03-01-2024 Have your say - important local consultations
A core part of our work at Our Voice is our regular engagement with the Local Authority and Health services as they develop strategies and services. As part of this work, we often respond to local consultations, but it is also really important for more parents and carers, and young people, to have their say on local developments that affect children and young people with additional needs. This news item looks at how you can give your view on some important current consultations that impact children and young people with additional needs and their families.
See also our news item here about proposals to change the Council Tax Support Scheme which will affect anyone in receipt of a carers discount for a young person aged under 18. Closing date 21st Jan.
You can see details of all the Local Authority’s current consultations here.
If you have any queries about any of these consultations or need help with sharing your views, please email haveyoursay@enfield.gov.uk.
Adult Social Care Travel Assistance
The new draft Adult Travel Assistance Policy sets out how Enfield Council propose to provide and fund travel assistance for adults with assessed eligible needs. Service users and their parents/carers are invited to give their views.
The Adult Travel Assistance policy applies to individuals who :
o Are aged 18 and over
o Need travel assistance to meet eligible need under the Care Act 2014
o Are an ordinary resident in Enfield.
Please note: This policy does not apply to young adults (aged up to 25) who have special educational needs and are in education (for example in school or college) or training.
However, Our Voice feel it is important that you fill in the 'CARERS' version of this questionnaire, even if your child or young person hasn't transitioned to Adult Services, and thus, isn't receiving 'Travel Assistance support’ from the council yet. This is because this policy could affect your child or young person in the future, if, when they are assessed (at 18), they are eligible for Travel Assistance.
There is also an Easy Read version of the policy, case studies, and an accessible survey
This consultation will close on 9th January 2024
Enfield Autism Strategy
The draft Autism Strategy (PDF) sets out how we will work together as a partnership to improve the lives of autistic people, their families and carers in Enfield.
This document includes autistic people of all ages and shows how the National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026, will be delivered in Enfield. To identify local needs, people with lived experiences and partners in education, health, social care and the voluntary sector (including Our Voice) have already been engaged with.
This has resulted in identifying 7 priority areas;
o Celebrate and value the positive aspects of autism and the achievements of autistic people
o Provide needs-based support
o Enable fair access to education
o Support more autistic people into employment
o Recognise and combat isolation and loneliness
o Provide inclusive mental health and wellbeing support
o Improve support within the criminal and youth justice system
Anyone with an interest in the issue (including parents and carers and young people) is now invited to give their views on the draft Strategy.
You can share your views by completing the questionnaire. Alternatively, if you have difficulties completing this, you can instead fill in the easy-read version of the questionnaire (PDF).
The Closing date is 14 January 2024 (11.59 pm).
Health and Wellbeing strategy
The Health and Wellbeing Board is developing a draft Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy to replace the current Strategy. The new draft strategy (PDF) sets out their vision: to empower every Enfield resident to live healthier for longer.
In Enfield, the long-term ambition is for every resident to Start Well, Live Well and Age Well. This means:
o Support every child to have the best start in life and to thrive from conception to the age of 19 or 25 for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) - Start Well
o Support our communities to live active, healthy lives and work with partners to provide high-quality and accessible health services - Live Well
o Support people to maintain good health and independence well into older age, ensuring every stage of life is valued and spent in the best possible health - Age Well
The Strategy brings together a series of 12 priorities for the next 6 years, based on these important stages of our lives.
The Health and Wellbeing Board would like to hear your views on the draft Strategy. You can share your views by completing the standard questionnaire. Alternatively, you can complete the easy-read version The consultation will close on 29 January 2024 (10 am)
