Delivering the LA Charter in Cornwall

Cornwall County Councilwas one of the first Councils in the country to sign EDCM's Local Authority Charter and has found innovative ways to monitor progress against its delivery.

Councillor Terry Lello, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, signed the Charter on behalf of the Council in December 2006.  Since then she has played a leading role in working with officers and parents on delivering its nine points.

Cllr Lello says: 'There is considerable evidence that children with disabilities and their families suffer a number of disadvantages compared to other children. In Cornwall every child really does matter and we need to do all we can to ensure that children with disabilities have the same opportunity to succeed. I am determined that this will be the case and I am delighted with the progress we have made in last months, particularly in the area of parent participation.'

The County Council's Every Disabled Child Matters Charter programme is being led by Steve Colwill, Assistant Director for Cornwall's Children's Services Authority.  Progress in meeting the aims of the Charter is being closely monitored through the use of a traffic light system.  The Council has already achieved 'green' for its work in encouraging parent participation with the success of the Parent Carer Council for Cornwall praised nationally as an example of good practice.

Steve Colwill said: 'Members of the Parent Carer Council for Cornwall have been working with a number of agencies and organisations, including the local voluntary befriending organisation Face2Face and Cornwall's Family Services to ensure that children with disabilities and their families have access to the most flexible, efficient packages of care and that best use is made of the resources available. This has included designing more flexible child care services or increasing the availability of flexible short break provision.'

The Parent Carer Council for Cornwall has been involved in a number of successful local campaigns.  The most recent included working with the Primary Care Trust to provide wheelchairs and buggies for children with disabilities.

Sandy Lawrence, representative on the Parent Carer Council, said: 'Some children had been refused equipment because they did not fit an outdated criteria which required use both indoors and outdoors. By working in partnership with the PCT, the Parent Carer Council managed to secure a sum of money to provide equipment for children who do not meet the criteria.  So far this year 12 children have received equipment who would previously have been refused.'

'This shows that the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter really does have the potential to change the quality of life for children with disabilities in Cornwall.'

More from EDCM: Information on support available from Cornwall County Council