Agenda and minutes

To consider any apologies for absence

No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations were made.

There were no announcements.

There was no such business.

To note the terms of reference as outlined below:

Terms of Reference and Role of the Disability Oversight Panel

The purpose of the Panel which will meet up to three times a year to:

·       Discuss key issues for different groups of disabled residents that the Equality Champions have identified through their individual roles following engagement and networking across Camden during the preceding year.

·       Hear directly from service users as to their experiences and any recommendations

·       Hear from appropriate experts including but not limited to the Centre for Independent Living

·       To support councillor Champions to be effective in their role

·       Identify issues and areas of exploration to pass to the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny meeting so that key issues for those groups can be considered for regular inclusion on the agendas of the Council's formal scrutiny committees and consideration of such issues forming the basis for relevant panel work by the committees.

·       Consider further individual liaison with the Chairs of the relevant Scrutiny Committee to ensure that disabled residents are involved in the scrutiny of relevant issues on the agendas to the Council’s scrutiny committees.

·       Consider whether other recommendations should be made to other parts of the Council, in particular concerning decision making which impacts disabled residents

·       Review progress and work undertaken during the year

Note that the Panel will seek to ensure that it provides oversight on all disabilities and not just those listed under the responsibility of the champions identified above.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Terms of Reference for the Disability Oversight Panel be noted.

To consider the minutes of the meetings held on 2 November 2021 and 8 March 2022.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes for the meetings held on 2 November 2021 and 8 March 2022 be agreed.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

This report was previously considered and agreed by the Cabinet of Camden Council in September 2022. It is being brought to the Disability Oversight Panel in their first meeting of the 2022/23 civic year to reflect its relevance to the Panel’s terms of reference.

This report sets out plans for a whole Council approach to tackle structural inequalities for Disabled adults through partnership grant funding to two ‘user-led’ organisations, Camden Disability Action and The Autism Hub. The grants will provide the sustainable infrastructure needed to empower Disabled residents to reduce societal barriers and co-produce services to deliver better Adult Social Care outcomes.

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

The report was introduced by the Head of Adults Commissioning before hearing from Camden Disability Action (CDA) and Asperger London Area Group (ALAG); the work the organisations were doing and what grant funding had enabled them to achieve.

Members of the Panel were interested to know, after an Autistic Spectrum Condition diagnosis, how individuals found out about ALAG. Zainab Rahemtulla from ALAG told the panel that the organisation had very good relationships with diagnostic services, either a referral would happen, or information handed out to the individual at the end of the diagnostic process. If someone found it difficult to initiate contact, ALAG would get in touch with them, with their consent. ALAG had built relationships with GPs and primary care networks to deliver training and encourage referrals.

In response to a question around the different challenges and processes for school age young people and adults, Zainab Rahemtulla said that both groups had different needs. There were no transitional services currently, though, ALAG was working with Camden to help capture these needs moving forward.

The Panel asked how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the income for CDA and the Greenwood Centre. Colin Brummage, CDA, that the market for services that CDA provided where hit hard during the pandemic. This led to CDA diversifying its offer: hiring out desk space, reducing the organisational footprint in the building and providing a hybrid meeting facility. They were looking at expanding the hybrid capabilities to include a corporate hybrid offer, the logistics of this would be run by people with disabilities.

In response to a question about how the Panel could support the work of these organisations, Colin Brummage said it would be good to meet all Councillors and do some work around what the Greenwood Centre was for. Colin continued that Camden should work to make the Borough and all services inclusive to support people with disabilities being able to participate in society.

The Chair said that work was being carried out to make Camden a disabled friendly borough.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy.

This report provides an overarching view of Council services (both directly delivered and commissioned) that are relevant to the work of Councillor Champions and the Disability Oversight Panel to support their discussion and work programming. This report provides an overview of services so that the members of the Disability Oversight Panel may understand at a high level the work of the Council in various areas and request updates and further information as needed.

Due to the crossover in subject matter it was agreed that item 8: Our Commissioned and Directly Delivered Services in Camden and item 9: Disability Oversight Panel – Work Programmer for 2022/23 would be considered together.

Consideration was given to the reports of the Head of Corporate Strategy, who, along with the Equalities and Systems Change Lead, introduced the reports.

Members were interested in Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA), what information was included and whether they were meeting the needs of disabled people. The Systems Change Lead said that as part of the EQIA refresh, Camden had gone beyond what was statutorily required. The next piece of work would look at embedding inclusive design principles across the organisation, creating end to end inclusion and accessibility.

Members agreed it would be useful to have a more in depth discussion around EQIAs at a future meeting.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy.

This paper aims support the Disability Oversight Panel in deciding its priorities and focus for the remaining meetings in 2022/23.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

There was no such business.