ARC Scotland facilitates the D + G Special Interest Group (SIG). This group has membership from service provider organisations and other agencies and individuals who are interested in ensuring people with learning difficulties have access to high quality services and to a good life in their community. The Local Authority and on occasion the NHS attend the meetings for part of the time to share information and discuss issues of mutual interest.

The group meetings are used to:

  • Work together to share good practice and live issues.
  • Provide an opportunity for working in partnership with health and social care colleagues.
  • Contribute to the strategic development planning process.
  • Improve the quality of health for people receiving support.
  • Develop and sustain high quality personalised services that promote well being, independence, resilience, involvement and inclusion.
  • Improve skills and knowledge in the workforce

Chairperson

The Forum is chaired by one of the members of the group, who is elected by Forum Members. The Chairperson is elected each year at the Annual Review meeting.  The current Chairperson is Richy Lewis, Key Community Supports and Vice-Chairperson is Sharon McMullen, Turning Point Scotland.

 

Facilitator

The Forum is facilitated by ARC Scotland team member Alice Squire. She is responsible for: organising meetings, inviting guest speakers, taking minutes, maintaining a list of members and circulating information and papers to the members and other appropriate people connected to the Forum.

 

 

 

Meeting Dates

While we can’t meet in person, Dumfries & Galloway Provider Forum are currently holding meetings on Zoom. These meetings are usually every 3 weeks.  Catherine shares the zoom meeting links and agendas for these meetings by email.

If you are interested in attending these online meetings please get in touch with Catherine.

 

      All meetings are from 10am - 1pm

Information from Meetings

ARC Scotland Report Published 2015:

SOLD Presentation

Here is the presentation given by Tony Bowman from SOLD (Supporting Offenders with a Learning Disability) about the work of SOLD and in particular their new Practice Guide for support workers – Provider Forum presentation

 

Government Policy

The Provider Forum keeps up to date with local and national information and activity around key Government policies:

The Keys to Life is the Scottish Government’s Strategy for improving the quality of life for people with learning disabilities. For more information visit: keystolife.info

Self advocates in D + G have been working on the Keys to Life. The groups have been identifying things that are working well under each of the Strategic Outcomes, and things they would like to happen. These are then fed into the Keys to Life Strategic Group, chaired by the Council. There are 2 self advocate reps on the group. The 2 individuals are also on the Keys to Life national Experts Group, so they have a communication link both locally and nationally to ensure relevant information is shared as widely as possible.

The self advocate groups are currently looking at how they can measure the difference the work they are doing around the Keys to Life priorities is making.

Please contact Catherine Dempsey for more info about local strategy and activity around The Keys to Life.

The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 places a duty on local authority social work departments to offer people who are eligible for social care a range of choices over how they receive their support. More information at:

Leaflets about the Social Work services provided by Dumfries and Galloway

The way we plan and deliver health and social care services in Scotland is changing. Legislation requiring integration of health and social care came into effect in April 2016 and new Integration Authorities now have responsibility for over £8 billion of funding for local services which was previously managed separately by NHS Boards and Local Authorities. More information at Scottish Government – Health and Social Care Integration

Locality Plans

Please contact Sylvia Crick for easy read versions of the local plans.

Dumfries and Galloway Charter Group

The group brings people with learning difficulties and others interested in creating stronger, more inclusive comments together to discuss and take action on issues of common interest.

Find out more

Provider Forums

Local networks for organisations that provide social care for people with disabilities or other support needs in eight Scottish local authority areas:

Read more about Provider Forums