Reactive Forum (Camden Council)

Reactive Forum is a disabled young people's group for those aged 13 to 18 and living in Camden.

The Forum provides an opportunity for disabled young people to have a say about what they think about services and influence strategic decision-making and service planning that affect disabled young people. The Forum also evaluates and gives views and feedback on service delivery across the Council and Children’s Trust partnership.

Types of activities they have been involved in include focus groups on health services for young people, involvement in commissioning short-break services and designing and delivering Disability Awareness training to youth workers. The forum represents the views of disabled young people in Camden and is not a support group, or one-to-one service.

Contact details

Contact Name: Catherine Andrews
Contact Position: Senior Disability Inclusion Youth Worker
Telephone: 07827 859417
E-mail: catherine.andrews@camden.gov.uk

Address

Activity location: Somers Town Youth Centre, Medburn Centre 134 Chalton Street London NW1 1RX
Address: Integrated Youth Support Service Disability Project
London Borough of Camden
8th Floor, 5 Pancras Square
c/o Camden Town Hall, Judd Street,
London
Postcode: WC1H 9JE

Time / Date Details

When is it on: 11am to 2pm.

Further details

Ward: St Pancras and Somers Town Ward
Last checked date: 26/11/2018
Record ID: 40055

Local Offer

Local Offer Age Bands: Preparing for Adult Life 14-25
School Age Children & Young People 5-18
SEN Provision Type: Targeted
Youtube Video

Where is the service located and what areas does it cover?: The service is based at Somers Town Youth Centre, which is in the centre of Camden, close to Kings Cross and covers the whole area of Camden. Transport is provided to get to the Youth Centre.
Who does your service provide for?: The Forum welcomes young disabled people with all impairments, aged 13-18. All disabilities are provided for. Young people aged under 18 come out of school (with agreement with their parents) to attend and are supported by their learning support tutors to engage in the sessions.
How can a child or young person start using the service?: There is no cost to become a member of the forum. No referral is needed – just agreement with the young person,parent and the school. Young disabled people attending the forum meetings are supported to join in and give their views.
How are decisions made about eligibility for your service?: The forum is open to young people with a learning, sensory or physical disability. Contact Mark.Bromley@camden.gov.uk for further information.
How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning?: We are currently designing a flyer for the service with the young people. Information in the sessions is tailored to the needs of the group and young people are supported to participate and give their views. For example, we use questionnaires in Photo symbols.
Is your service fully accessible?: The building is wheelchair accessible, there is an accessible toilet although no changing facilities. We have a ‘requirements for inclusion’ form to find out the needs of the individuals that attend and they are supported by their assistants to enable their participation.
What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had/or will be they be getting?: This is a specific service for disabled young people and all members of staff are trained in Disability Awareness and have extensive experience in this area. Reactive forum develops and delivers their own training. Individual staff members also have specific training such as epilepsy management and training in communication for Makaton and British Sign Language (BSL).
Who should a service user contact if they want to raise a concern or complain about something?: If a service user or parent wished to raise a concern or make a complaint they can raise it with catherine.andrews@camden.gov.uk or with their child's school.
Who can a parent carer/young person contact for further information?: Contact catherine.andrews@camden.gov.uk for further information

The Local Offer is a free and impartial service provided by Camden Local Authority. Any service or provider mentioned in this Local Offer, does not represent a recommendation or endorsement of the service or quality of the service provided. You are responsible for undertaking your own checks to determine suitability of the service and provider.