In the summer of 2010 three of our Board members with lived experience of managing Self Directed Support (SDS) worked very hard to produce a comprehensive SDS Peer Mentor Training package for disabled people and their carers. Its aim was to enable individuals to effectively manage their own support arrangements, as well as pass on the knowledge and information to their peers.

The first wave of the SDS Peer Mentor Training delivery took place over three evenings in September/October in Huntingdon (Hunts Forum), Cambridge (Orchard Park Community Centre) and March (Trinity Church). We had 8 trainees in Huntingdon, 9 in March and 4 in Cambridge. This was followed by further day time training over two short days in Cambridge in November (Orchard Park Community Centre), attended by 14 trainees.

The thought of taking on SDS can be daunting and overwhelming for disabled people and their carers. However, we are very pleased that our training has equipped 35 individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to take on this important next step with confidence.

“…it has helped demystify the jargon and has given me the confidence to start planning for the future.”  (SDS Peer Mentor training graduate)

“Our daughter has only recently acquired SDS and the training has enabled to tackle some of the problems we have come up against.”  (SDS Peer Mentor training graduate)

Our training has also brought groups of disabled people and carers together to share their experiences, as well as build supportive relationships with peers.

“Very informative and useful and it has been really good meeting with other people in the same or similar situation.” (SDS Peer Mentor training graduate)

“Undertaking the training with other disabled people and their carers has given me a real lift. I no longer feel alone and realise that there are people out there who really do want to help you.” (SDS Peer Mentor training graduate)

At the end of our training delivery, all 35 trainees signed a pledge to pass on their learning, as well as actively raise critical issues, as a SDS Peer Mentors, who will be receiving regular contact support over the coming months. This work will help enable us to bring issues and needs to the fore, helping to shape and influence services, including our own, in direct response to what users and carers need.  We will also be supporting this work by establishing countywide SDS peer support forums where people can come together, access information and support, share their experiences and highlight critical issues. Further information about these forums will be posted on our website shortly.

We are currently planning to deliver further SDS Peer Mentor Training in September 2011. If you are interested please do get in touch by email: info@cambsulo.org.uk or phone: Tel: (01223) 811664, Mobile/Text: 07507 473813. 

This training gave participants a clear understanding of the model, ethics and principles of Self Directed Support, including how it is being implemented. It also included a very inspirational personal story from a citizen speaker who explained to us how Self Directed Support had transformed his life.

Attendees were also introduced to the In Control fact sheets and how to make best use of them ~ visit: www.in-control.org.uk/factsheets

We had great feedback with over 400 people taking part and all of our results are written up in these reports:

Results of the Engagement and Involvement exercise (word doc)

Results of the Engagament and Involvement exercise (easy read)

This report is also available in braille, large print or audio. To order a copy please contact the Cambs ULO Administrator on 01245 392300 or email cshah@ecdp.org.uk)

Thank you to everyone who took part. We are using these results to help us build a vision and plan for the Cambs ULO which will work creatively to meet some of these challenges and involve local people in developing and delivering the solutions. We hope to publish our plan on this website by the end of June

Learning from the Engagement and Involvement Exercise (word doc)

Learning from the Engagement and Involvement Exercise (easy read)

This report can also be ordered in braille, large print or audio. For copies please contact the Cambs ULO Administrator on 01245 392300 or email cshah@ecdp.org.uk

The Cambs ULO is committed to sharing all of its learning so that we can all make quicker progress to better solutions and we hope you find this report useful.

The steering group considered the Expression of Interest and Engagement and Involvement processes.

Notes and action points to follow.

The next meeting of the Project Steering Group will be held in February.