New networks for users and carers
Service users and carers, supported by good practice nationally, have been telling the Working
in Partnership Team that they want the chance to meet together in networks where they can discuss
shared issues, set their own agendas and send representatives to planning groups. The
Working in Partnership Team has been supporting this change.
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Carers Network Event
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Kirklees Older People's Network
Older people have worked in partnership with Age Concern, Voluntary Action Kirklees (VAK), other older people's groups, the council and
the local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to set up their own network. The Kirklees Older People's Network (KOP)
has a management committee. Our team will support the network to develop further and help managers
to link into KOP. The KOPnetwork feeds up into the Older People's Partnership Board.
For more information about Age Concern see their website at:
www.ageconcern.org.uk
Learning Disabilities Self-advocacy Network
The team are supporting the development of a new Learning Disabilities Self-advocacy Network and managing a
contract with Mencap to establish this network, and make sure that people with learning disabilities can have
their own say and start to influence services. This network feeds into the Learning Disability Partnership Board.
For further information about the organisation Mencap see their website at:
www.mencap.org.uk
Disability Rights Network
The Working in Partnership Team has also supported the development of the council-wide Disability Rights
Network. This gives disabled people a voice in decisions across Kirklees that affect them.
Network members are involved in things like scrutiny of services, joint planning and developing and
monitoring policies. The Disability Rights Network feeds into the Physical & Senory Partnership Board.
Kirklees User Voice
Kirklees User Voice is a project which works to get users of mental health services involved in planning.
One involvement worker plus three associate workers.
Parent Carer Network
Parents of children with a disability can get involved with the Parent Carer Network, which meets 3 or 4
times a year.
The Working in Partnership Team aims to help make sure that involvement leads to real and positive change.
New networks emerge from time to time, and the team can support these as they begin to develop. We are
currently working with the Neurological Network, and helping to develop a network for users and carers from
black and ethnic minority communities.
We fund a post based at Voluntary Action Kirklees, which supports voluntary and community organisations
participating in planning.
Carers Network
The Working in Partnership Team supports the development of a group of carers, caring for people with a range
of disabilities. The Carers Network has a database of 189 members, 20 of whom attend each meeting.
This network gives carers a voice in decisions across Kirklees which affect themselves and the person they
care for. The Carers Network feeds into the Carers Strategy Group.
Carers Gateway
Black & Minority Ethnic Carers Subgroups
The Working in Partnership Team have developed a sub-group of the Carers Network specifically for people from
the Black & Minority Ethnic community. This was developed following feedback from carers from this
community, and feeds into both the Carers Network and Carers Strategy Group.
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