Disability First
Haringey Disability First Consortium (HDFC) four main partners,
Haringey Race & Equality Council
Haringey Citizens Advice Bureau
Age Concern Haringey
Haringey Womens Forum
Providing advice and information facilitating representation
We aim to improve the way people experience, benefit and are represented on disability issues in Haringey. The Consortium will establish appropriate networks to develop full participation from all sections of the local disabled community to improve local service delivery and the planning of future services and policies.
Promotion and awareness of disability issues, rights and responsibilities to the public, statutory stakeholders, and the private sector
Provide a casework service for those who have complaints relevant to the Disability Discrimination Act & Disability Equality Duty
Establish and support a Disability Forum for both individuals and organisations, with an interest in disability issues
Work in partnership with the local authority and other key stakeholders to ensure best practice in its role as an employer and service provider on disability issues
Publish a disability newsletter, twice a year
To inform and raise awareness of disability issues within the wider community
To provide a strategic representation service on behalf of clients and/or their advocates
To compile a database of local agencies who provide a specialist advice and service on disability issues, for use in signposting and networking
To take a pro-active role in promoting effective partnerships with the statutory sector and other relevant bodies, for example the Equalities and Human Rights Commission
To develop a means to deliver disability service improvements locally
To encourage good practice and disability awareness in our advisory capacity
To improve access and the distribution of information to people with disabilities
To promote positive images of disabled people and challenge discriminating attitudes
Representation
A representative Forum will meet at least three times per year and central coordinating support will be provided to its members.
Advice will be offered to disabled people about services. During Forum meetings and other events there will be opportunities to meet, share experiences and develop closer links with other disabled people and service providers.
Disabled people, as we know do not live without context and the benefits of connecting their families, friends and carers through the events and training sessions will add to the overall benefit by making sure people are informed about options and services available.
It is expected that the key stakeholders, for example Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust, will benefit from the project which will in turn lead to service improvements for local disabled people.
It is expected that the Forum members will also make recommendations to the HDFC. Speakers will be invited to give representations at Forums and seminars and users/members will be encouraged to raise issues.
The Consortium will have 2 representatives from each partner organisation, one of which will be a representative of disabled people. The remaining places will be reserved for co-options from user groups/clients, representing disabled people. It is envisaged that there will be at least 60% Disabled representatives.
Advice Provision
Haringey REC and Haringey CAB both operate within the Community Legal Service Quality Mark framework and will extend their services to include two part-time dedicated caseworkers to deliver the service. It is anticipated that the Business Plan will include a marketing and publicity strategy to advertise the service widely and to distribute leaflets and information to local agencies and community organisations.
Haringey RECs offices will operate a drop-in service (two days per week) and an appointment service (two days per week). Included in this we will also operate a telephone, email, text and correspondence service during the week. All clients will be interviewed and assessed and their complaint investigated in compliance to the CLS standards of service. Case file reviews will be undertaken on a monthly basis and six monthly reports and casework trends/analysis will be made to the HDF Consortium. At the end of the first year an impact analysis review will be undertaken to provide a basis for informing key policy decision makers of potential gaps in service and to make recommendations for service improvement. Lessons learnt will be shared with other agencies via the Forum and local networks.
The CAB will carry out diagnostic interviews to assess the advice needs of each client. From this will follow casework where necessary including applications for appropriate benefits. Quality assured advice on debt, employment, immigration and housing etc is also available. The seamless service also allows for referral to specialists, internally on welfare benefits, immigration and debt, and externally in other categories.
We are keen to find out more about what services are available. Let us know about projects by filling in this form.