31 July 2010 Good Evening

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Connect Works

Background

Connect in the North is based in Leeds. They learnt that, nationally, fewer people with learning difficulties were using direct payments than other groups of people. In Leeds, very few people with learning difficulties were using direct payments. People were also finding it hard to find and keep staff.

The government would like more people to be in charge of their support. This means that staff need to be trained and chosen in a different way. Connect Works is about people with learning difficulties choosing and being in control of their own staff.

Susan leading the session.

Objectives

'Connect Works Training' is a team of people with learning difficulties who choose and train people to be personal assistants. People who pass the training course are placed on a list. The list can be used by people in charge of their own support.

The Plan

'Connect Works Training' is led by Susan who has a learning difficulty. She is supporting the team to choose and train people to be personal assistants. Susan and the group are writing and running the training.

The group had to think about what was important to look for in personal assistants. They had to decide what they should be trained in. They did this by speaking to another team called 'Connect Works planning'. They are a group of people with learning difficulties who talked to lots of people with learning difficulties and their families in Leeds.

What Happened

'Connect Works Training' has written a job description (what the job is) and person specification (what we are looking for in a person) for personal assistants. The team has decided how they will choose who has passed the course and will be placed on the list of personal assistants. The course has been advertised. Connect Works have written what the course is about and the course material. Two groups of personal assistants have been trained.

A lot of lessons have been learnt and we are now planning for the future, particularly looking to find accreditation for the trainers and to secure funding so that the training of PAs can continue.

For more details please see the final report and other documents.

Further Information

For More Information about this project as it progresses, contact:
Claire Massa 0113 270 3733
info@citn.org.uk

The project was recently featured in Community Care Magazine.