Once again the North West Regional Forum rolls into the Hilton Hotel in the seaside town of Blackpool. Over 200 people from 38 organisations all over the North West region attended the conference. 1 The conference started with the evening meal at 5:00 p.m. Then Jason (Master of Ceremonies) got the conference started in his usual style. After this Phil and Mark launched their famous music quiz. The theme this year was Walt Disney films (apart from one). The videos for the “Derek Russell Award for Outstanding Leadership” were also shown in the Nelson Room. 2 After a good breakfast the conference started again. At 9:00 voting for The “Derek Russell Award” closed, and the votes will be counted. Today the conference was opened by Councillor Val Haynes (Mayor Of Blackpool). This was then followed by SBK choir who do songs from famous musicals which was enjoyed greatly by both delegates and organisers. 3 There was then an update from the National Forum by Mark Shackleton (National Forum Rep), Karen Flood (Co – Chair, National Forum) and Dene Donalds (Regional Co – Ordinator) Next Jason Rhodes (Conference Organiser/MC) and Lynn James Jenkinson (Chief Executive, Pathways) told us how the voting was going to work. Then there was a speech on Healthwatch from Emma Rodriguez Dos Santos. After the tea break there was a speech about the Next Steps For Winterbourne from Steve Harris (Housing and Support Alliance) 4 This was followed by a speech on co – production by Vicki Hornby and Dr Laurence Clark. With the strange idea of “Chocolate Covered Sprouts”!. After lunch there was a speech on how we can get involved with the Learning Disability Alliance by Rosemary Trustham. Then an explanation of the Laughing Boy Bill with Lynn James Jenkinson. This brought a powerful response from all the delegates Next was the workshops there were 9 to choose from today. They were:- Eat well, Feel Opening Eyes, Peer Good and Zumba Educator Network 5 Don’t be a Cancer Chancer Surviving your ATOS/Maximus (Cancer Screening) Interview The Laughing Boy Mental Health and Bill Wellbeing The Care Act 2014 – Assessment and What it means for all of treatment units – What us do we need instead 6 The Importance of Voting and the Belonging (Community General Election Connections) After the tea break the workshops were run for a second time. Eat well, Feel good Opening Eyes – Peer and Zumba Educator Network Don’t be a Cancer Chancer (Cancer Screening) Surviving your ATOS/Maximus Interview 7 The Laughing Boy Bill Mental Health and Wellbeing The Care Act 2014 – What it means for all of us Assessment and treatment units – What do we need instead The Importance of Voting and the Belonging (Community General Election Connections) 8 Then the delegates had a chance to give their point of view with the Roving Mic. The nominations then closed and all delegates and organisers got ready for the Gala Dinner. There was great entertainment all night long First there was Steve Earl and Kelly Bashford from “Up Roar” Next there was Riversigners from Kendal who are a Makaton choir who only started 3 months before conference. 9 After that there was a karaoke and disco with DJ Alan Benfield. All the delegates sang, danced and drunk long into the night and some into the next day. There is going to be some sore heads tomorrow morning. After another good breakfast the final day started and the voting closed. 10 The Lead Officers (Suits) are with us today Today the conference was opened by the Hot Foot Dance Club and all the delegates. The Lead Officers danced as well. Our first speech was done by Dene Donalds (representing CQC) and the Being Safe Sub Group. Once the coffee break was over the delegates then moved into workshops. The 8 workshops were:- 11 Welcome Values Choosing your staff Sexuality and Staying safe online – Relationships Disability Hate Crime Mindfulness – A Mental Health and the Practical Workshop Deprication of Liberty Friendships and How is life changing for people Relationships in a time of cuts to services? 12 After lunch there was some entertainment from Musicability. Which included some singing from Becky Gammon and Lizzie McClennan Then there was some action planning based around co – production. Introduced by Dr Laurence Clark and Vicki Hornby. After the tea break there was a special prize to be given out from Salford Being Heard’s workshop. It was 4 tickets to the Frog and Bucket and the winner was Darren Rimmer (Pictured Centre) 13 Our next speech was from Mark Palethorpe from ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) The final speech of the day was done by Sue Lightup on what the Excellence Board is and how we can get involved. Next there was our “Question Time” Panel and what a panel they were. We had:Mark Shackleton = North West National Forum rep Karen Flood = Co – Chair National Forum Mark Palethorpe = North West Lead, ADASS Sue Lightup = North West ADASS Excellence Board Richard Huggins = Laughing Boy Bill Stuart Sheridan = North West Lead Officer representing Clinical Commissioning Groups 14 Then it was time again for some more Roving Mic Next it was the moment all the delegates had been waiting for………The voting results. Here they are:Your new National Forum Reps are:- Mark Shackleton Jonathan Hurley NWTDT Pathways Advance PSS CIC Your new Board members are:- Paddy Burke Daniel Alex Doherty People First Merseyside Future Directions CIC Your new Reference Group member will be:- Suzanne Garlick Oldham Partnership Board Sean Dempsey Salford Being Heard 15 She will be joined by existing reps Paddy Burke Derek Russell Sean Dempsey People First Merseyside Empowerment Salford Being Heard Your new Living Well Sub Group reps are:- Suzanne Garlick Stephen Smith Oldham Partnership Board S.A.I.L And they will join existing reps Mark Shackleton Paddy Burke Jonathan Hurley NWTDT/ Pathways People First Merseyside Advance PSS CIC Darren Hayward Joanne Kennedy Future Visions Salford Being Heard 16 Your new Being Safe Sub Group reps are:- Becky Gammon Lee Scott Terry Andrews Voice For All (BOCS) Chorley S.A.I.L People First Tameside Louise Calvert Linda Stewart REACT (Preston) East Lancashire And they will join existing rep Sam Hirst People First Tameside Your new Staying Healthy Sub Group reps are:- Paddy Burke People First Merseyside Derek Russell Empowerment Stephen Burden Paul Eastwood Manchester Together All Are People First Able 17 And they will join existing reps Lisa Frith People First Sefton Darren Hayward Future Visions Finally the winner of the Derek Russell Award for Outstanding Leadership. Anthony Gritto Then it was time to go and we all said goodbye to our old (and new) friends and hope we will meet again at the Gala Dinner on September (if not sooner). EDITOR’S NOTE : At this conference we took hundreds of photos but unfortunately we cannot us them all. Over the next few pages there is a “Rogue’s Gallery” that includes some of my favourites. 18 WELCOME TO THE Bradley likes a good I think Paddy needs a new laugh at the conference hat, or a bigger head Stuart should have learnt John is showing us a “Highland Fling” in his kilt his lines. “Now, what is my next line in this script” 19 During the photo shoot, Paddy The Outstanding Leader realises that his shoelace is Lizzie gets a new cup to untied. add to her list The newly elected reps gather Darren gets right to the round the new Outstanding point. “The bar is down Leader that way. Let’s go.” 20 St Helens know how “URGH!” That is WAY to have a bit of fun TOO SOUR!! Just who are those two Masked Mystery Men? The Singer and The National Forum Rep. Sounds like a movie, Doesn’t it John proves he only has eyes for Blackpool 21 It’s Stephen John always enjoys the “Shirtless Wonder “ conference. But what about Smith Pauline? DJ John still needs to Overall, The Conference practice how to wear his us a great place to make headphones new friends. 22
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