Pembrokeshire Learning Disabilities Partnership Board

Pembrokeshire Learning Disabilities Partnership Board was set up in April 2016. Members include people with learning disabilities, parents, carers and key people from Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC), Hywel Dda University Health Board, Pembrokeshire People First (PPF) and Dewis Advocacy Service who have agreed to work together to: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Give advice and share knowledge with other key partnerships in Pembrokeshire
• Support partners to write a meaningful strategy for people with learning disabilities in Pembrokeshire, and make sure that its aims will make a positive difference to people’s lives
• Support services to deliver National policies
• Make sure that people with a learning disability have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Over the spring and summer, PCC, PPF and Mencap Cymru travelled around Pembrokeshire to speak with people with learning disabilities, their families and members of the wider community to find out what matters most to them. This information has been used to help the Partnership Board write a draft Learning Disabilities strategy that will drive services and communities to make a positive difference to people’s quality of life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Partnership Board will be asking people what they think of the draft strategy over the course of the autumn and the feedback will help the Board make sure that they truly understand what matters most to people with learning disabilities which will ensure that the strategy’s recommended actions are meaningful. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Simon Hancock, as Learning Disabilities Champion for Pembrokeshire, is pleased to see that the Partnership Board is up and running. Cllr Hancock, who is also Vice Chair of the Board has said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The development of the Partnership Board presents all partners with an exciting opportunity to support and drive the excellent work already underway in Pembrokeshire to improve services for people with learning disabilities. The work of the Board will enable us all to ensure that the wellbeing and quality of life of people with a learning disability is at the heart of service development discussions, and I will actively encourage all of our partners to work collaboratively with those who receive our services in order for their voices to be at the centre of everything we design and deliver. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We, as partners, have already made real positive progress and have begun to drive change for people living with learning disabilities in Pembrokeshire, and I look forward playing a key active role in our journey towards equality and improvement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work of the Board is still in its early stages but it has been meeting once a month while the draft strategy is taking shape. Members of the Board would like to encourage more people with learning disabilities, parents and carers to join the Board and participate in meetings and smaller working groups. The Board will be carrying out a membership campaign over the coming months, but if you are interested in finding out more or if you would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rosie Thomas, Supporting People Officer, PCC 01437 776222 / rosie.thomas@pembrokeshire.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​