Partnership Board Meeting – July 2025

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A young woman with Down syndrome, wearing glasses and a pink top, is smiling while holding an open booklet. The booklet has the words "easy read" written in large, bold black letters on a white background.

To read the full easy-read meeting notes, click on the easy-read image

Easy Read Meeting Notes

Meeting Overview

  • Date & Time: Thursday 24 July 2025, 10:00 am -12:00 pm
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Main Agenda Items:
    1. Locality Group Updates – Lee Gibbons
    2. The Real Care Deal Update – Curators of Change
    3. Housing and Accommodation Update – Sera Hall & Matthew Mallett

Locality Group Updates

  • Lee thanked self-advocates who joined the Co-Production Day on 9 July.
  • The April–June meetings included two guest speakers:
    • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): explained available benefits, visiting team support, and home visits to help with form completion.
    • Police Engagement Officers: discussed community safety and what to do in emergencies. Some members asked for more help on staying safe online.
  • New Easy Read guides on Welfare & Benefits and Community Safety have been added to the Partnership’s Easy Read Library.
  • The next Locality Group topic will be Day Services.
  • Self-advocates also gave feedback from their meeting with CQC during Norfolk County Council’s inspection week, asking for accessible (Easy Read) reports and better inclusion in co-production work.

The Real Care Deal – Curators of Change

  • The Real Care Deal focuses on learning from disabled people about how care and support should be delivered.
  • Developed in response to the Cawston Park Safeguarding Adults Review, it promotes an ethical framework for good care based on four values:
    • Be More Human – treat people with kindness and respect.
    • Ethical Vision – do the right thing.
    • Trust & Transparency – be open and honest.
    • Good Employment & Business Practices – treat staff fairly and provide quality services.
  • A new Real Care Deal website shares real-life stories, podcasts, and learning resources.
  • Feedback showed that many people had not yet heard of it, so work is underway to make the website more accessible and promote it more widely.
  • Suggestions included printable versions for people without internet access and visiting Locality Groups to deliver sessions.
  • Actions:
    • Lee Gibbons to invite the Digital Skills Team to a future Locality Group.
    • Provide Jamie Abbott with details of digital skills courses via Norfolk Libraries.

Housing and Accommodation – Sera Hall & Matthew Mallett

  • Norfolk County Council’s Housing Team returned to update on progress since 2023, focusing on Supported Living expansion.
  • Since the last visit, progress includes:
    • 3 new Supported Living Community Housing schemes (Norwich, Swaffham, King’s Lynn) – 18 homes in each, due 2026.
    • 10 new Shared Housing schemes (Norwich, King’s Lynn, Wisbech, Caister, Taverham, Mulbarton, Cromer) – 43 people rehoused since 2023.
    • 8 more Shared Housing schemes planned (mainly Norwich, plus North Walsham & Gorleston) – 38 more people to be supported.
    • Shared Lives programme has grown from 49 placements (2017) to 97 (2025), with expansion needed in Norwich & North Norfolk.
  • Information and resources are available at www.norfolk.gov.uk/supportedliving, including videos and real-life stories.
  • Work is ongoing to create Easy Read booklets to support people moving into new homes.
  • Questions raised:
    • Housing demand: ~180 places per year (15 requests per month); future projections in progress.
    • Choice and matching: social workers aim to house people with compatible ages/interests and keep tenancy and care providers separate.
    • Preparing young people (14+): videos and PFAL (Preparing for Adult Life) materials exist but need Easy Read versions.
  • Actions:
    • Sera Hall to find an Easy Read Tenancy template (for Opening Doors Housing Project).
    • Rachel Phillips to gather feedback from Independence Matters on the Easy Read housing materials.
    • Members to send further feedback via Lee Gibbons.

Any Other Business

  • A new Partnership video featuring self-advocates was shown and is now available on the Partnership website. Members are encouraged to share it.
  • Maxine Webb suggested starting each meeting by reviewing previous actions – this was agreed.
    • Action: Future meetings will begin with a review of the previous minutes/action plan.
  • Dates for the next Locality Groups (Great Yarmouth, South, King’s Lynn, North Norwich) to be circulated.

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