Common RAS Framework and other new publications
Last week I had the unexpected good fortune to be invited, on the off chance I was available, to have a drink and a meal with an old friend of mine who was visiting Harrogate. We had a good catch up over a tasty meal and a few welcome drinks. Having travelled to Harrogate from York by car, I decided to find a cheap hotel room and drive back home the following day.
My friend was there to attend the National Children and Adult Services Conference. I hadn’t planned to attend the Conference this year but having found myself in Harrogate, not too worse for wear, on the opening day of the Conference; I decided to change my plans and attended day 1 of the Conference.
It turned out to be one of those days you don’t see coming..........
At the Conference afternoon policy session ‘Putting People First – Supporting Deliver’ the launch of the Common Resource Allocation System Framework included a speech from self direct’s Family Carer Expert, Sarah Wood. You can read about Sarah’s own terrifying experience of this on her blog ‘this is where you will be speaking Sarah’. But my experience of the launch was one of great satisfaction of seeing Sarah up on a National platform; my heart was pounding not because of nerves but excitement and anticipation of what she would say. Sarah is someone with real life experience of how this whole agenda is changing lives and who had been a real part, as a citizen leader, in co-producing this National Guidance Document. As usual, she was the star of the show.
Many other useful guidance documents were mentioned during this sessionas, you can find them on the ADASS website.
After this launch, Sarah and I were invited back to Harrogate the following day to the launch of the new Pavilion publication ‘Personalisation – Practical thoughts and ideas from people making it happen’ - a book packed with articles by such social care pioneers as Helen Sanderson, Steven Rose, Viv Slater, Sean Lockwood and of course Sarah Wood (chapter 11!).
The launch of the book took place at the world famous Betty's and once again Sarah's speach went down a storm.
A few days well worth changing plans for!