John Dow welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked the South East Learning Network for hosting the meeting at their offices.
We agreed that the Minutes of the last meeting, which was held on 14th May 2007, were accurate and agreed that in future the minutes should be agreed as soon as possible after the meeting and made available on the website as soon after that so that members of the wider network can read them more quickly. We also agreed that members will get electronic copies as well as paper copies for ease of distribution.
James McKillop raised the issue of representation from Paisley University and Glasgow Caledonian University and also asked about representation from some of the colleges that have recently merged with Paisley University. John Dow noted that invites had been sent to Paisley and GCU in the past but noted that he will contact them again to discuss representation on the group. It was also noted that at the moment, the Constitution only allows for one member from each University but that the group will have to think about representation from colleges who offer social care courses (for the wider social services workforce) in the future.
James McKillop noted that he had contacted Brenda Gillies after the last meeting and offered his services to talk about his experiences and although she had responded there had been no further developments. John Dow agreed to discuss this with the communications team at the SSSC on behalf of James.
John Dow noted that some pieces of work identified at previous meetings need to be tidied up and we are now half way through the first year of the group so it seemed like a good time to review 'where we are'.
Elinor Dowson queried whether there was any progress on engagement with university staff which was discussed at the last meeting and John Dow noted that members were reminded that they are the link with the university staff members and their user and carer groups. Board Members should be feeding back information from these meetings to their university colleagues as well as raising issues at these meetings on behalf of the university staff or other users and carers.
John Dow also noted that it had been agreed that the Scottish Voices Management Board would only be managing the process of identifying who might complete requests for work but that in the longer term it should be the wider network of users and carers who will be involved more closely with these pieces of work and with identifying others. John also noted that it had been decided to run with the present format for the first year and to keep the Board small enough to make decisions and Linda Walker noted that the group could agree to co-opt an academic onto the group if they wished.
Elinor Dowson noted that she was aware of another meeting of academics and some service users and carers which was taking place and noted that the group needed to be aware of these developments. John Dow noted that he thought this group was meeting to lobby the Scottish Social Services Council and Scottish Government about gaining funding for service user and carer participation in the same way that the English universities get funding but Elinor noted that she thought that the group is discussing wider issues.
It was further noted that the SSSC had recently indicated they were taking greater involvement of service users and carers seriously and would be making a statement about the issues shortly. Linda Walker also noted that the idea of Scottish Voices was always that academics could have a voice on the group via their representative but that the group must be aware that if this is not happening then there is a communication problem and the group need to consider why this is happening and what they can do to resolve these issues.
As we were running out of time, the group had to leave these discussions and will return to them again at the next meeting.
We were joined by Marc Hendrickson from the Social Work Inspection Agency who had been invited to join us following discussions about how SWIA can engage better with service users in the same way as they currently do with carers.
Mark Hendrickson explained to the group that SWIA was set up in 2005 to carry out performance inspections of the 32 local authorities in Scotland over a 3 year period and also to participate in a number of multi-agency inspections (such as working with other inspection agencies to look at services for those with substance abuse issues or the elderly) and finally to carry out specific investigations at the request of Scottish Ministers.
Mark Hendrickson noted that at the moment, inspection teams automatically have a Carer Inspector and a Lay Inspector (somebody who has no connection with social work). Some recent multi-agency inspectors have also had a service user Inspector for example if they are inspecting services for those with learning disabilities, they will have a service user with learning disabilities on their team. However, Marc noted that this is much more difficult to do for their performance inspections where such a range of activity is being investigated and it is difficult to know how to make the right choice of service user inspector although some inspectors may have some service user or carer experience on a personal basis.
John Dow asked Marc Hendrickson how this opportunity can be opened up to all service users rather than SWIA being viewed as selecting a specific service users of their choice. Marc noted that SWIA are making progress in this area and would not want to be seen to be 'cherry-picking' service users and that some initial obstacles, such as payment issues have been resolved but that SWIA want to ensure that they can adequately support the service user and carer inspectors in what can be a long and complex process. He noted, for example, that they now provide the Carer inspectors with more information in advance and try to make best use of their time to focus in on certain issues. Wendy Laird, who has been involved as a Carer Inspector, agreed that this aspect has improved and that she now receives an analysis of all the surveys returned but receives details of every comment made and is asked what areas interest her before they schedule her involvement in inspections.
Several members of the group noted that they had previously responded to a call from SWIA looking for service user inspectors but that this had not been progressed and asked Marc Hendrickson what they way forward was for service user involvement. Marc noted that he could not answer this question at the meeting as it needs to be discussed further at SWIA and the direction of each inspection is largely determined by the results of approx 1500 surveys and reading a minimum of 100 case files. He agreed to take this issue back to SWIA and to discuss further and to feed back to the group for the next meeting in November and group members can then pass on the information to their networks.
John Dow told the group that he had met recently with Brenda Gillies from the SSSC about Scottish Voices being involved a forthcoming workshop in March 2008 where each university and learning network will be invited to give a short presentation showing best practice in how they involve service users and carers. John noted that the planning is at an early stage and following on from the next planning meeting, information will be distributed and invitations issued. James McKillop noted that this would not include social care workers who are mainly educated at FE colleges and Wendy Laird noted that the Learning Networks should be fulfilling this role as they offer seminars which bring in care providers, colleges, etc.
John Dow also informed the group that he had been to the first planning meeting for a planned workshop on reward and recognition for service users and carers which will highlight the Department of Health paper on Reward and Recognition, will look at the key issues and challenges and will identify areas for lobbying and action. The workshop will assume an attitude of being 'in it together' and will invite representation from a large number of varied organisations. It was noted that reward and recognition does not always need to involve a cash payment but that, if it does, there should be a level playing field and the universities and learning networks, etc should not be put in jeopardy. Elinor Dowson noted that it will be important to have a major service user and carer voice at this event and this was agreed. The workshop is likely to be held in February 2008 and the planning group includes people from Scottish Voices, SCLD, the Institute, SSSC and the learning networks. Further details will follow at future meetings.
John Dow noted that, due to holiday commitments, etc, Margaret McKay and Elizabeth McDade have not yet been able to work on the draft information sheet as agreed at the last meeting but that this should be available for the next meeting. Elinor Dowson also offered to be involved in this if Margaret and Elizabeth wished.
Stacey MacDonald noted that the Scottish Voices trademark had not been progressed yet as there were legal issues and advice which suggested it may no longer be necessary. Linda Walker and Stacey MacDonald will look into this and keep the group informed.
Linda Walker told us about some work that is taking place at the moment to try to look at all the areas of service user and carer involvement development and how these developments are being linked or communicated. A mapping exercise has been carried out by the Institute and by Wendy Paterson from the South East Learning Network and discussions are taking place with the Scottish Executive to look at what is going on and how the funding is being used to avoid 're-inventing the wheel'. Linda will keep the group informed about this work.
John Dow noted that Tina Miller from the Open University (OU) had invited him, on behalf of Scottish Voices, to a meeting to update us on their plans for service user and carer involvement in the OU. The OU are likely to be splitting Scotland into 3 regional networks but this is still work in progress and we will be kept informed.
We discussed how we need to improve our communications between ourselves as a management group and also with the wider networks via our website and leaflets, etc and Aman Lee also noted that we need to tell people we exist and word of mouth works best.
Elinor Dowson noted that she did not think the management group were a cohesive group and the skills of each member are still relatively unknown to each other. She feels that there is often not enough time at the meetings to get to know everybody and that this is not helping the working relationship. John Dow acknowledged that there had been some wrong assumptions made that everybody was coming from the same background and that we hadn't taken time to develop these working relationships. Aman Lee also noted that previously, the working group had been working towards one goal but that Scottish Voices now has a variety of activities to focus on.
Elinor suggested that some informal networking time may help the group and John agreed that this would fit in well at the halfway point to review what we have achieved and what we need to work towards in six months time for the first AGM. It was agreed to try and set up something before the next meeting in November which would allow for some fun time to get to know each other and some social time. Aman Lee and Mags Bryan agreed to facilitate this day and Stacey MacDonald will circulate dates and coordinate this.
Wendy Laird circulated some leaflets about a conference being held by the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit at which there will be a workshop dedicated to service users and carers and for which some free places are available for service users and carers. Wendy noted that she planned to apply to attend on behalf of Scottish Voices and that information about the event should be shared amongst our networks as it is important to put our perspective across as this is sometimes the only opportunity for professionals to hear our views.
Linda Walker noted that the Institute are also hosting a conference (PEPE) in January 2008 for social workers, nurses, teachers, police, etc about learning in the workplace and that the Institute has gained funding from the Scottish Executive to fund places for service users and carers and those who use the human services. An announcement will be made on the conference website shortly about how to apply for places and this will also be put on the Scottish Voices website.
James McKillop noted that he had recently received funding to attend the Joint Social Work Education Conference (JSWEC) in Swansea but found that many of the keynotes and workshops were not suitable for service users and carers and noted that more should be done at conferences to highlight those that are suitable. Elinor Dowson also highlighted some similar issues on behalf of some of the Dundee University carers and users group. Linda Walker noted that the Institute are currently looking at the best way to get feedback about people's experiences at JSWEC and that lessons learned will feed into the planning for the PEPE conference.
John Dow noted that things were not perfect at JSWEC this year but that they have been getting better each year and that the planning group for this event have agreed that one member of Scottish Voices can have a place on their planning group for next year. John also noted that the Chair of Advocacy in Action has been asked to facilitate a user and carer version of the Journal of Social Work and also asked about visiting Scottish Voices.
The planning group nomination for JSWEC is required by September and, given the time issues involved, Wendy Laird proposed that John Dow be the groups representative on the JSWEC planning group given his experience of past JSWEC events and this was seconded by Elinor Dowson. John thanked the group for the nomination and agreed to keep the group informed.
Linda Walker circulated copies of a draft document out for consultation on Citizen Leadership within the Executive's Changing Lives programme and asked that members circulate this within their own group. It was agreed that a direct link to the document should be added to the Scottish Voices website.
A copy of the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability's training brochure was also circulated which can also be passed around the networks and a link to their website will also be added to the Scottish Voices website.
Stacey MacDonald noted that she had prepared a draft standard reply and log of requests and actions as requested and will circulate these with the minutes for any comments. The register will need to be updated but Aman Lee noted that he and John Dow had now received training and will be taking part in his first PLQ approval panel in October.
It was noted that agreement had yet to be reached on who will pay expenses for representatives attending the SV Board as some groups had not responded. It was agreed to chase this up one more time but there was general agreement that those universities and learning networks who had offered to pay should not be unfairly penalised for this. This will be discussed again at the next meeting and agreement reached but in the meantime the Scottish Voices funds should be used to ensure members are not left out of pocket. James McKillop noted that Glasgow School of Social Work had offered a donation of £1,000 to the work of the group.
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 1st November and Glasgow School of Social Work have offered to host this meeting. Stacey MacDonald will send us directions for the Glasgow meeting in due course.