Disability Consultation Panel Terms of Reference
The Northern Trust’s Disability Consultation Panel has been set up to actively influence, support and advise the Trust to ensure that services for all people are accessible, appropriate and equitably provided.
The terms of reference for the Disability Consultation Panel are:
- To make sure the panel is focused and sets out specific goals to be achieved
- To provide a forum to promote partnership between disabled people, both groups and individuals, and the Trust
- To influence the planning and delivery of Trust services
- To represent the views of all disabled people
- To reduce the stigma and labelling of people with disabilities throughout the Trust
- To work with the Trust to create an accessible environment for everyone
- Lead the way in encouraging best practice and excellent ways of being accessible
- Being a positive force for change in all areas of disability
- Educate staff and each other
The Panel will be an advisory group, and as such will only operate successfully if a balanced and coherent viewpoint is maintained through compromise and consensus building. Therefore, members of the panel will:
- Commit to working toward producing the optimum solutions that will assist and inform the planning process
- Work comprehensively with the panel, accommodating views that are different from their own, seeking consensus and accepting compromise to reach agreement on the issues before them
- Be open minded and consider the whole picture, not seeking to promote individual interests
- Be willing and able to make the necessary decisions and recommendations, on behalf of the panel to the Trust.
- As a representative, consult with others when providing feedback to the Trust
Disability Consultation Panel membership
The Disability Consultation Panel will have membership that ensures that all key interests are represented. It is particularly important that the panel is able to represent the views of people with a disability. The panel will review its membership as required and may co-opt others as necessary.
Chairperson
The Chair of the panel will ensure that all members are given the opportunity to express their views openly. The Chair will also be responsible for ensuring that any verbal or written submissions made by the panel reflect the views of all members.
Meetings
The panel will meet quarterly to ensure effective communication and that actions are completed within a timescale.
Agendas and notes
Information for each meeting will be sent to panel members to be received no later than seven days before the date of the meeting.
Reporting arrangements
A record of discussions and recommendations from each panel meeting will be submitted to relevant Trust divisions and officers for consideration and action if required.
