The H&F Inclusive Environment Disabled Residents Team will co-produce projects and services with the council's environment department which covers a range of key service areas including public realm, public protection, climate change and transport.
The group will advise on removing barriers experienced by Disabled residents to promote better accessibility, supporting rights, inclusion, and equality of Disabled people.
The work will be based on the commitment to "Nothing About Disabled People Without Disabled People” which is a council priority to do things with residents not to residents. This work with help make that a reality by making sure Disabled people are at the heart of decisions that affect their lives.
The group will help the environment department’s projects and services work for disabled people who are furthest away from decision making and who have the least choice and control such as young Disabled people, people in institutions and those “placed” out of borough, asylum seekers and refugees, and people living with dementia.
The Inclusive Environment Disabled Residents Team has already ensured that council officers have training on the transport needs of Disabled people and advised on the location of blue badge parking bays adjacent to King Street.
The Independent Living Vision
H&F Council and local Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) have agreed a vision for independent living. Independent living means Disabled people living in the community with the same choices, control and freedom as anybody else. It means all Disabled people being treated with respect, having full opportunities, living in their own homes, choosing who they live with and where they live.
Here is a link to the Independent Living Vision statement.
Please get in touch with Ellen Barnes for a hard copy by calling: 0207 385 2098 or emailing: ellen.barnes@aod.org.uk
Who will be in the group?
- Up to 12 Disabled residents
- Assistant director of capital projects
- Assistant director of transport
- Environment department co-production champion
There will be people from other council departments and organisations as and when needed.
We will make sure meetings are held in an inclusive way so that everyone can take part.
How the often will the group meet?
The group will meet around 10 times each year and members will be paid £20 per hour for their attendance at meetings.
Who are we looking for?
- Self-identified Disabled residents who live in Hammersmith and Fulham with a lived experience of the built environment to become members of the Inclusive Environment Disabled Residents Team.
- Disabled residents who have experience in managing change and/or running projects (this could include being part of resident or peer support groups)
- Disabled residents who will make sure that Disabled residents across all impairment groups are listened to and are a part of all co-production work
- Disabled residents who will make sure that Disabled residents who face other types of discrimination in their day-to-day lives are listened to and are a part of all co-production work.
Skills and experience
To apply, we would like you to tell us about what you think you can bring to the group by giving information about your experience and/or skills of:
- life as a Disabled person
- experiences of barriers faced in the built environment and transport
- working on a project or policy change to improve people’s lives
- being able to use your skills to help develop a plan and make sure it happens
- co-production (working together) to bring about change
- being a member or having another role with a local or national Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO)
- work on committees/ steering groups that make sure change happens
- understanding of the Social Model of Disability, equality, diversity, and human rights.
How we decide who gets the role
We will choose team members using the information they provide about their experience and skills, and how strong that information is.
We want the group to include the diversity of Disabled residents in the borough in its work.
Applications will be looked at by a group including Disabled people and a council director or assistant director.
What to do if you are interested in this role
If you are interested in applying for this role, please submit up to two sides of A4 paper setting out how you meet the skills and experience points in the role profile.
Please let us know if you would like to apply for the role in a different way or format.
Please submit your application to Ruby.Jones@lbhf.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is Friday 5 July 2024.
Interviews are likely to be held on week commencing 22 July 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Ruby Jones on 07468709930 or Ruby.Jones@lbhf.gov.uk
Key terms
Residents - in this document, this means people living in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Disabled People - We use the term Disabled people to include people of all ages who experience barriers including people with different impairments, learning difficulties, mental health support needs, invisible disabilities and people with dementia. The Independent Living Vision says more about this.
Social Model of Disability - this is when Disabled people are seen as people with impairments who are ‘disabled’ by the barriers in society. These barriers discriminate against Disabled people and push us out of society. It is the way society is run and organised that is the problem, not the Disabled person.
Human Rights Way: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - this is an international agreement that the government signed up to, to bring about the full rights of Disabled people in the UK.
Self-identified: this is when someone sees themselves as a Disabled person.
Impairment - there are different types of impairments, some affect the way that a person can move and get around. Others affect how a person can see or hear. Impairments can also affect the way that a person speaks, makes decisions, or remembers things.