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The East Sussex County Council Cabinet agreed on 15 November to review its day services to ensure people get what they need in modern, fit-for-purpose buildings. There will still be a day service place for anyone with learning disabilities who needs one and they will be asked individually their views on the way forward. There are six Learning Disability Day Centres provided by Adult Social Care, supporting 342 people The consultation will include meetings with users, carers, staff, surveys, drop-in sessions, engagement events and an online questionnaire available in an easy read format.
The consultation and any changes will be in a phased approach over three years in different areas.
There are two surveys, one specifically on the merger of Linden Court and Firstfields and also one covering the other Day Centres.

They are available in our 'Have your say' section: Review of day services for people with a learning disability Review of Firstfields and Linden Court day services.
The closing date for both surveys is 7 February 2012. Phone: 01323 849 611 Email: asclddpsconsultation@eastsussex.gov.uk

From 1 January 2012, all Blue Car Badges will be printed and supplied by one company nationally. This will make them harder to forge or alter.

From 1 April 2012, if you do not automatically qualify for a badge and your GP will no longer be responsible for deciding whether you should qualify for a badge.

Instead, local authorities will run ‘mobility clinics'. In East Sussex there will have mobility clinics across the county. The clinics will be held in, for example, day centres, libraries and council buildings, where therapy staff will assess applicants for a badge. Between December 2011 and April 2012 there will be a transitional period while these clinics are set up and begin replacing GP assessments. Some therapy assessments are already being carried out by the Local Authority.

A mobility assessment will take around 45 minutes. It will include observation of your mobility, and questions on your disability, to decide if you qualify according to the rules set by the Department for Transport. In special circumstances, you may be able to have a home visit for the assessment. This would need to be approved by the Practice Manager.

Please download the December 2011 E-Bulletin below

Earlier this year RVA joined other local organisations in writing to East Sussex County Council to oppose the closure of the centre and argued the case for keeping community space for older people available particularly in Bexhill which has the highest proportion of over 80's in the country. As a result ESCC agreed to extend the consultation and listen to the view s of local groups and organsiations. It appears that ESCC Cabinet became very engaged in challenging the process and ensuring the outcome met the needs of the local people and agreed that the Charter Centre in Bexhill was a necessary venue for older people’s services locally. The final proposals are certainly looking very positive.esult East Sussex extended the consultation period and listened to the voices of local people.

 85% of users are at the Charter Centre for 3 days or less and through the consultation period it became clear that a) they wanted to remain within the Charter Centre and b) that they were willing to renegotiate times according to the level of need for the service. This means that the Charter Centre, as Adult Social Care (ASC) provision, will now open on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays and cater for the vast majority of present clients within this remit.

For the 15% of users accessing the services more than 3 times a week negotiations are being undertaken with Bexhill Caring Community and Peterhouse Day Care Centre who are able to accept additional clients. As an aside both charities offer a less expensive alternative to the Charter Centre.

In addition ASC are in discussion with two local voluntary groups – ARRCC and Bexhill Caring Community about possible services they could offer on the remaining days.
New services are also being commissioned from the centre including hairdressing and podiatry. They will also be opening a Blue Badge Clinic, where, when the system changes, people will be able to attend for assessment. The whole process has caused ASC and Amicus Horizon – who run the sheltered housing scheme that occupies the rest of Thalia House to become much closer and to look for more opportunities for partnership working.

We all agreed that what is going on needs some time to bed in and that ARRCC and Bexhill Caring Community need to be given the opportunity to develop further services but if there is still time available in the Centre once the new system is in place we will also look for additional and alternative users for the centre. Primarily looking at the needs of older

We are pleased to inform our members that in November 2011 Rother Voluntary Action was awarded the NAVCA (National Association of Voluntary Community Action) Quality Award. The NAVCA Quality Award goes to local voluntary sector support and development organisations which meet NAVCA’s performance standards. The five standards are outcomes focused and address the difference local support and development organisations make through the delivery of their services:

Standard 1: Supporting the identification of needs in local communities and facilitating provision to meet those needs.
Standard 2: Assisting local voluntary organisations and community groups to function more effectively and deliver quality services.
Standard 3: Facilitating effective communication, networking and collaboration amongst local voluntary organisations and community groups.
Standard 4: Enabling the diverse views of the local sector to be represented and in supporting structures which promote effective partnership working.
Standard 5: Ensuring the voluntary and community sector’s role as an integral part of local planning and policy making.

The Quality Award is given following a rigorous independent audit process which is subject to moderation. Of the 290 local support and development organisations in membership of NAVCA, to date less then a third have gained the Quality Award and have successfully renewed their Award.
The fact that RVA has gained the Quality Award means that voluntary organisations and community groups in your area have available to them good quality support and development services. It also means that you have in your area a local support and development organisation able to work in partnership with you and to represent the local voluntary and community sector effectively.

Please download below

The East Sussex Compact is the document that sets out the principles for partnership working between the public sector and the voluntary and community sector in East Sussex.
This is the year that the East Sussex Compact will be revised and updated to make sure that it is relevant to partnership working in the 21st century.

During Compact Week why not when attending a meeting or forum event make sure that that the East Sussex Compact is mentioned. You could check how many people attending know about the Compact, or discuss whether people feel that its principles are being adhered to.

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/community/helping/partnerships/downloadcompact.htm

The Board of Directors/Trustees has pleasure in inviting you to the Annual General Meeting of Rother Voluntary Action on Thursday 17th November 2011 at 2.30pm – 4.00pm at Victoria Hall, London Road, Bexhill. This year’s theme is “MAXIMISING COMMUNITY POTENTIAL” and the impact of local action plans, localism and coming trends

Please download the October 2011 E Bulletin from RVA below.

Initial Electronic Advice is a new web-based system which provides brief legal information in response to straightforward legal queries. It is designed to assist not-for-profit organisations and advice agencies providing help to those who cannot afford to pay for solicitors privately. Queries are answered by volunteers who give their time and expertise for free, and more information is available by clicking here.