04/09/03 - Service users and carers discuss consultation and involvement

On Monday 8 September 2003 at the Greenhill Hotel, Wigton, the Individual Support Consultative Forum meets to discuss involvement of service users and carers in the decision making process of the Council and how the Council consults with these groups of people. The Forum will also receive a paper outlining the effectiveness of the Forum to date and highlighting some of its achievements.   

County Councillor Sue Brown, Chair of the Individual Support Consultative Forum explains why the meeting is taking place and what will happen on the day. She says,   

“Service users and their carers have a wealth of information and experience to draw on to help the County Council improve social care services and develop improved ways or working. The Council is currently developing a consultation strategy for the whole organisation and it is important that we find out how people want to be consulted and on what types of issue. The purpose of the day is to find out what we have to do differently to ensure true involvement for service users and carers in policy, planning and service development.   

The Forum will split into groups of users and carers representing young people, older people, people with a physical disability or sensory impairment, people with a learning disability and people with mental health problems. The groups will discuss, from their own perspective, means of consultation and involvement in the work of the County Council. I hope that at the end of the meeting we have some clear areas of focus for ensuring we continue to improve our methods of communication and consultation. Continued improvement in these areas will ensure increased service user and carer involvement in the County Council’s social care work.”