Rehabilitation Workers’ Professional Network
Committee Meeting – March 7th 2013
Peterborough
Those present: Elizabeth Agar, Jim Bole, Debbie James, Karol Harrison, Martin Kearney, Simon Labbett (chair), Daniel Scholes
In attendance: Juliette Taylor (RNIB Evidence and Service Impact)
Apologies: Pete Locke, Trish Wildy
1. Membership is currently at 243. All in England (or pan-UK) except for 20 in Scotland, 7 in Wales and 4 in Northern Ireland. Encouraging start and more being processed as we speak. Sincere thanks to Matt Broom at Vision2020uk for his work in setting the website up. Action: Simon to write to Scottish members to see how they would like to progress as a group and to find out what additional support may be available to them outside RWPN.
SL wrote to Scottish-based RWs in March and again in April. Brenda Smart offered to become Scotland rep. Ian Moran has become rep. for Wales.
2. Update on Vision 2020uk Future of Rehab Meeting 13/2/13
Pete and Simon had attended this. Simon reported back on
· Professional registration in England. Simon has written to HCPC and Professional Standards Authority. HCPC have offered a meeting with them. Will await outcome of this before recontacting Lord Low for further assistance. JB, SL and Jenny Pearce went to HCPC. SL now in contact with Dept. Health regarding impasse. Dept. Health to report back to SL end August with suggestions.
· Care and Support Bill. RNIB campaigns are leading comments on the draft bill. RNIB advocating for open-ended, free reablement (rehabilitation) in the bill.
· Sight Loss Pathway. Shortly to be published, after being endorsed by UK Vision Strategy. Very useful tool in demonstrating where rehab. sits and what Rehab. Workers do. Will be available via RNIB and on RWPN website. Widely published an applicable across UK
· York University Social Policy Research Unit research. Initial meeting attended by RWPN to decide how to recruit Rehab. Workers and clients to focus groups in London and Yorkshire. Focus groups held in York and London.
· JSNA data tool. Very useful tool to help in service planning. Available via RNIB.
3. Update on MISE
Elizabeth updated on MISE’s registration process after attending yesterday’s AGM/conference. Need to keep in close contact with each other to ensure we both understand what each other is trying to achieve. Action: Simon to see if RWPN can have observation status on MISE committee and invite MISE to have observation status on RWPN committee.
Email exchange with Fiona Broadley. Observer status on each other’s committees where time permits.
4. RWPN Constitution and Underpinning documentation
It was agreed that RWPN will underpin its work with the following:
· Constitution
· National Occupational Standards for Sensory Work
· UN Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (specifically article 26 Habilitation and Rehabilitation and article 20 Personal Mobility), this charter now signed up to by the UK government in January 2012
· Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (permission to adapt WROF document to be confirmed) Finalised and distributed
· Standard Job Description. (date for this not set) Currently work in progress
Action: Juliette to find out RNIB’s interpretation of the legal power of UN Charter. Email responses from Jo Hook and RNIB Legal Right’s team via Juliette
Hi Simon,
Just to start, like Juliette, I'm not an expert on human rights law, however I think her interpretation is a bit conservative.
It is true that the Convention did not introduce anynew rights but it does make it easier for some human rights to be challenged in the Courts.
The rights I highlighted last year - article 9, 20,21, 26, 27 & 30are the most interesting for those with a visual impairment. It is actually the optional protocol that makes this new Convention better for those in the UK as if the complainanthas explored all other avenues, they could take issue with the UK government for not implementing their rights under the Convention.
To get a real answer to the possible outcomes a test case would have to be taken on by a human rights barrister - and then see what happens! Its a long process to establish human rights and takes years but it is possible.
Regards
Jo
-----Original Message-----
From: Taylor, Juliette [mailto:]
Sent: 15 March 2013 16:00
To: Simon Labbett
Subject: FW: RWPN
Dear Simon
I hope you are well. Following on from my previous email, please see the below response from our Legal rights team in relation to the UN Convention:
-START-
Dear Juliette
Our knowledge of the convention is limited, but based on the only training that I had on the matter a couple of years ago, I will try to answer your query.
The UN Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities was ratified by the UK in June 2009.
The convention does not impose law onto the UK, but by a process that is called 'progressive realisation' the idea is that the convention will become influential in all aspects of society (political, social etc). This includes incorporation into law such as the Equality Act.
The UN Convention can be highlighted in legal cases, where it is believed that a decision being challenged has not followed the
principals set out by the convention, but it does not necessarily trump domestic law, it is a consideration in the decision making process.
We do not have any direct experiences of the UN Convention being used for the purposes of Equality Act cases, but it is often proposed to cite the convention in relation to Social Services cases under article 19 - Living independently and being included in the community.
It may be useful to ring the Equality and Human Rights Commission and see what information they can provide.
-END-
Constitution
The group worked through a constitution. Action: Simon to type up and circulate to committee. This to be sent out to all members for sign up. Any amendments/changes to be tabled at the first Annual General Meeting. Members to opt out of membership of RWPN if they do not want to sign up to constitution or other documents. DONE
Decisions made:
· investigate mechanism to ensure student members go on to qualify and do not stay as members if they don’t qualify
· devise a mechanism that allows rehab assistants with level 4 qualification to join and devise mechanism to allow holders of deafblind diploma to join Certain qualifications agreed in constitution
· find out if RWPN can hold bank account via parent body Vision2020uk and, if so, set this in motion or look for alternative to allow for fund holding.
· set first AGM for next year to be discussed
· investigate possibility of holding AGM with training component
Action: Simon to talk to BCU about potential for working with them re conference, AGM or meeting venue, given Birmingham’s central location. DONE.
5. Support from RNIB
Juliette described the type of support RNIB has given VIEW over recent years and explained what the support was provided. Very constructive discussion followed on how similar, but not identical support might be given. Areas identified included:
· venues for future committee meetings and teleconferencing facilities at these venues We can use RNIB Birmigham Office in future if we need to at no cost, I believe.
· ditto for small scale training
· administrative support if RWPN were to hold/co-host a conference
The issue of holding a bank account was raised. If Vision2020uk are not able to hold our account it may be possible to hold one via RNIB.
Action: Juliette to consult internally re above options and report back. Anita Lightstone has confirmed that RWPN would not be able to hold a bank account in our name within Vision2020uk, but we could still hold a bank account – like any other Vision2020uk member – outside Vision2020uk.
Date of next meeting. Either 3rd or 5th September 2013. Birmingham. Venue tbc.