Groups and Opportunities
Below you will find brief details and appropriate contact information for groups, networks and opportunities that may be of interest to people who use our services and their carers. Some of these are offered by Bradford District Care Trust and others are provided by voluntary sector partners. If there are others that should be included here then please do let us know as the purpose of this list is to increase awareness around existing opportunities and groups which should then lead to improved participation.
The Learning Disability Partnership Board
- Make recommendations about how Learning Disability Development Fund and other funding is spent
- Make sure that all people with Learning Disabilities are included and represented including people with complex needs and people from different communities in the Bradford district
- Be an expert in Learning Disability
- Make sure that information is accessible for people with Learning disabilities and their families and that they are given a voice.
Membership of the Partnership Board includes:
- Managers and staff from the Community and Voluntary Sector
- Managers and staff from Adult Social Care and the NHS
- People with Learning Disabilities
- Families and Carers
Click here for information about future meetings www.wearepeople2.net
Learning Disabilities Services Bradford District Care Trust
Parent/Carer Forums
Parent/Carer Forums are quartely meetings which aim to provide an opportunity for Parents/Carers to discuss service related issues with staff. The meetings are usually held in a very informal manner but the information which comes from them are sent onto appropriate people within the services who can take appropriate actions.
Service User Self-Advocacy Groups
There are a growing number of active self advocacy groups in both supported living and in day services who have a structured system for collecting and providing feedback. The groups are becoming increasingly involved in the various services they receive and when there is a need for information about specific aspects of a service or if there are concerns/issues then they are able to invite appropriate personnel to their self advocacy group to address these.
For further details about parent/carer forums or service user self advocacy groups please contact the appropriate unit manager as listed below:
| Service | Managers Name | Telephone number | Email address |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Grove | Andy Waller | 01274 323890 | andy.waller@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Listerhills | Andy Waller | 01274 323890 | andy.waller@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Carlisle Crafts services | Andy Waller | 01274 323890 | andy.waller@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Melville House | Maxine Kneeshaw | 01274 727461 | maxine.kneeshaw@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Wakefield Road | Maxine Kneeshaw | 01274 727461 | maxine.kneeshaw@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Signposting & Employment Services | Maxine Kneeshaw | 01274 727461 | maxine.kneeshaw@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Shipley Resource Centre | Glenn Stocks | 01274 323890 | glenn.stocks@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Stoney Ridge | Glenn Stocks | 01274 323890 | glenn.stocks@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Listonshiels services | Glenn Stocks | 01274 323890 | glenn.stocks@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Keighley Day Services | John Vickers | 01535 602204 | john.vickers@bdct.nhs.uk |
| New Ridge | Pam Hickinson | 01274 322371 | pam.hickinson@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Low Moor services | Pam Hickinson | 01274 322371 | pam.hickinson@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Ian Clough Hall | Rachel Simpson | 01274 689310 | rachel.simpson@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Springfield & Northcliffe Gardens | Rachel Simpson | 01274 689310 | rachel.simpson@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Holybrook services | Rachel Simpson | 01274 689310 | rachel.simpson@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Wainfleet house self advocacy group | Sue Keiss | 01274 322376 | sue.keiss@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Keighley Self advocacy group | Sue Keiss | 01274 322376 | sue.keiss@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Complex Presentation self advocacy group | Sue Keiss | 01274 322376 | sue.keiss@bdct.nhs.uk |
| North / South / Shipley / Supported Living self advocacy | Sue Keiss | 01274 322376 | sue.keiss@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Task force self advocacy | Sue Roberts | 01274 322376 | susan.roberts@bdct.nhs.uk |
| North /South Supported Living services | Angie Crompton | 01274 322376 | angie.crompton@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Complex Presentation Supported Living services | Catherine Wodd | 01274 322376 | catherine.wood@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Bradford West Supported Living services | Susan Roberts | 01274 322376 | susan.roberts@bdct.mhs.uk |
| Keighley / Ilkley / Shipley Supported Living services | Mel Speak | 01274 322376 | melanie.speak@bdct.nhs.uk |
| Involving you lead / Champions for Learning Disabilities services | Sue Keiss Andy Waller |
01274 322371 01274 322371 |
sue.keiss@bdct.nhs.uk andy.waller@bdct.nhs.uk |
User & Carer Monitoring Group (UCMG)
Is made up of Service Users and Carers from the adult mental health services and older peoples’ service. UCMG focuses on the quality of services offered in acute inpatient settings like Lynfield Mount Hospital and Airedale Centre for Mental Health. The groups use a number of techniques to ascertain this information including the use of surveys and inspections. As an example, a recent survey covered a variety of topics including treatment, information and appropriateness of activities on the wards. The meetings are monthly and facilitated by a Patient and Advice Liaison Officers (PALS) and a Senior Service User Development Worker. Contact People – Alison Harrison email alison.harrison@bdct.nhs.uk (Tel: 01274 322961) or Peter Relton email peter.relton@bdct.nhs.uk (Tel: 01274 494194)
Craven Friday Group
The group is comprised of Craven Mental Health service users, past and present, carers, professionals and anyone with an interest in mental health issues. The group meets on the second Friday of every month at 1.30 - 4.00pm at the Quaker Meeting House, The Ginnel (next to the Art Shop), Newmarket Street, Skipton. All are welcome. Refreshments are provided.
The first part of the meeting is usually a social event with invited guest speakers from a variety of backgrounds, not always health related.
The second half of the meeting is the business section where information is passed on, feedback is sought and matters of concern are discussed and people report back from meetings and events they've been to. Sometimes members of the group go to events, workshops, conferences and other groups' meetings. The group works towards improving mental health services by making their views known to service providers.
A newsletter is published three or four times a year with articles, letters and poems.
For further information contact Andy Hill, Service User Liaison Worker on 01756 700688
U Can B Heard – Children & Young People Group
We are a group of children and young people that form the U Can B Heard group and we are service users of Hillbrook and Fieldhead. We have been referred to the group by choice and also with the help of the specialist CAMHS (children adolescent mental health services) staff that we work with to support us and also the Barnardo’s Seen and Heard Participation Co-ordinator.
The U Can B Heard group gives us the opportunity to be involved in participation, consultation and activities that can help to improve services to children and young people by getting our voices heard.
We meet on a regular basis at least one a month and we are also involved in recruitment and selection of CAMHS staff across the Bradford and Airedale District. We usually meet at Barnardos, Seen and Heard in Shipley. We are soon going to be involved in audit training and auditing services across the district. We get paid for some of the work and training we do in the group and also receive certificates.
The U Can B Heard group gets involved in various activities in one meeting, we participated in an icebreaker participation game. We drew on the outside of our hands and discussed in pairs 5 positive things about ourselves, we were asked five things:-
- Family
- Interests
- What we are good at?
- What we enjoy about U Can B Heard?
- What’s good about Hillbrook/Fieldhead?
We recorded our opinions on each of our fingers and thumbs on our hand prints. We then cut out the hand prints and discussed in pairs and our thoughts and then we shared them with the group, to learn more about ourselves and our opinions.
If you are interested in finding out more about:-
- Participation
- or the U Can B Heard Group
- or a referral to the group
- or if you have any work that you would like us to be involved in, please contact:-
Nicola Swales, Seen and Heard, Barnardos – email nicola.swales@barnardos.org.uk telephone 01274 531466
Oasis Group – North Bradford
The OASIS Group is open to adults (16 – 65) with mental health difficulties who use the North Bradford Community Mental Health Team based at Somerset House in Shipley. We hold monthly meetings, have a monthly newsletter and organise monthly social trips. The group is friendly and relaxed, and welcomes new members. Meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of the month and are an opportunity for service users to meet up and socialize, to discuss and feedback their experiences and to hear about involvement opportunities within the Care Trust and elsewhere.
Contact Sue Wilde, Service User Development Worker, at Somerset House if you are interested telephone 01274 531536 or sue.wilde@bdct.nhs.uk
'Men-Zone' Mind in Bradford
A relaxed, 'safe-space' Drop-in for men of all backgrounds (over 18 years of age) facing mental health or emotional difficulties. We offer a warm and caring environment where men can share their experiences and coping strategies and explore alternative ways of healing and improving their mental well-being. Aiming to reduce social isolation, explore coping mechanisms, increase self-confidence and esteem, explore opportunities and solutions, build new friendships and generally improve the quality of our lives. Activities include football and other sports activities, relaxation, meditation, outings, discussion groups, guest speakers, pool, snooker, cultural food evenings, alternative therapies, 'Moving on' and practical support.
If you want to chill-out, 'just be' or need to talk to someone confidentially, why not come along, any Wednesday 5pm – 9pm (our 5-aside football sessions start at 4.00pm – ring for details)
Contact :
- Steven Jhakra The Mind Centre
- Tradeforce Building
- Cornwall Place
- Bradford
- BD8 7JT
- Tel: 01274 730815
- Tel confidential helpline: 01274 594594
- Fax: 01274 770149
- Website: mindinbradford.org.uk
- e-mail: admin@mindinbradford.org.uk
- Opening Times: Meets Wednesday afternoons 5pm -9pm.
- Languages used: English, Urdu, Punjabi
Service User Involvement Team (SUIT)
Gathers information about Adult Mental Health Services provided by Bradford District Care Trust, from service user groups and networks across Bradford, Airedale and Craven. This information helps the Trust to review the quality of the care it provides, so that changes to services can be made where necessary.
Nominated representatives of service user groups and networks attend the monthly meetings. As well as information gathering, information about services (such as service improvements) are fed back to service user groups and networks, via the nominated representatives. The contact person for further information is Peter Relton telephone 01274 494194 email peter.relton@bdct.nhs.uk
VOLUNTEERING
Like most NHS Trusts we appreciate volunteers make a very important contribution of their time and skills to create a better NHS. As such, we are developing a volunteers’ policy and practice guideline to make it possible for people to get involved in this way. Look out for this information in the our news section of our website over the forthcoming months. For further information please contact Colin Perry 01274 228157 - email colin.perry@bdct.nhs.uk
RECRUITMENT & SELECTION
Service Users and Carers are regularly involved in our recruitment and selection processes. This includes designing the job description and taking part in the interview process. The Trust offers training to service users and carers who are interested in recruitment processes. If you wish to access this training or have any questions then please contact Alison Barraclough on 01274 228325 - email alison.barraclough@bdct.nhs.uk
FOUNDATION TRUST MEMBERSHIP
All Foundation Trusts must establish, develop and maintain an active membership. This includes service users, carers, staff and the population the Care Trust serves. Membership is free and will mean different levels of involvement for different people. Some people will be interested in receiving information only whereas others will be interested in participating in the working of the trust or even standing for election as a Governor. By becoming a member you can decide how much you want to be involved. For further information please contact Stella Jackson on (01274) 363552 - email stella.jackson@bdct.nhs.uk
TRAINING COURSES
From time to time courses are offered by either the care trust or our partner organisations which may be of interest to service users and carers. These courses vary from learning about research and audit right through to producing audio material for other service users. If you are interested in receiving information about courses which are relevant to service users and carers then please contact Alison Barraclough on 01274 228325 - email alison.barraclough@bdct.nhs.uk
RESEARCH
Xplore Research Group is a partnership between service users, carers and staff to research service related issues. The group provides opportunities for all members to engage in research at all levels from proposal and design stage right through to presenting the findings. The group was recently formed and will use the principles and framework of participatory action research. Contact person Shahid Islam telephone 01274 228193 email shahid.islam@bdct.nhs.uk
PARTNERS IN AUDIT NETWORK
The Care Trust has recently developed a User & Carer Audit Network. This creates an opportunity for service users and carers to participate in all aspects related to carrying out an audit. Traditionally, audits been conducted by professionals and so therefore this is a new area for service users and carers to engage in. Ultimately, the findings from audits will be forwarded to appropriate governance leads who will then use the information to improve quality of services. Appropriate training and support will be made available to people interested in joining the network. Contact person Shahid Islam telephone 01274 228193 email shahid.islam@bdct.nhs.uk
EVENTS
Bradford District Care Trust organises a number of events each year to which service users and carers are particularly welcome. We also welcome service user and carer input during the planning and delivery of events. If you are interested in receiving information about events, then please contact Jane French on 01274 228298 – email jane.french@bdct.nhs.uk to express an interest.
EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW PANEL
We want to make sure that the services the Trust delivers and the way that we treat people does not discriminate. We want to know that; age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and transgender status do not remain as markers of disadvantage within mental health and learning disability health care.
To do this we run an Equality and Human Rights Review Panel. This means all our service areas presents to a panel of representatives which includes service users and carers every six months. They report on their progress in identifying and tackling inequality. The panel members then suggest actions which could further improve performance.
The panel welcomes and encourages people to get in touch to share experiences, feelings and views if they are relevant to the areas mentioned above (race, religion, gender etc.). The more information the panel receives, the more they can share with Management who can then improve services.
If you have something to say about our services or the way you, a family member or friend experienced them please contact Lisa Wright on 01274 228158 or lisa.wright@bdct.nhs.uk
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
At Bradford District Care Trust we regularly take the time to think about how we run our services. We do this to see whether the way they are organised directly or indirectly discriminates against people because of their age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and transgender status. We also look for good practice that promotes and supports equality and people’s human rights.
If we find any potential or actual discrimination or opportunities to do more to tackle inequality we develop action plans to change the way the service is run or spread the good work across the rest of the Trust. This process is called an equality impact assessment. It is important to have service users, carers, staff and community members involved so that we can get a real picture of people’s experiences.
We run training regularly for people who would like to get involved in the assessments. If you would like to be involved please contact Lisa Wright on 01274 228158 or lisa.wright@bdct.nhs.uk