Open activities
West Northamptonshire Parks Visitors Feedback Survey
West Northants Council manages over 160 parks and open spaces. Parks and open spaces provide vital opportunities for recreation, contributing to the physical and mental health of the people of West Northamptonshire as well as being important for habitats, supporting local wildlife and biodiversity. We would like to know your thoughts on certain major parks that exist in West Northamptonshire. If you would like to comment on more than one park, please complete a separate survey for...
Have your say on our plans to improve Air Quality
We have put together a new draft Air Quality Action Plan that provides the actions we will take to improve air quality in West Northamptonshire. Background Reducing air pollution is vitally important to our health and environment. All councils have a duty to monitor local air quality to make sure it meets certain standards; we monitor air quality in several locations across West Northamptonshire. Regular monitoring shows that air quality does not meet UK...
Post-16 Transport Policy Statement Consultation 2024
We would like to know your views on changes we are proposing to our Post-16 Transport Policy Statement. Background Students are required to continue in education or training until the age of 18 years, the statutory leaving age is 16. Local Authorities have no statutory duty to provide transport for Post 16 students but instead must publish a “transport policy statement” each year, setting out how they will support young adults to access education and training. ...
Consultation: Help us develop services for children, young people and families
At West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) there is lots of work happening together to review our early help offer for children, young people, and their families, and to look at how we can strengthen this work to ensure there is the right preventative support available to those who need it. Our focus on the early help offer is about how together with other organisations such as health, voluntary sector and community organisations, we can ensure families can access timely and helpful...
Public Spaces Protection Orders
Public Spaces Protection Order consultation for Jeyes Jetty Northampton
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is considering whether to renew a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to close the highway known as Jeyes Jetty. A PSPO...
Public Spaces Protection Order consultation for Dunster Street Northampton
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is considering whether to renew a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to close the highway known as Dunster Street. ...
Closed activities
Have your say on Daventry Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
We are seeking your comments and views on the draft Daventry Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. West Northamptonshire Council have worked with transport consultants PJA, who are involved in writing the Department for Transport Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) technical guidance, and we are now consulting on our own Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans which detail proposed schemes to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel, or...
Have your say on Towcester Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
We are seeking your comments and views on the draft Towcester Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. West Northamptonshire Council have worked with transport consultants PJA, who are involved in writing the Department for Transport Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) technical guidance, and we are now consulting on our own Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans which detail proposed schemes to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel, or...
Have your say on Brackley Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
We are seeking your comments and views on the draft Brackley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. West Northamptonshire Council have worked with transport consultants PJA, who are involved in writing the Department for Transport Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) technical guidance, and we are now consulting on our own Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans which detail proposed schemes to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel, or...
We asked, you said, we did
Read our responses to your feedback:
We asked
In Autumn 2023, we conducted a survey seeking views on a proposed new way of delivering activities and respite (short breaks) for disabled children in Northamptonshire. It was important that we gave as many people the opportunity to feedback via an electronic survey and through face to face sessions.
Conducted throughout October and November, the survey received an overwhelming response, with 150 individuals contributing their valuable insights and a further 134 attending the various workshops.
You said
The following sets out the key findings:
- The idea of a single referral pathway is beneficial to help avoid families having to tell their stories repeatedly.
- Any assessment that is already in place should be used for access to the short break’s services. Some respondents did want to keep self-referrals.
- Respondents agreed with the principle of reallocating funding, however, they did not agree with closing the residential short breaks unit 1 day a week.
- That daytime activities preferred included swimming, activities involving animals, cooking or musical activities.
- The need for better links with activities already taking place in communities and support for children and young people to access them.
- The need for 1:1 or 2:1 staffing, followed by secure environments and small groups to access services.
- The sleep service should not be added to the short breaks group of services.
- Sensory impairment services should not be added to the short breaks group of services.
- Adding personal care and support services to the short breaks group of services would be positive.
- That in general, respondents agreed with some parts of the proposals but not all of it.
We did
The survey covered a broad spectrum of topics allowing us to review the entire provision and receive appropriate feedback. Thanks to this, a new model of short breaks and respite will be implemented; this will consist of:
- A single referral route into the short break’s services.
- Existing assessments being used to access the short breaks services and allowing parents to self-refer.
- Residential short breaks unit reducing the bed capacity rather than closing 1 night a week; analysis shows this will still enable the need to be met.
- The Sleep Service (and budget) will not be included in the Short Breaks group of services.
- The Sensory Impairment services will not be included in the short breaks group of service.
- Consideration of adding PCaS services during the 2nd year of the contract after modelling the viability of this.
Next steps
- Commissioning the new services to be in place by November 2024.
- Complete a whole service review of the sleep service and agree a joint plan to reduce the waiting list.
- Ensure the transition from the current services to the new services are as smooth as possible to avoid any negative impact on children, young people, and their families.
To read more and see the report you can visit the Northamptonshire Childrens Trust News page