The Jersey dDeaf Partnership Board
The Jersey dDeaf Partnership Board was established in March 2006. This was on the recommendation that such a group should be formed from a mixed and representative Forum that widely consulted and commissioned a Report ‘Positive and Best Practise Standards with dDeaf and Hard of Hearing, Children, Young People and their Families’ (Angela Goddard and Steve McVay, October 2004). This was all related to Jersey experience; its current service provision; and the best practice guidelines, or Standards, for professionals and agencies providing services to these groups and communities.
Its main recommendation was to form a Multi-agency Partnership Board for all age groups. This was to include representation from relevant Charities, Voluntary Organisations and people who represent or experience life as dDeaf or hard of hearing people; or access services as a parent or carer to them.
The Jersey dDeaf Partnership Board is a Forum where people from various States agencies, Voluntary and Charitable organisations who provide support to dDeaf and hard of hearing people in Jersey, and dDeaf and hard of hearing people, parent or carer representatives, meet as equal members.
Its aim is to look at improving and developing services in a co-ordinated and cooperative way to increase awareness, understanding and a better quality of life. To do this, we have on our Board representatives who are dDeaf or Hard of Hearing; parents or carers to dDeaf or Hard of Hearing children and young people; and Jersey’s two Societies who represent and support dDeaf and Hard of Hearing children, young people, adults and their families.
The Board’s primary function is to provide a Forum where expertise can be shared by professionals, users and carers to formulate Joint Business Plans and Strategic medium and long term planning for dDeaf and hard of hearing people in Jersey.
Another of the dDeaf Partnership Board’s main functions is to provide a Forum for identifying good practices, service gaps and Service Developments. This Partnership encourages strategic developments through Business Planning.
The Board has no finances, which leads to joint bids for monies for projects and developments.
As an example, the Board worked on four of the agreed recommendations from the Report: Positive and Best Practice Standards (2004). These relate to improved access, information, awareness and knowledge of the needs and issues for hard of hearing, deafened and dDeaf people, their families and communities. It includes the development of an Information Directory and development of better communication awareness and support to all Islanders including hearing people and the development of communication support services.
Its main recommendation was to form a Multi-agency Partnership Board for all age groups. This was to include representation from relevant Charities, Voluntary Organisations and people who represent or experience life as dDeaf or hard of hearing people; or access services as a parent or carer to them.
The Jersey dDeaf Partnership Board is a Forum where people from various States agencies, Voluntary and Charitable organisations who provide support to dDeaf and hard of hearing people in Jersey, and dDeaf and hard of hearing people, parent or carer representatives, meet as equal members.
Its aim is to look at improving and developing services in a co-ordinated and cooperative way to increase awareness, understanding and a better quality of life. To do this, we have on our Board representatives who are dDeaf or Hard of Hearing; parents or carers to dDeaf or Hard of Hearing children and young people; and Jersey’s two Societies who represent and support dDeaf and Hard of Hearing children, young people, adults and their families.
The Board’s primary function is to provide a Forum where expertise can be shared by professionals, users and carers to formulate Joint Business Plans and Strategic medium and long term planning for dDeaf and hard of hearing people in Jersey.
Another of the dDeaf Partnership Board’s main functions is to provide a Forum for identifying good practices, service gaps and Service Developments. This Partnership encourages strategic developments through Business Planning.
The Board has no finances, which leads to joint bids for monies for projects and developments.
As an example, the Board worked on four of the agreed recommendations from the Report: Positive and Best Practice Standards (2004). These relate to improved access, information, awareness and knowledge of the needs and issues for hard of hearing, deafened and dDeaf people, their families and communities. It includes the development of an Information Directory and development of better communication awareness and support to all Islanders including hearing people and the development of communication support services.
More Details
In 2008, there was Representation from:
States of Jersey, Health and Social Services Department
Voluntary Sector
Service User Representatives
States of Jersey, Health and Social Services Department
- Speech and Language Therapy, Audiology
- Children’s Social Services
- Adult Social Services
- Social Services with dDeaf and hard of hearing Children and Adults
- Hearing Resource Centre
- Adult Education, / Highlands College
- Teacher of the Deaf / Total Communication Centre, St Clements School
- Peripatetic Teacher of the Deaf / Educational Audiologist
- Educational Psychologist
- Youth Services
- Workwise, Employment Services
Voluntary Sector
- Jersey Society for Deaf Children and Young Adults;
- Jersey Society for Deaf and Hard of hearing People
- Family Nursing and Home Care
- Hearing Resource Centre Association
- Youth Inclusion Project
Service User Representatives
- British Sign Language Users / Deaf People communicating in BSL;
- Deaf / Hard of Hearing Adults communicating in English;
- Parents of dDeaf children young people