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ecdp extra summer edition 2014
Contents
Welcome from Mike Adams OBE, CEO of ecdp, page 2
ecdp news, page 3
Meet Lucy, an ecdp client, and her dog Molly, page 4
Win a Samsung tablet by completing our communications survey, page 6
ecdp and Barclays lead mental health briefing for local businesses, page 7
ecdp and Clear Telecom work together to put our clients at the heart of our customer services, page 8
Lance Kara, an ecdp Works Job Club member, tells ecdp about his journey towards employment, page 9
What is a Personal Health Budget? Page 11
Additional information, page 12
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Welcome from Mike Adams
When ecdp was established in 1995, our vision was to enhance the
everyday lives of disabled people.
This is still true today, and the voices of our members ensure we stay on the right track.
In this edition, we want your views. By completing the communications survey, you can help us communicate better.
I would encourage every reader to complete the communications survey. If you would like to complete the survey online, just visit
www.ecdp.org.uk/magazine.
As an ecdp supporter, your voice matters. Your lived experience drives our work, and we want to know how you would like to receive news from ecdp in the future.
Mike Adams OBE, CEO of ecdp
Could you be a Direct Payment Champion?
If you are getting a Direct Payment in Thurrock, we have an exciting volunteering opportunity for you.
Could you spare some time to tell other people about the benefits of Direct Payments?
If you’d like to know more, contact Angie at ecdp
Call 01245 214011
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ecdp news
ecdp announcement: Bob Jamieson
It is with deep sadness that ecdp announces Bob Jamieson, an original founding member of ecdp, passed away in April.
Bob was a Board Trustee at ecdp for many years. Bob drew on his lived experience and in particular was passionate and articulate on issues concerning education and residential care.
Last summer he was at ecdp as part of the Who Will Care Commission focus group for disabled people.
ecdp will ensure Bob’s legacy lives on by continuing to support disabled people to have greater choice, control and independence.
Have you seen our new films?
We have produced an informative series of short films using the principles of best practice for accessible communications. The films offer simple answers to common questions frequently asked by disabled people, businesses and the general public.
All of the films are available in subtitles or with audio description at www.youtube.com/user/EssexCoalition
Farewell to Gill
After 13 years as an Account Manager at ecdp, Gill Merton has retired. In her role, Gill managed all aspects of accounts on behalf of disabled people who receive funding. Gill saw a lot of growth in her time at ecdp, including our move to Ivan Peck House in 2004 and the number of clients we support increasing from 500 to over 2,000. Gill says, ‘What I have most enjoyed in my career is the interaction with the clients. Clients look to us as a point of contact for help and advice with their payroll account, and that really is what working at ecdp is all about.’ We wish Gill lots of luck for the future.
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Meet Lucy, an ecdp client, and her dog Molly
Lucy Watts lives with a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. In this article, she tells ecdp about her life and her achievements in her own words.
My name is Lucy and I am 20 years old. I have a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which will limit my life span and has caused intestinal and bladder failure and autonomic dysfunction among many other problems. I am wheelchair bound but forced to spend the majority of my time in bed. I am fed through a line in my chest which goes into my heart so all my nutrition and fluid is given intravenously. I also have a tube in my stomach for draining, an ileostomy (stoma bag) and a catheter, but I will soon have a stoma bag for my urine too.
I have a blog which tackles subjects close to my heart and through my hospice I became involved with a charity called Together for Short Lives.
‘In November last year I gave a speech in Parliament, addressing MPs and people involved with hospice care.’
I wrote the speech myself and spoke about being a young adult recipient of hospice care, what is important to us and what needs to change. I have attended another event for them and will soon give another speech, similar to my speech in Parliament, in June.
This is a huge thing for me, because I used to be painfully shy, not even putting up my hand in class to answer a question – I was that shy. And then, six years after getting ill, I gave my speech in Parliament, in front of over 100 people. Talk about starting at the top! I also did a recorded conversation for BBC Radio Four’s Listening Project, which will be archived at the National Library for many years to come.
‘What gave me the confidence to do it? Well, I am desperate to make a difference.’
I enjoy and have a talent for writing, and my speech was just an extension of my writing. I’m not afraid to write and talk about hard subjects like end of life care, my fears and wishes, and I think people respect me for the fact that I let them into my world. They see what life is like from my point of view, and they end up thinking about the subject relating to their life.
‘The other thing that gave me confidence was my dog Molly. We got her as a puppy last March and she has changed my life.’
Through Molly I was suddenly a part of society again, as you often get ignored or talked over when you’re in a wheelchair.
People don’t do it maliciously, they’re either unsure of how to approach you or they’re so afraid of saying the wrong thing that they say nothing. Now people come over and strike up a conversation with me. It’s like my wheelchair doesn’t exist.
‘Thanks to Molly I went out alone for the first time in five years; what a liberating experience it was.’
Molly is also in training to become an assistance dog for me, the charity Dog Assistance in Disability (Dog A.I.D) train me to train her, so we do all the hard work. We won the Working Partnership Trophy at dog training.
‘We won the Friends For Life award at Crufts, the world’s biggest dog show.’
The public voted for us, and obviously enough people thought Molly and I worthy enough and voted for us to win. It was lovely for Molly to get the recognition for what she’s done for me. I’ve grown in confidence through Molly, got exposure for my condition and have done many press TV and radio interviews including for the Alan Titchmarsh Show. I couldn’t do all of it without her.
Find out more about the charity Together for Short Lives on their website at www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk
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Win a Samsung tablet by completing our communications survey.
Hello, my name is Laura and I am the Communications Executive Manager at ecdp. It is my job to make sure that we are reaching you in the right way, at the right time, with the right news.
That’s why I am asking you to fill in the communications survey online at www.ecdp.org.uk/magazine.
I would like to know how you receive news from ecdp at the moment, and what you think we could be doing to improve the way we communicate with you.
As a special thank you, one lucky prize draw winner will receive a Samsung tablet worth over £100!
Thank you for taking the time to let us know your views.
And good luck!
Laura
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ecdp and Barclays lead mental health briefing for local businesses.
On 08 May 2014, ecdp and Barclays joined forces for the second time to support local businesses to become more Disability Confident.
Corporate companies from across Essex attended the event, keen to support any employees who may face mental health problems.
Participants also discovered more about ecdp Works, our award winning programme which supports businesses to employ disabled people confidently.
The event included lived experience testimonials from Barclays employee Craig Muckley and ecdp Works participants Leanne Morley and Catherine Turner. Vickie Bond, Welfare Consultant at Essex Police, also spoke about the business benefits of supporting employees with mental health conditions and why Essex Police have committed to supporting the next ecdp Works programme.
Start your journey towards employment by joining ecdp Works.
Call Rachel 01245 214012
Visit www.ecdp.org.uk/ecdpworks
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ecdp and Clear Telecom work together to put our clients at the heart of our customer services.
Being able to answer telephone calls quickly and efficiently is a central part of our customer services at ecdp. We pride ourselves on being there for over 3,000 disabled people who receive Direct Payments, and we have recently invested in a new telephone system to ensure we continue to deliver an excellent service.
In February, Clear Telecom installed a bespoke telephone system for ecdp. Our new equipment includes IP handsets, wireless headsets, clear digital phone lines and a bespoke call management system.
Martin Collier, Director of Corporate Systems and Services at ecdp, says ‘If a call comes in to ecdp and the line is engaged, the call will move to another operator, so anyone contacting ecdp will be able to speak to one of our professional, personal account managers or their support team. Clear Telecom has made this possible, and has provided a great service.’
Find out more about Clear Telecom on their website at www.cleartelecom.co.uk
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Lance Kara, an ecdp Works Job Club member, tells ecdp about his journey towards employment
‘From day one I could see the benefits.’
Lance Kara, from Great Totham, has a degree in Environmental Health, and acquired his disabilities during his life. Lance has found applying for work hugely frustrating until now.
‘Before I joined the ecdp Works Job Club, I had no self worth. I had been a chef, and I loved it. Being a chef wasn’t just a career to me, it was my life, so before I came to ecdp I felt fairly hopeless.’
Lance believes that companies can be nervous about employing disabled people. ‘I think that in a lot of cases, employers are risk averse. I think that’s a shame, because people who have to work hard to find a job are going to work a lot harder to keep it. If I was an employer, I would look for the person who is going to value and cherish the job that I’m offering.’
A friend mentioned ecdp to Lance, so he decided to get in touch. ‘I was invited by Rachel to come along to an ecdp Works Job Club. And I was sold right from the beginning. I met people with their own disabilities who could apply their experience to my situation, which I found excellent.’
‘It’s been a good thing, from quite a dark place.’
Lance is now using his skills to help the community with the Maldon Shed Programme. ‘It’s a great thing to be part of a project that supports people who suffer from loneliness and might fall off the radar. Doing something constructive to help people is, in essence, helping me.’
‘It’s certainly helped my mood, my self respect and my self esteem.’
Since joining the ecdp Works Job Club, things are beginning to change for Lance. He is feeling motivated, and enthused that this is the beginning of a new process. ‘These are massive changes in my life, which have happened over quite a short period of time. To be able to reach out to people now, to ask questions, to get guidance and advice, the change has been marked.’
Start your journey towards employment by joining ecdp Works
My name is Rachel, and I am the Project Manager of the ecdp Works programme, an eight week course designed to support you into employment.
What is ecdp Works?
· 1 week training
· 6 weeks work experience placement at a local business
· 1 week further training
I would like to invite you take part in the next course we will be running from June 2014, or to simply find out more information about future courses.
If you would like to improve your chances of employment by joining ecdp Works get in touch with me today.
Call Rachel 01245 214012
Visit www.ecdp.org.uk/ecdpworks
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All about Personal Health Budgets
If you are in receipt of NHS Continuing Health Care funding, you may have been offered a Personal Health Budget recently by your local Clinical Commissioning Group. From April this year you have the right to ask for one if you have not been offered one.
A Personal Health Budget is money to pay for your health and social needs. Central to this service is your support plan, which helps you decide the details of your individual support and is the basis on which NHS agrees to provide you with a Personal Health Budget.
This means:
• You agree the best way to spend the money with your local NHS team. This could be your doctor or care manager
• You know how much money there is for your healthcare
• You have more say about your healthcare
ecdp is delivering Personal Health Budget services across Essex and Hertfordshire. If you would like ecdp to formally express an interest (on your behalf) in being considered for a Personal Health Budget to NHS, please speak to any member of ecdp’s Insight or Support Services Team.