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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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:-
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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?
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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”
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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.”
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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
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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.
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