User Involvement

Brent Mencap is committed to ensuring that people with a learning disability of all ages and their families and carers are as involved in Brent Mencap as they wish to be.

Brent Mencap recognises that as an organisation it already involves people with learning disabilities, their families and others stakeholders in a variety of ways. However we recognise the need to ensure that we involve people in new and imaginative ways and in a consistent and open manner.

Brent Mencap believes that more user involvement will empower people with learning disabilities to get involved in other organisations which impact on their lives.

Brent Mencap believes that it has the responsibility to be accountable to people with learning disabilities, their families and others.

Brent Mencap also believes that more user involvement will maximize the effectiveness of our services and our campaigns.

What We Did in 2008 - 09

We applied for RADAR’s Tipping Point Project to increase user involvement. They only accepted 20 groups nationally

We consulted with the new floating support clients before they transferred to Brent Mencap.  We explained how we would work and tried to reassure them that they would get a good service.

The Direct Payments contract Managers talked to some of our users about how we treat them and what they think about Brent Mencap

We got feedback from young people about youth activities, what they liked and what they wanted to do

What Else Happened

One of our volunteers with a Learning Disability received a Brent Volunteer award from Brent Council

We used people with a Learning Disability in interviews for the new floating support workers and other jobs

We started evaluations of the Link2Work, self directed support and the move-on project.  We used 2 people with a Learning Disability as consumer researchers on these

We developed an action plan for the Tipping Point Project

What We Are Going To Do In 2009 - 10

We are going to do various User Consultations with Service Users, Carers and Supporters

Find out what people think about our services,

Ask what we should be raising money for

Ask what things we could change or develop in the future

We are going to complete the Tipping Point Project from September

When we look for funding we are going to include jobs for people with Learning Disabilities

Appoint Inclusion Champions on the staff and Executive Committee