Consultation outcome

Manchester people first response

Updated 23 March 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/how-should-dwp-involve-disabled-people-in-changing-how-it-works/manchester-people-first-response

Answered by members of Manchester People First self advocacy group for people with learning disabilities

1. Question 7

How can the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work better?

1.1 Question 7 response

  • Accessible easy read info for ALL
  • No jargon – use plain English
  • Information in video format
  • No acronyms
  • Tell us or consult us before you make any changes
  • Speak to people
  • Do not rush things – take time if you want to do them properly
  • Get things right the first time (this will save you time in the long run)
  • Ask us – we are experts by experience
  • Do not stop or change our benefits – we need our benefits to live on

2. Question 8

What would be the best way to involve us?

2.1 Question 8 response

  • Come out and speak with us directly (this is the most important)
  • Talk to self advocacy groups
  • Provide easy read information
  • Video consultation
  • Accept feedback in different ways like braille, audio, video, paper and easy read

3. Question 9

Do you want to be involved with DWP in the future, if so why?

  • So we know what is going on
  • It is good to talk
  • We might have different/better ideas
  • We are the experts by experience
  • These changes will affect us physically, emotionally, mentally
  • It helps us to speak up
  • We have our rights and views
  • It is important to listen to us so we can help develop your service to be better

4. Question 10

Have any other organisations asked for help like this?

4.1 Question 10 response

Yes

  • GMP
  • NHS
  • Manchester NHS (local) Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
  • Manchester University/Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Health Watch (Manchester)
  • Andy Burnham (GM Mayor)
  • Manchester City Council, Partnership Board (learning disability)
  • Pathways Associates North-West Training and Development Team
  • Other self advocacy groups

5. Question 11

How could DWP make it easy to involve us to be involved in the future?

5.1 Question 11 response

  • Funding for consultation
  • Time – do not rush it, get it right the first time
  • Local consultants
  • Advertise the consultations widely
  • Face to face consultations
  • Tell us what you are doing and why
  • Tell us about the decisions you are making and why

6. Question 12

Which people or organisations should DWP talk to?

6.1 Question 12 response

  • Us – experts by experience
  • Self advocacy groups
  • Self advocates
  • MPs and rule or policy makers
  • Greater Manchester Lord Mayor
  • Parents & carers
  • People with learning disabilities
  • Advocates

7. Question 13

How should DWP make sure it thinks about what disabled people say, when it decides what to do?

7.1 Question 13 response

  • Listen to us
  • Be open and transparent
  • Be truthful
  • Show us what you have done step by step and explain why you have taken these decisions
  • Reasonable and realistic timescales
  • Talk to us (disabled people)
  • Do not rush
  • Nothing about us without us

8. Question 14

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

8.1 Question 14 response

  • We are all individuals
  • Your decisions have MAJOR impacts on our lives
  • Be open and honest
  • Mistakes can happen – own them
  • Do not change the rules without giving us lots and lots of info and notice
  • Don’t be cheap (the lowest bidder is not always the best option)
  • Listen to us and what we have to say
  • If there is help (bridging loans) tell us about them
  • Do not just stop our benefits
  • Better trained staff at Access to Work. You call one day and get one answer and speak to a different person next day and get a completely different answer
  • Named Access to Work staff member to deal with your case
  • Do not change the rules (without telling us)
  • Cheaper is not better
  • Benefits are very complicated and sometimes we get confused and sometimes we do not understand
  • Be flexible in your working
  • Work in a person centred way
  • I am a person NOT a label
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