A Vibrance Staff Member Shares Expertise in Health Charter Publication
Vibrance has been featured in a guidance document, after a staff member shared her expertise at a national event.
Jean Jay, Director of Development at Vibrance, was first invited to speak at the launch of the ‘Health Charter for Social Care Providers’, held in Newcastle in 2014, and recently at the launch of the refreshed practice guidance in September 2015.
People with learning disabilities experience poorer health and die younger than people in the general population. Many of these health issues are preventable, meaning that people with learning disabilities experience health inequalities.
The Health Charter was co-produced with providers, commissioners, self-advocates, carers and health staff. The charter provides a self-assessment framework and guidance for organisations to work through and build their practice upon.
Drawing on her own experiences, Jean was able to talk about why organisations should sign up to the charter, and the importance to see, value and respect each person supported as an individual.
Jean said: “It was a great privilege to be invited by the National Development Team for inclusion (NDTi) to speak on behalf of Vibrance, on the importance of improving the health and lives of people with learning disabilities.”
“Vibrance believes the introduction of the health charter offers the opportunity to underpin practice that is already expected from our staff, providing a tool and reference point for staff to use when speaking to health care partners. We have been able to share our experiences with local authority Learning Disability Partnership Boards, therefore giving the opportunity to raise the profile of the health charter for wider impact.”