Learning Disability Symposium Invitation

“Personalisation”

Chair: Angus Skinner
Tuesday 13th May 2008

Venue: Stirling Management Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Places are free, but limited in number, so do apply today!

Registration: 9.00am - 9.30am
Programme: 9.30am - 4.30pm

The Directors and Clinicians of Castlebeck are pleased to invite you to a learning disability symposium at The University of Stirling on Tuesday 13th May 2008.

More about the symposium

Social care in Scotland has come a long way. National strategies and quality frameworks are helping to drive up standards, regulation is gaining acceptance and there is better protection of vulnerable adults and children. Personalised budgets are offering greater choice and control and there is a wider shift towards outcomes-based and person-centred ways of working. However, it is also clear that more remains to be done and research suggests that user and carer engagement remains underdeveloped.

The symposium entitled “Personalisation” aims to explore the key tensions in the modernisation process, between the drive for consistency and the need to ensure flexibility, and between the support for independence and the need for protection of young people and adults with complex needs.

Topics that will be covered…

• Citizenship and Personalisation
• Personalisation & Scottish Government Policy
• Examples of achievements by people with learning disabilities and complex needs
• Overcoming barriers to Personalisation
• Improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities and their unpaid carers
• The struggle faced by parents and carers of those whose behaviour challenges services

Who will the symposium appeal to?


The symposium will appeal to professionals working in both health and social care who seek a deeper understanding of people with learning disabilities and complex needs.

Profile of speakers confirmed so far (not in programme order)

The speakers confirmed are certain to make this a thought-provoking and interactive day.

Chair: Angus Skinner
Angus is an Associate Consultant with the Centre for Confidence and Well-Being and is developing applications of Positive Psychology and Appreciative Inquiry in helping authorities and organisations fulfil the aspirations of the Scottish Executive's Changing Lives Report.

Dr. Emma Miller, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Stirling
“Improving outcomes for, and with, service users with learning disabilities and their unpaid carers”
Emma has for the last 18 months worked with the Joint Improvement Team of the Scottish government todevelop and implement an outcomes based toolkit.

John Dalrymple, Joint Leader, in Control Scotland
“Overcoming barriers to Personalisation”
In 1995 John become Project Manager of the Greater Glasgow Learning Disability Strategy and subsequently the Co-founder and Director of “Support for Ordinary Living” in Motherwell. He is currently the Joint Leader of the in Control Scotland Development Team.

Bob Hudson, Professor of Applied Sciences, University of Durham
“Personalisation; A New Policy Paradigm”
Bob is Visiting Professor of Partnership Studies at the School of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Durham and runs his own consultancy as a policy analyst.

Kirstein Rummery, Professor of Social Policy, Department of Applied Social Sciences, University of Stirling
“Citizenship and Personalisation”
Kirstein started as Professor of Social Policy at the University of Stirling in August 2007, prior to that she was a senior lecturer in social policy at the University of Manchester.

Isobel Allan MBE, Full Time Carer, Cambuslang, near Glasgow
“Empowerment through a personalisation process”
Isobel is the founder, past Chairperson and present honorary president of the Rett Syndrome Association Scotland. She is mother to Susan, 27, who has Rett Syndrome. Isobel is the Vice Chairperson of Carers Scotland and was the Carer representative on the Scottish Executive’s Carers Legislation and Working Group (2000).

Cally Ward & Vivien Cooper
“Putting People First: The challenge of developing services that support people to get a life!”
Cally has been a member of the Valuing People Support Team since 2002; first as the Regional Advisor in the West Midlands and currently as the National Lead for Family Carers. Cally is the mother of a 37-year-old man with learning disabilities. Vivien has three children, and her son has severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging. In 1997 she founded a charity called “The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF)”. The CBF operates nationally, with a very small staff team, and provides a range of resources and information, including linking networks for families and professionals.

Symposium information:

Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the day. Car parking is easily available and directions are available on request.

A Continuing Professional Development certificate will be issued to all those attending.

To book please email rebeccahill@castlebeck.com or telephone her on 07971 538981

Confirmation will be sent to you nearer the time if you have reserved a place. There is no charge for those attending the symposium.