ARC has a full time information officer, Nic Crossley, who is ready to answer queries on a range of topics related to providing a service to people with a learning disability, either by phone, email or letter.
ARC provides information to to members in a variety of ways, including:
- ARC Insight; the forntightly e-newsletter which gives news and information relevant to the learning disability and social care sectors, with links to current press articles. This newsletter goes straight to your inbox and is also uploaded to the member’s library of the website.
- Within the ARC Insight there are links to hidden pages accessible only to members these are:
- What’s New? looks at new developments in Government Policy which might affect members now or in the future, on this page you’ll be able to download useful documents and catch up on Best Practice and how the face of Social Care may be changing in the future.
- Current Consultations features the latest live consultations for the whole of the UK, including links to background information, documents and details of consultation events.
- Key Documents looks at key policy documents, reports, papers and highlights the main points in an ARC Brief saving you time. This page is useful as all the documents can be downloaded so if you wanted to read the whole thing or just scan the brief you can – it is entirely up to you!
- ARC Update; the quarterly digest of all relevant news articles from the ARC Insight available for Members at Branch network Meetings.
- Changing Perspectives is a topic-based e-zine produced six times a year featuring in-depth views on a different theme each issue. The e-zine is sent to our members by email – enabling us to include links to resources directly from the issue. Members can print hard copies if needed. Each edition offers views and perspectives, good practice together with any relevant government legislation and guidance. The aim is to provide a valuable resource that is of practical use to member organisations and their staff who provide services for people with learning disabilities. We have also introduced a ‘Member’s page’ for ARC Member organisations to showcase best practice, projects, ask us questions and display photographs (with permission of course).
- Member’s Library; a private section of the website where key documents and files are uploaded. We regularly add information and files for you to and archives of the ARC Insight and Changing Perspectives. For access to the Members’ Library contact Nic.
- Advice and Expertise; Members can contact the ARC offices for advice on all sorts of issues, mostly relating to the day to day tasks involved in managing services. Our Information Officer is always ready to pass on the queries which may require more specific expertise. Our senior staff have all worked both at the coal face and in management positions, and are more than happy to lend an ear to your problem or dilemma. In some cases, you may feel that more in-depth assistance may be required, and we will be offering a consultancy service to member organisations that require help with specific issues such as organisational strategies, training plans or staff recruitment.
For more information contact Nic.