DeafCOG Community Connect Launch Feedback Report

DEAF CULTURAL OUTREACH GROUP

DeafCOG Community Connect Launch FEEDBACK REPORT

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Here is our Community Connect Launch Feedback report in PDF form.

The report includes weblinks to useful information.

Many thanks for contributing to the day, please do circulate our report to people within your networks.

Warm wishes to you all!

The DeafCOG Team

Dear All, Firstly, thank you for attending our event on Friday 18 November 2016 where you contributed to Deaf Cultural Outreach Group (DeafCOG). This successfully launched our Community Connect Project, here we have the feedback report of the event.

Community Connect is a Big Lottery Fund project that focuses on community engagement activities for Deaf adults. We utilise our community assets to improve the health and wellbeing of the Deaf People in East Sussex. Throughout the project DeafCOG will be monitoring all activities and evaluating the outcomes of the Combating Loneliness in Older Deaf People; Peer support and IT knowledge development workshops.

The concept grew from DeafCOG’s activity in East Sussex (since 2010) and from our involvement in the East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) programme.

Kim Wyer, Operations Manager, DeafCOG

Contents Outline of the day

1

Outcome challenges

5

Feedback from the Launch Event

12

Where do we go from here?

14

Next steps and recommendations 17 Space for development and collaboration

18

Progress markers

19

Participating organisations

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“The event far exceeded our expectations.

We not only saw quantity, with 63 participants on the day, but also quality in the form of a diverse spectrum of people. There were hearing and Deaf people from a variety of backgrounds and organisations, users and professionals all engaging in conversations that happened throughout the day.

This will certainly strengthen and focus our future development”.

Pamela Morgan DeafCOG Director DeafCOG (Deaf Cultural Outreach Group) www.deafcog.co.uk Facebook: groups/deafcog Twitter: @deafcog Company (limited by Guarantee) Registration No: 7833351

Outline of the day Stephen Lloyd; Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman, Eastbourne Constituency and DeafCOG’s Patron officially opened the event and introduced the Community Connect Project, reminding people of DeafCOG’s Mission: “To enhance the life opportunities, health and wellbeing of Deaf people by alleviating inequality and improving access to services for Deaf people”.

Pamela Morgan explained about DeafCOG’s objectives and projects. She shared a case study of ‘Mr Brown’.

We then held table top discussions, focusing on two questions: 1 What do you think should have happened in the case of ‘Mr Brown’; what would good access/ service look like?

2 What might be the reasons that this may be difficult to achieve? Do you have any ideas to reduce the reasons why someone like Mr Brown does not get the right support?

CASE STUDY: Mr Brown Mr Brown (not his real name) was a 90-year-old man, who lived in East Sussex all his life. He sadly passed away since we shared his story with you at the launch in November 2016.

He never married, a family friend says that his parents over protected him, he led a very sheltered life. He did not have a social life.

In November 2014 Mr Brown was admitted to hospital after having a couple of falls at home. It is believed he also had a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) at the time, as he was not himself. He was also suffering from Gallstones, but in the end the decision was to not operate.

He stayed in hospital through Christmas time and in January Mr Brown’s Next of Kin (a family friend) went on a planned trip to New Zealand for a month.

During his time in hospital, Mr Brown did not have a Sign Language Interpreter, he only saw his own Social Worker and the Hospital Social Worker.

Neither of these Social Workers had any Sign Language, nor did the staff in the hospital. His Social Worker decided that Mr Brown ‘lacked capacity’, therefore he needed to go into a care home, as he couldn’t go home and he was bed blocking.

In the beginning of January Mr Brown was moved into a nursing home, while his family friend Mr White (not his real name) was away. He was

initially moved into a small room at the top of the house. When the family friend returned and the home found out that Mr Brown was a self-funder he was moved into a freshly decorated ground floor room which was bigger.

This was better, as Mr Brown could look out of the window, having some visual stimulation is very important to a deaf person.

Mr White says that a couple of the staff there were really dedicated, but by May Mr Brown was very unhappy. He was depressed and withdrew from the little contact he had with residents.

No-one in the home used Sign Language. He was going down-hill fast.

Both Mr White and DeafCOG spoke with Social Services about various concerns. Social Services did get involved again, Safeguarding measures were put in place and a review was carried out.

Mr Brown had old sign language skills, which were quite limited due to his sheltered upbringing and minimal exposure to a social network. However, he had attended a deaf school and had over the years had deaf friends.

His language skills had deteriorated quite a lot since being in the home.

A Deaf Relay Interpreter was recommended and used to support the review process along with a BSL Interpreter. Mr White said he learnt more about Mr Brown in that hour than he had done in the last 20 years.

It was decided that Mr Brown could no longer be kept at the home. He clearly wanted to go home.

He was assessed, with the support of both a Sign Language Interpreter and a Deaf Relay Interpreter and was given the go ahead to return home.

A support package was agreed and on 28 September 2015 Mr Brown could return to his much-loved home and garden.

The change in him was clear and almost immediate. He was more alert and certainly couldn’t stop smiling.

He even walked with excitement from his living room to his kitchen without his Zimmer frame to show us his new fridge. This was a man that could hardly get out of bed and was sleeping more than he was awake previously.

Mr Brown lived at home and has carers visiting him four times a day. His main carers did not sign. He did have a volunteer who could sign to visit him for a chat. This was his only contact with someone who spoke his language and could understand him fully.

While Mr Brown was in care, he spent £12,000 of his life’s savings, leaving him with no savings on his return home. The only blessing is that Mr Brown had not deteriorated so much that he had lost the skills to be able to return home, despite being in the home for approximately nine months.

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Craig Crowley MBE, from Action Deafness introduced the PA Community Partnership and the You Choose Consortium to attendees.

He talked about DeafCOG’s positive work. He also discussed how the Community Connect project not only encompasses the shared outcomes of regional work streams, but also lends itself to the development of the PA Community Support. This will enable a currently disjointed community to flourish. http://youchoosesupport.org.uk https://www.deafcog.co.uk

Community Connect & The BIG Lottery Fund Awards for All

Kim Wyer, Project Lead explained more about the Community Connect Project and how the money from The Big Lottery Fund has enabled DeafCOG to develop the organisation’s work in line with national and local Government initiatives and work streams.

The Community Connect Project aims to focus on the outcomes shown in the table below:

Public Health England Community Centred approach

East Sussex Better Together Workstreams

OUTCOMES

OUTCOMES

OUTCOMES

People have better chances in life – with better access to training and development to improve their life skills

Access to community resources Self-care – enabling people – where approaches connect to better manage their people to community resources, individual care and health practical help, group activities needs and access and volunteering opportunities information to meet health needs and increase social participation

Stronger communities – with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems

Strengthening communities – where approaches involve building on community capacities to take action together on health and the social determinants of health

Primary prevention – activities in the wider community to support independence, good health and promote wellbeing in the general population

Improved rural and urban environments – which communities are better able to access and enjoy

Collaborations & partnerships – where approaches involve communities and local services working together at any stage of planning cycle, from identifiying needs through implementation and evaluation

Assistive technology – using telecare and telehealth to support people to be more active and manage their own health conditions

Healthier and more active people and communities

Volunteer and peer roles – where approaches focus on

enhancing individuals’

capabilities to provide advice,

information and support or

organise activities around

health and wellbeing in their

or other communities

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Self-management – activities to enable people with multiple illnesses and long term conditions to be proactively involved in their care through a partnership with carers, GPs and other health and social care professionals

DeafCOG is a Deaf-led organisation, we know our community’s strengths and we are a hub to this community. Our asset based approach and positive ‘can do’ attitude towards deaf people means that we continue to be an active part of the future of integrated services in East Sussex. This enables us to meet the objective of Governmental policies in designing and delivering solutions that address inequalities in health. This can be instrumental in developing preventive services.

DeafCOG and the Community Connect Project is a holistic, asset based approach to health and wellbeing, that ensures that the community is central in the decision-making process. This is to ensure that services in East Sussex are effective and relevant to ensure that services are cost effective.

Following this we held table top discussions, focusing on two questions:

1

It is hard for Deaf people to ‘integrate’ with hearing services because of the language barrier and the priority placed on hearing and speaking; where would you most like to see improved access for deaf people in services apart from hospitals?

2

What stops a lot of services not supporting deaf people often comes down to a lack of knowledge and money. Can you think of ways this can be resolved; how can we all work together to make this less of a problem?

Our aims are to: Encourage peer networks Increase the capacity of the East Sussex Deaf Community Create opportunities Bridge gaps Tackle issues and become more resilient

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After the break, our Guest Speaker: Damian Brewer, Post Graduate Student in Public Health gave an interesting two-part presentation, he took questions and feedback on: • Accessible Information Standard (AIS) • Deaf people’s experience of accessing Accident and Emergency

DeafCOG is keen to support Wellbeing and Resilience in East Sussex and shares the goals of the Public Health department: • Improved Health Outcomes • Quality of Care • Capacity of Health and Social Care Provision • Value for Money • Volunteering

Sophie Hirshman, Project Co-ordinator, concluded the event and explained how to Stay Connected. She thanked everyone involved in making the day, a truly diverse, unified and informed day.

• Patient Activation – this is a concept that describes the knowledge, skills and confidence a person has in managing their health and healthcare. It can be implemented to reduce health inequalities and support the general public. It also considers the patient’s ability to be involved in and engaged with decision making about their health, wellbeing, care and support.

Above: training at the Staying Connected event

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Outcome challenges The UK Government recognises and identifies the causes of health inequality as: • Social, economic, environmental e.g. housing, jobs, education, transport, income • Lifestyles and behaviour e.g. smoking, diet, exercise • Access to Services e.g. access to services and support that will benefit their health.

Sign Health’s ‘Sick of it Report’ highlights that modern healthcare places great importance on giving people information, this allows them to make healthy choices, instead Deaf people face:

Participants’ feedback on current challenges “The cost of interpreting for deaf people is an obstacle”.

Graham Thomas from Quit 51!

• Poor diagnosis • Poor treatment • Bad access • No information • Communication issues https://www.signhealth.org.uk/healthinformation/sick-of-it-report/ DeafCOG believe that we have applied the existing evidence in a local context, and we have identified parallels. We will continue to monitor and evaluate throughout this project and beyond.

“I would suggest that Deaf people are still not knowledgeable about their rights across the whole spectrum of the Equality Act, and in terms of the Accessible Information Standard via the Health and Social Care Act 2012”.

“It is clear from our current Community Connect Cafe Social gatherings that people are unhappy with the current changes to the Interpreting Contract.

We would suggest, that Deaf people are, in general not well informed, or involved. As a result, they are feeling very disempowered in all aspects of their access and rights.

This creates a disparity in meeting shared outcomes”.

Kim Wyer

From collective discussions, DeafCOG can gauge the focus of our forthcoming work and the kind of conversations we should be having.

Damian Brewer

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Table Top Discussion 1: Mr Brown QUESTION 1: What do you think should have happened in the case of ‘Mr Brown’; what would good access / service look like?

1 Improved quality, appropriate, timely access to services and a more empowered community.

Comments include: • Accessible Information Standard.

• Interpreter access at hospitals, doctors and dentists.

• Improved access.

• Access to Deaf Relay Interpreting in situations where language, even with BSL (British Sign Language) interpretation is present and inaccessible.

• An identity card that states ‘I am Deaf’ and I will need access to a qualified BSL Interpreter. This will include detail of any specific requirements in addition to this.

• More BSL clips on websites to access information and in Libraries. Often Libraries are not accessible to a lot of Deaf people, as English is a second language. It was noted that some people have found the BSL clips to be too fast paced, and this renders it inaccessible. Ideally BSL should dictate the pace and not be added on as an afterthought.

• Some Deaf people have no access to English, or they may have limited understanding, and therefore get confused with meaning. In some situations, having an advocate/ PA is beneficial.

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• Older Deaf people have different signs (all language evolves, including BSL), having a Deaf Relay Interpreter or Older Deaf Advocate who could support the older person would be helpful in relation to this case study.

• Questions that would be acceptable to most people would leave a Deaf person confused, and could produce a false or incorrect response. This can have a big impact on decisions made and outcomes.

• It is difficult for an informal setting where family or nonfamily advocate, especially if they do not understand the issues around deafness and cannot communicate in BSL.

2 More informed and improved assessment practice and consultation with specialist support services. More signposting and a multi-agency approach to support.

People said: • Longer assessment, no assumptions.

• No assessment without the appropriate communication support, this is to enable the person to make informed decisions.

• Something should have been flagged up sooner. Possibly by a GP, Social Worker or Audiologist. He (Mr Brown) was clearly isolated even before the fall and alone for a very long time. It is important a person has access to social, as well as care needs, in a language that is accessible.

• Specialist support to assess the capability of individuals should be a matter of priority, to avoid misdiagnosis, and the consequences of this. There is a clear need for appropriate assessment and care tailored to meet the needs of Deaf people with dementia and those with other neurological conditions.

The following comments were made:

4 Raise Awareness, ensuring inclusivity and improve deaf representation across the County.

• Quality signposting and engagement with community groups and specialists.

People said: • Stigma around Deafness is a barrier.

• Improved links and distinctions between Deaf, Deaf-Blind, HoH and Deafened Service/Groups/ Organisations.

• Deaf Health and promotion around the Cultural Model of Deafness is needed. https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/ article/10/3/291/413383/Ethnicity-Ethicsand-the-Deaf-World

3 Improved network, shared dialogue, services and resources.

• Did Mr Brown go to his GP? Should the GP, or another professional, have asked more questions and alerted people sooner?

• Working together looking at each person’s priorities, on a case by case basis ensures that they are met by a variety of different sources, if necessary with the appropriate support and access. One size does not fit all.

• Consider social needs when people have routine hearing/audiological tests, this provides a more holistic assessment of needs.

• We have a very good Deaf specialist support service, DeafCOG, the organisation relies on the goodwill of a team, who can only achieve so much. This service requires investment.

• Deaf specialist support should have been sourced and engaged sooner.

• More representatives are required from the Deaf Community to participate in advisory/ support groups such as the PPG (Patient Participation Groups) at local surgeries.

• Lack of relevant data and signposting.

Above: one of the presentations at the Staying Connected event

• Audiology staff should give balanced and diverse information regarding the approaches available about deafness and routes to wellness. This allows people more choice, including parents who have a deaf child. There is more than one model of deafness.

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QUESTION 2: What might be the reasons that this may be difficult to achieve? Do you have any ideas to reduce the reasons why someone like Mr Brown does not get the right support?

of their time in a voluntary capacity within the community. They also offer support to hearing people learning to sign to help them build up their NVQ portfolios etc.

It was suggested that paying a Deaf person to offer support to their own community in an appropriate cultural and linguistic way, would be a far more effective way to achieve outcomes.

1 Lack of training, awareness and poor signposting to specialist services. The following comments were made:

This was felt, by discussion group, to be a good compromise and cheaper than paying the cost of an interpreter. This approach increases the skill set of the community and improves the wellbeing of the Deaf community.

• Lack of knowledge.

• High staff turnover can leave knowledge gap within services previously accessible.

• Difficulty in knowing how to book a BSL Interpreter. * • Securing cost effective access via BSL Interpreters is presented as a barrier, when there is no budget. * A Deaf person responded that Deaf people are often unemployed or underemployed in comparison to the wider population, as a result Deaf people already give an awful lot

* An interesting conversation took place between a third sector group. They wanted to support Deaf people in improving their wellbeing, but could not afford the costs of a sign language interpreter. They suggested working together to recruit some Deaf volunteers to support their work, and in return they would offer them training.

Deaf volunteers cannot secure access to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Access to Work Scheme to support them in the workplace. If a Deaf person is paid, they are eligible to apply for auxiliary aids and access to interpreters as part of this Government funded scheme. This should be at no cost to the employer. However, there are some conditions attached to the amount earnt.

Not only is Access to Work a work-effective intervention, but it is also a cost-effective one.

The DWP has calculated for every pound spent on the Access to Work scheme

the government receives £1.48 back in National Insurance contributions, taxation and reduced demand on state benefits

(Opportunity Blocked Report, page 17, Action on Hearing Loss)

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2 Lack of relevant, useful data collection and sharing of resources.

People said: • Information should have been there in the first place. Why were his access needs not already on his notes? The Hospital should have contacted the Adult Social Care. This should then trigger a process that ensures that someone like Mr Brown gets the appropriate level of support that he needs.

• Policy making at Councils and their attitudes. They don’t separate deaf people who use BSL with those who prefer to speak. This can also change over a person’s lifetime as people age and lose more of their available hearing.

4 People not being aware of their Duty of Care, and the rights of a deaf person to receive full access to their own health and social care to make decisions.

People said: • There is a risk of breaching the Equality Act 2010.

• Generic services cannot be specialists in everything, however they have a duty to seek specialist advice and guidance.

• Better Deaf Awareness training that includes culture and diversity within the Deaf Community. Provide refresher courses.

Comments include:

• Often generic disability training is offered and any deaf awareness in this training is often diluted due to a lack of time. It is not helped that Deafness is clumped under disability. Deaf people who use Sign language are a linguistic and cultural minority and should be treated as such.

• Use Apps or video services that can ensure access to an online Interpreter is available in an emergency. Sometimes providing an interpreter is not the only access need.

Below: items produced at the Craft Weekend

3 Better utilisation of technology to assist in accessibility, rather than create barriers.

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Table Top Discussion 2: Improved access for Deaf people QUESTION 1: It is hard for Deaf people to ‘integrate’ with hearing services because of the language barrier and the priority placed on hearing and speaking; where would you most like to see improved access for deaf people in services apart from hospitals?

1 A better informed and empowered Deaf community would in itself improve access generally People commented: • Deaf people need to have a better understanding of and influence over the of support offered through commissioned services, including Interpreting services.

One size does not fit all. Deaf people need to be empowered to speak up and know where to go for support.

• Based on the stigma of deafness, and the slow onset in older people. Possibility of routine screening of 60+ and a more balanced signposting service thereafter.

• School and other educational settings: lack of awareness around access needs for deaf children. This also applies to parents who are deaf and want to access their child’s education. No support is currently available, this should come out of the school’s individual budget. This means an unfair service across the County and a postcode lottery.

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2 Areas where access could be improved People said: • BSL clips online • Banks • Opticians • Dentists • Mobile Phone shops • GP surgeries / receptionists / Dentists as well as hospitals -access, making appointments and communication. Needs or concerns alerted to Social Services.

3 Better use of technology currently available and more investment in developing new technology that is accessible for all, or can be adapted.

Comments include: • Text and email should be used more, not just the telephone. Video Relay Service (VRS) too for those who cannot access English, or whose preferred method of communication is BSL.

4 Regional structures and the organisation of services leaves some minority groups, who are more widely dispersed at a disadvantage People said: • Minority groups don’t get the same recognition in the media, this makes publicity and outreach difficult. DeafCOG have approached local papers to advertise events, but as they are countywide and not town specific, they tend not to be interested.

• Social media use is based on user’s demand, this means that minority groups often miss out. Our need is sometimes greater, but it is difficult to compete with the majority.

5 Improved legislation Comments include: • Legislation regarding language • BSL (Scotland) Act • Flexibility on rules around Data Protection, this makes it very hard for deaf people to manage their finances and personal affairs independently or through a trusted person.

QUESTION 2: What stops a lot of services not supporting deaf people often comes down to a lack of knowledge and money. Can you think of ways this can be resolved; how can we all work together to make this less of a problem?

• Gain a better understanding of the ‘Deaf Gain’ approach and ensure that everyone benefits from learning more about Deaf Gain (asset focused) • We can all learn a lot from each other, trade our skills and knowledge and share resources for the benefit of the whole community of East Sussex.

• Pool together organisations and service to save on cost of training and development.

• Work in partnership and recognise when it is appropriate to signpost and work together.

• Each commissioned service has a duty to ensure that it is accessible to everyone.

When tendering and budgeting for projects and services, ensure that accessibility needs are considered, not just physical disability. In addition, seek specialist advice and guidance • Use innovative ways of working together when a Deaf or hearing person requires access to an Interpreter, but where one is not available, nor affordable.

Left: Cafe social event in Eastbourne

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Feedback on the Launch Event Damian Brewer, our guest speaker is known to DeafCOG. He is Deaf and is a member of the Deaf Community. He is a (D)CODA – (Deaf) Child of Deaf Adults and a Postgraduate Student in Public Health.

Damian said: “I thought the event was well organised, and I could see a lot of effort went into arranging it.

I thought it was good to mix Deaf people with hearing people, so they can learn more about Deaf issues. As you know I work in the public sector, and the squeeze is relentless. Many issues are not being addressed, let alone Deaf issues, so the next few years it will be difficult to gain funding”.

“I’ve learnt a lot of things I didn’t know that are VERY important to Deaf people.

Thank you”.

“A great and exciting project.

Let’s hope it will be successful and expand to other areas”.

“I hope we can do this again”.

Participants were asked what they thought was the most important aspect of the day I learned something new today

21%

I found the table discussions useful 8%

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I would like to attend another event like this

24%

The event was well organised

14%

I enjoyed the presentation

21%

I made new contacts

11%

The Community Connect Launch allowed a safe space for both Deaf and hearing people, community members, users and professionals to network. This event enabled people to learn about our work and planned activities; along with why this project is needed. We also highlighted our approach and attitude toward Deafness; opportunities to participate and collaborative working.

In addition, we outlined the outcomes and evaluative process of the project.

“Great meeting”.

“Barriers: 1 Emergency Interpreting 2 DeafBlind Access 3 Phone limits (long phone through relay service)”

“The event was excellent and informative.

I would like to explore further how QUITS 51! can help/integrate/support you further”.

Graham Thomas A video was made at the event, with participants giving their feedback on the day.

The full video can be seen at: https://vimeo.com/220615297

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Where do we go from here?

The Annual Report from the Director of Public Health in East Sussex states:

‘Resilience’ is the result of individuals and communities being able to interact with their environment and services that either promote wellbeing or protect them against adversity or risk’.

Wellbeing and Resilience in East Sussex 2016/17

A community can come together and build community resilience, through forming local clubs, support groups and social networks.

Individuals can strengthen their personal resilience through a range of things, from taking up the offer of vaccination to protect themselves against a disease or being physically active to help stay healthy, to accessing a befriending scheme to help them solve their feelings of loneliness and isolation.

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Above: from the launch event

“The lived experiences of Deaf People differ from non-Deaf people. Public services are essentially audio and phonocentric and give importance to normalising care towards full participation into mainstream society.

This end destination is unreachable to people who are Deaf. Instead, the Community Connect embraces the parameters of Deaf Life and places the importance of full participation in the Deaf Community as a route to Deaf Wellness. This is a position that contradicts the pathological definitions of deafness otherwise constructed as an illness, and embraces Deaf life as a pathway to wellness.”

Griggs 2000, 2004

Deaf COG will continue work with local services and providers, supporting people with real lived community knowledge to make positive changes.

Our Services will enable our users to work towards wellness and independence from a position of Deaf Life, this explores a positive identity, with the Deaf community being at the heart of the service, Deaf led. This enables Deaf people to feel empowered. Deaf Gain* is recognised as a tool to improving resilience within other communities, not just our own.

Communities, both place-based and where people share a common identity or affinity, have a vital contribution to make to health and wellbeing. Community life, social connections and having a voice in local decisions are all factors that underpin good health. However, inequalities persist and many people experience the effects of social exclusion or lack of social support.

Participatory approaches directly address the marginalisation and powerlessness caused by entrenched health inequalities.

Participation is also about representation, community leadership and activism.

There are important roles for NHS, local government and their partners in fostering community resilience and enabling individuals and communities to take more control over their health and lives. A guide to Community Centred Approaches for Health and Wellbeing: http://tinyurl.com/ppc476v.

DeafCOG

shared

ESCC/ Alliance

Gain is a framework proposed by H-Dirksen * Deaf Bauman and Joseph Murray to counter the prevailing schema of being Deaf as a “loss�.

Instead, they point to ways that Deaf people gain from being Deaf; from increased and improved visual abilities, alternative ways of thinking and problem solving, social structure, and much more.

Moreover, they present Deaf Gain as a benefit not just to Deaf people themselves, but to society.

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DeafCOG

Shared

ESCC & Alliance

Facilitators, Intermediaries, Specialists

Communication & Engagement

Facilitators, Intermediaries, Specialists

Develop relationships

Asset focused, collaborative, innovative and organic

Asset focused, collaborative, innovative and organic

Mediate and facilitate transformation

Creates opportunities, activities that encourage stronger more healthy communities & peer networks, active, contributing communities

Activate individuals, community, networks, partnerships and alliances to ensure value for money and prevention of ill health and wellbeing

Improve access, engagement, better use of technology, communication, understanding, awareness, capacity, health and wellbeing, for the Deaf Community, locally, regionally and nationally

Create sustainable dialogues

Provide support, signposting, education, awareness, training, partnerships and alliances Build relationships, capacity, resilience and independence Empower our community

Monitor, measure evaluate, review Access and support development of YouChoose Consortium, DeafCOG PA Community Service

Creates opportunities, activities that encourage stronger more healthy communities & peer networks, active, contributing communities, through co-production and design Improve Health Outcomes, Quality of Care, Capacity, Provision, Value for Money, and Patient Activation Facilitate, transform and new care models Improve Accessible Information, Empower people in health and wellbeing, reduce disparities and health inequalities and develop relationships Provide support, education, awareness, training, partnerships and alliances Build relationships, capacity, and resilience Empower our community Provide Health and Social Care Services

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Next steps and recommendations DeafCOG aims to see East Sussex developing further engagement and empowerment opportunities in Culturally and Linguistically appropriate ways.

We are seeking an equitable collaboration to ensure our sustained contribution for the benefit of the Deaf community. We cannot do this alone.

DeafCOG will demonstrate that we are an organisation that understands and is an integral part of this unique community.

Thanks to investment from the Big Lottery Fund, Awards for All, the Community Connect Project can showcase our value and how we can impact on and improve inequalities the Community Connect project intends to highlight the needs of a cultural, linguistic community that differs from other, similar

communities like that of BME communities and that of disability groups in specific and at times nuanced ways.

We anticipate these new, equitable working relationships will approach issues in a genuinely engaging, idiographic manner that encourages stakeholders to think out of the box. We intend to do things differently; the deaf community are the experts.

We intend to see local Public Services directly engage in genuine ways, not just as a routine exercise. We believe this will lead to activating a previously hard to reach community and genuinely co-producing innovative and equitable remedies to historical issues particularly evident in Deaf communities, evidenced both on a National and local level.

Below: at the launch event

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Progress markers

EXPECT to see

LIKE to see

Participation / Communication and Engagement / Co-production / Investment and Access, within the next year:

Signposting / Partnerships / Alliances / Representation / Collaboration / Understanding around Access needs within the next two to three years:

• Engage and build on relationships

• Better promoting, signposting and opportunities for cross group/ organisation working, e.g. CAB, Quit 51, Care for the Carers

• Collective discussions to identify future shared work streams • Increase consultation and ability for contribution through engagement in culturally and linguistically appropriate activities and Accessible Information • Establish stronger community links both internally and externally with local Public/ Alliance service providers and community groups.

• Commitment from all partners in the ESBT Alliance and wider networks.

• Support and understand, by creating specific and meaningful dialogues around specific priorities that cannot be addressed in a generic/ Pan disability/ Minority engagement events. (This constitutes reasonable adjustments and forms part of the Equality Act) • Invest in us, so we can invest in you • A more efficient, cost effective Interpreting Service/ Contract that better meets the needs of the community • A more supported, informed and empowered community who can lead on their support and their rights • East Sussex based services to comply with government recommendations, Equality Act 2010 and Care Act 2014

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• Sustained dialogue that identifies areas of work that can be done in partnership, recognising where specialist support is needed • Improved representation, need to factor in additional support and reasonable adjustments, training • A significant role for DeafCOG in the delivery of services to Deaf people, with both medium to long term benefits • Work together collectively and support each other on specific, identified areas to ensure monitoring and evaluation is accurate and reflective of the intricacies and assets of our wider community (Deaf, HoH, Deaf-blind, Deafened) (Deaf Gain) • Improved accessible information with more websites being accessible, providing BSL and subtitles within the next two years • Deaf and cultural awareness being delivered to all services and the wider community • Working together to look at personal journeys from community members, looking at what worked well and why

LOVE to see • Put access needs first, as opposed to adding on after • Community choice over how they are reached / engage, how they contact services and which services and people they want to support them • Consultation with the community before decisions are made, to look to co-design our joint future, to ensure value for money

Asset Sharing / Performance monitoring and data Collection / Community Activation and Improved Systems within the next two to five years: • Sharing our assets and Deaf Gain with other deaf and non-deaf organisations to build resilience and improve health and wellbeing, both locally, regionally and nationally

• An activated community, able to contribute equitably to co-production and collaboration of services

• More appropriate, relevant data collection to inform and influence regional and national policy and practice (Who, What, How)

• A healthier, empowered and confident Deaf community

• Equality in terms of access, health & wellbeing and opportunities • The upskilling of our community with fully participating, pro-active Deaf Community members who feel comfortable and confident in contributing to the wellbeing of the region • Accessible websites on a broad range of local services with BSL and subtitles • Rolling Deaf awareness training programmes • Paid representative in East Sussex • Investment and recognition of our added value to community and providers, so that we can create outreach workers who can work closely with partners and alliance services more closely • Sign Language to be taught to all staff, both adult and children’s services.

• Services that understand patient’s issues and experience, without the need for individuals to educate and explain repeatedly

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DeafCOG

ESCC/ESBT

Deaf-Led

Connecting 4 You

Community Engagement Activities Specialist Community Service Provider Culturally and Linguistically appropriate

Alliance Organisations

Opportunity for Social Exchange and Equity

Understands challenges for Deaf people both Nationally and Locally

Public and Community Engagement, Service Providers Understands national frameworks in a local context

TOGETHER: Create new equitable solutions, a set of assumptions and division of labour through cross cultural working and research.

Establish cultural and linguistic equivalence in research, monitoring, data collection.

To ensure appropriate provision, assessments, access and an opportunity to design a more coherent framework and working relationship.

Enrich understanding, activate community, stimulate each other’s progress.

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Third Sector Organisations

Space for development and collaboration We propose this new way of working will “connect the dots� to see a shared vision for the future, a more equitable future for Deaf People living in East Sussex.

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What is our broad vision of the future in East Sussex for Deaf people

Improved systems, quality, timely, appropriate Public and Private Services

• Awareness training and dialogues • Being genuinely open to new ways of working through Collaboration, Engagement and Co-production • Interpreting Provision, Diversity Awareness within the Deaf community. Research and evidence gathering around Personal Journeys, Co-production around Communications and Engagement • More reflective policy making • Adherence to Legislation • Proactive procurement • Appropriate Data collection and Monitoring • Accessible Technology for Deaf people • BSL Clips that are integrated into the planning of information sharing • Duty of Care • Legal responsibilities • Equality • Accessible Information Standard

How can we start to achieve this?

Empowered Community

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• Community Activation • Deaf Specific Engagement • Deaf Specific Training • Deaf Specialist Support • Deaf Specific Assessments • Deaf Specific Job Opportunities • Pan Deaf organisational collaboration • Stronger networks and professional relationships /

Signposting • Partnerships • Train the Trainer - do things differently, think out of the box • Asset based approached to development work • Cards for Deaf People that show they are deaf and how access can be met • Interpreter and User Training, • PAs, Advocates / Peer Support / Deaf Ambassadors

Participating organisations THANKS TO: Sponsor: Eastbourne Borough Council and staff at the Town Hall who supported the event Contributors: DeafCOG, Stephen Lloyd, Action Deafness and Craig Crowley, BSL Healthy Minds, Philip Wyatt & Fiona Mitchell-Wu, Sign Health, Guest Speaker; Damian Brewer, Jay Kramer Eastbourne Neighbourhood Champions, funded by Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) and Public Health Interpreters and Communication Support Workers (CSWs) who worked under pressure due to a severe lack of available Interpreters for the event

Table Facilitators: for recording all the conversations for us to be able to access all the discussions that took place.

Volunteer Supporters: for your hard work and dedication and The Dolphin Pub for the refreshments and hospitality. Seeing the staff use basic sign language knowledge was very much appreciated.

Participants: to all of you that came along and made it a beneficial and enjoyable event, kick starting our Community Connect Activity Programme, helping inform us of what still needs to be achieved.

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About the Big Lottery Fund

About DeafCOG

• The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It puts people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects.

“We, the Deaf community, recognise a strong community ensures that everyone in it is supported appropriately, empowering members to tackle issues collectively and collaboratively to ensure the wellness of all”.

Kim Wyer - DeafCOG

• It is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Every year it invests over £650 million and awards around 12,000 grants across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

• Since June 2004 it has awarded over £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.

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Our mission is to enhance the life opportunities, health and wellbeing of Deaf people by alleviating inequality and improving access to services for Deaf people.

Email: info@deafcog.co.uk

Community ENGAGEMENT

Arts & CULTURE

Community OUTREACH

Community CONNECT

DEAF CULTURAL OUTREACH GROUP

How to get in touch: email: info@deafcog.co.uk www.deafcog.co.uk twitter: @deafcog facebook: groups/deafcog

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