Boards –C22b Use the Director of Public Health reports to make choices about planning services –C23 Works hard about things like being healthy, not too fat, not smoking and abusing drugs and safe sex

9. Comment on Core Standards The Partnership Board Co-Chairs felt that the Standards could be grouped into a number of areas – where Walsall PCT were doing good work – called strengths –and some where people with a learning disability were worried about services – called improvements needed Where the comments talk about ‘PCT Officers’ this means people like –John Greensill –Ian Staples –Liz Staples –Julia Kelly –This is because the service in Walsall is a joint one between the Council and Health

10. Comment on Core Standards The Health Facilitation Team is Julia Kelly, Helen Murrell and a vacancy, Community Nurses also are involved – they run the Healthy Lives events Where the comment says ‘the Board hears’ this is based on reports and discussions within the Board

11. Where Walsall PCT were doing good work – called strengths The PCT try’s hard to provide information in time and in ways that people with learning disabilities and their Carers can understand. The Partnership Board Website which the PCT helped to set up carry’s lots of health information and has been identified as an area of good practice in the ‘Healthcare for All’ report – Standards C1b C14a C16 There is a lot of cooperation in Walsall with people with a learning disability and their Carers with regular open events where people can talk about quality, safety and plans. PCT Officers regularly attend meetings of the Partnership Board and its Advisory Groups. People feel they can talk to the PCT’s officers easily and openly and they are listened to – Standards C06 C7 a&c C17 C22 a&c C22b

12. Where Walsall PCT were doing good work – called strengths Through regular contact with PCT officers the Board knows that there are systems that help patient safety, complaints and learning from complaints - Standards C01 C14a C14b C14c C20a The Health Facilitation Team works hard to help people stay healthy although it is small and probably needs to increase in size – Standard C23

13. where people with a learning disability were worried about services – called improvements needed The Board continues to hear about worrying things that happen when people are in hospital, sometimes people are not treated with dignity and respect. Sometimes people find it hard to access services. – The Board knows that this is being worked on but wants to make sure it is a high priority – Standards C07e C13a C18

14. where people with a learning disability were worried about services – called improvements needed Although the Mental Capacity Act has been in force for some time the Board hears how people with a learning disability are not asked to consent, sometimes their Carers are asked instead. The Board understands that although independent advocates are available to help people consent they have not been asked to attend the Manor Hospital. –The Board would like the PCT to check that consent to treatment is always asked for properly – Standards C13b