Archive for September, 2009

Business as usual for LINks Exchange

As reported in August, the National Centre for Involvement has now closed. But the service to local LINks provided by the LINks Exchange is now being run by NHS Choices and is continuing to operate as normal and provide a service to people representing the users of Health and Social Care services.

In preparation for the closure of the NHS Centre for Involvement at the end of August, all the LINks related resource materials they have produced for the Department of Health have been reviewed. The review identified a range of materials which remain valuable in supporting LINks and these have been retained and refreshed to take account of policy developments and have been re-branded with the LINks identity.

These documents form the NCI legacy and include materials such as the LINks Guides, the Early Adopter Project reports and materials from all NCI Directorates which supported LINks.

Useful Advice and Guidance Still Available

All of these legacy materials are available on LX network in the ADVICE AND GUIDANCE section of theResources. You will need to register to see them, but this is a simple process and anyone can register. Just visit the LINks Exchange website.

New Protocol on LINks and Foundation Trusts working together

The Foundation Trust Network and the Department of Health have produced a short protocol setting out the different roles and responsibilities of LINks and NHS Foundation Trusts (FTs) for involving the public. The protocol explains how LINks and NHS FTs might work together to maximise impact and minimise duplication of effort.

The protocol is available in the Resources section of LINks Exchange.

Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton are looking for a volunteer to take part in their regular inspections.

These are called Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) inspections and assess a range of factors including standards of maintenance, décor, furnishings and cleanliness to help bring about improvements to the patient environment.

At Queen Mary’s, we carry out 3 “mini-PEAT” inspections and one PEAT inspection every year through a group called the Patient Environment Action Group (PEAG). The PEAG meets every 3 months, and volunteers will be expected to take part in each meeting and inspection (i.e. 8 sessions per year).

We are looking for volunteers who have a keen interest in the patient environment and experience, and are able to report back to the LINk (verbally and in writing). We will cover all expenses that you incur when taking part in this role and can provide additional support in the form of basic training (giving background on PEAT inspections).

The deadline for submission is the 2nd October, applicants to supply a short personal statement (no more than 200 words).

If you are interested in this opportunity please contact Tom Magill on 0208 812 7642 or Tom.Magill@wpct.nhs.uk.

The LINk Executive will be meeting at 6 to 8.30pm at the Best Western Lodge Hotel 52-54 Upper Richmond Road, Putney SW15 2RN.

Amongst the 12 items down for discussion, will be the updates from the five sub-groups. Three papers set out matters for discussion/ decision. The executive members will be discussing the topic of democracy and the LINk, followed by looking again at the options on payments for volunteers and finally they are asked to agree the new Wandsworth LINk strapline.

The agenda as well as all the papers can be found via our LINk meeting minutes page.

The Wandsworth Carers Conference – for those who look after an adult in Wandsworth and are not paid for the care they give.

10.30am to 3pm Tuesday 6th October at the Civic Suite Wandsworth High St., SW18 2PU

The LINks will have a stall at this event where Carers are invited to come and have a ’speed date’ with the people responsible for providing support and services for carers in Wandsworth. These senior professionals from the Council, Health and Mental Health Services will be there to answer your questions about the plans they have made for action and improvement in these area.

National Carer in Chief will be there

Dame Philippa Russell Chair of the Government’s Commission for Carers will be there to give the keynote address.

Free lunch, Entertainment and Other Treats

Meet your fellow unpaid carers and don’t forget to come and tell us what we should be saying on your behalf to the bigwigs. No need to ’speed date’ us – we’ll be sticking around.

Wandsworth’s Carers’ Strategy

Back in July we posted an item telling you about the new Carers’ Strategy consultation being undertaken in Wandsworth.

There are some 19,000 carers living in Wandsworth and the new Carers’ Strategy will cover how the statutory and voluntary agencies will help carers over the next 5 years.

At that time, Wandsworth LINk welcomed the initiative of the Adults Services Department to begin a dialogue about how to extend involvement and engagement of service users and is keen to work in partnership to implement the proposals. We fully support of the values and philosophy underpinning the Adult Services User Engagement and Involvement Strategy.

Our Response

We have now published our response to the Strategy and you can see it in the Resources Section of the website as the LINk Response to Consultation on Wandsworth’s Carers’ Strategy (PDF). Our response is based on the content of the Strategy and Action Plan documentation, the views expressed by 25 people who attended the two consultation meetings and anecdotal evidence from carers who have approached LINk. Thank you to all those who contributed.

LINk’s focus is on services for adults so comments are not offered about services to children and young people.

LINk recommendations for priority action

Ownership of the Strategy

The strategy is clearly a collaborative project across health and social care agencies. It would be further strengthened if ownership could be extended across all health and care commissioners and providers within the Borough.

Carer Participation

It is appreciated that this strategy was developed with the participation and involvement of carers looking after people from different user groups as well as young carers. Implementation will be strengthened with the development of specific good practice guidelines for involving an even wider range of carers, especially reaching those who need support with financial and practical problems of finding alternative care for their service user in order to participate.

From discussions about the consultation process, it emerged that Wandsworth does not currently have a data base of all carers who have received a carers’ assessment not is there a way of identifying carers via records on service users. It seems that more work could be done to identify and communicate with carers who may be unaware of what is available, even before work is done to identify carers not currently involved with services.

Information

Establish and publicize a multi-lingual help line specifically dedicated to supporting carers with an option for carers to be referred for an individual discussion.

Quality personalized care

Adopt and implement a policy whereby carers are always consulted and listened to

1. in the assessment and review of individual care
2. where services are planned to be changed or closed

Recognition and Respect

Provide carer-led training and involvement in recruitment for relevant professionals to ensure that they fully understand the vital role played by carers as partners in care and their entitlement to be involved and to have a carers’ assessment.

Good Communication

Establish a data base of carers in Wandsworth, inform them of their rights and entitlements and consult them about developments that may affect their lives.

Quality Breaks

Extend and publicize readily accessible affordable high quality respite care, including emergency respite and respite using the Crossroads model.

Health and well being

Extend and publicize counselling, support group and recreational services for carers, including provision at evenings and weekends taking into account the need of carers to find/pay for alternative care for their service user.

Economic well being

Ensure that the Carers’ Help Line can provide relevant benefits advice, debt counseling and information about employment entitlements.

NHS Wandsworth is running some diabetes focus groups in September/ October to give patients an opportunity to have their say about the diabetes services and to inform and influence future service planning.  Come along and be asked about:

1) Access:

Did you get the right information? How was the service delivered?  What was your experience of the GP service and of hospitals? Could you get to the clinic easily?

2) Attitudes of the Staff you meet – doctors, nurses, reception staff

How would you describe their dealings with staff? What effect did your relations with staff affect the service you got and what suggestions do you have to improve things?

3) Pathway of Care:

What does this mean to you? Has this approach to care improved things for you?

Anything else on your mind? Bring it up at one of the meetings. Check with the group organiser that your views will be treated in confidence and not associated with you or any other individuals in any report.

The Meetings

They will be about 2 hours long and about 6-8 people are expected at each. Snacks will be provided and travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The dates, places and times are:

1. 15th September – Balham Park Surgery – 2-4pm

2. 16th September – Queen Mary’s Hospital in the Richmond Room – 1-3pm

3. 21st September – Balham Park Surgery – 10am to 12noon

4. 22nd September – Doddington Health Centre – 10am to 12noon

5. 24th September – Doddington Health Centre – 10am to 12noon

6. 9th October – Queen Mary’s Hospital in the Barnes Room – 10.30am to 12.30pm

Sign up by contacting Sue Fleming on 020 8812 7946