NOTES ON WM REGIONAL CARERS’ NETWORK MEETING
Tuesday, 25 April 2017
9.30am-12.30pm
Impact Hub, Walker Building, 58 Oxford Street,
Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5NY
Present:Safina Mistry (Chair)
Beverley Stevens
Fran Zain
Lesley Johnson
Louise Berry
Melinder Kaur
Belinda Brown (Notes) / Apologies:
Charles Ashton-Gray
Janice Price; Jill Tiernan
Tracy Simcox; Nicola McGregor
Paula Stanley (via Suzanne Lawlor)
Paul Calder; Julie Parfitt
No. / Item / Action
1. / Welcome, Introductions and Apologies
Safina welcomed members to the meeting, introductions were made and apologies noted as above.
2. / Commissioning Centre of Excellence (CCoE)
Safina explained that it was crucial to have consistency in Charles Ashton-Gray, Fran Zain and Parveen Mercer attending these meetings. Fran informed thatshe and Charles were the reps, but she would consistently attendfuture Network meetings.
3. / Notes of the Previous Meeting - taken by Safina (28 March 2017)
The Notes were approved but with one amendment:
To be read as:
“Carers survey: update shared – most reported a slight reduction on ASCOF scores, with some difficulties re comparisons against 2014”. Not: “Carers survey: update shared – most reported a slight reduction on assessments”.
4. / Matters Arising
Academic Network
Safina to contact the Academic Network to explore further. Safina reported that Academic Network would be discussed at this meeting.
ADASS Website
Safina requested Belinda to confirm that Network documents are placed on ADASS Carers Website. Belinda to action. / BB
5. / Tools
Safina recapped on the Tools discussed at the ADASS meeting held on 28 March. There was a detailed discussion regarding various Tools and their usefulness.
In terms of Risk Tool, Beverley suggested an online carers’ checklist to be completed by web users, to help them decide the next step. For example, whether they need an assessment, information and advice.
Safina reported that she had had an initial discussion with the Academic Network, and they were keen to work with the ADASS Network. Before pursuing further discussions, however, Safina pointed out that it would be useful for each Network member to let her know “what they would like the Risk Tool to do”. There was a brief discussion, and the following noted:
It will be called the “Development of the Carers Risk Checklist”. In the light of this, Safina asked members of this meeting to start thinking about the information that will be sent to all 14 Local Authorities, namely:
- Risk Tools.
- What is the purpose of the Tools?
- How do you think they will be used and by whom in your current work?
- What format would you like the Tools to be used in?
6. / Birmingham Commissioning Update (Fran Zain)
Fran updated on Birmingham Commissioning as follows:
- Leads for the Commissioning of the Carers Hub contract are Charles Ashton-Gray and Fran.
- Have taken over theBirmingham Carers Hub (Consortium Providers). Have contract for a further year.
- Fran explained Carers Hub and Pilot carried out re Carers Assessments. She is to have further talks with Julie Parfitt regardingthe future of the Carers Assessments being carried out by the Hub.
- Fran explained the Consultation processes for the Carers Grant.
7. / Carers and Select Committee Report (Beverley Stevens)
Beverley reported that she had sent an email to the Group on 20 April, re Carers and Select Committee Report, for this meeting. There was a brief discussion and the following noted:
- Beverley developing Carers Strategy. However this Strategy is on hold, pending the publication of the National Strategy.
- Safina tabled a paperat this meeting entitled: “Support for Older People: The Impact of the 2014 Care Act. Phase 1: Review of Information on Support for Carers on Local Authority Websites in England”. (The Research was conducted by the NHS National Institute for Health Research and The University of Bristol).
- Group to action: Safina asked members to action the following, in connection with the above-mentioned paper:
- To check that there is a Carer Page and making sure it is updated.
- To provide Webpages dedicated to carers.
- To ensure information for carers on the Local Authority Website is compliant with the 2014 Care Act and that all of out of date information is updated or deleted.
FZ
8. / Any Other Business
a)National Strategy
Department of Health
Safina informed that she had been at a recent Department of Health meeting and met a DoH representative; they spoke briefly about the Carers Strategy. The Carers Strategy has been delayed but the suggestion was the key headings had been shared, which should help to shape the direction of the Strategy. Safina also mentioned that she would like to have a further meeting, but this would be after the Purdah period.Safina to action.
b)Public Health and Health Care
Safina updated regarding Public Health and Health Care, and a Self-care Project. She queried whether it would be useful to “bring in Search Engine/Webpage and establish how this would work for carers”. The Group felt it would be worth looking at this. Safina to pursue this further.
c)Slow Shopping Campaign
Beverley informed about the Slow Shopping Campaign on offer to vulnerable people such as the elderly, including those with dementia. The Campaign is being piloted in Tyne and Wear, including Newcastle. Beverley stated the following:
Please see additional details on Slow Shopping via:
Supermarkets participating in the scheme are:
Sainsbury’s Gosforth
1-7 The Gosforth Centre
Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE3 1JZ
Slow Shopping Hours: Tuesday, 1.00pm-3.00pm
M&S (Marks and Spencer) Kingston Park
Kenton BAR, Kingston Court Retail Park
Kingston Park Ave
Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 2FP
Slow Shopping Hours: Tuesday, 8.30am-11.00am
Safina informed that she would be contacting the Regional Marketing Lead for Sainsbury regarding Slow Shopping, in order to find out whether the scheme would be rolled out to the West Midlands.It was generally felt that this was not a priority, however, it would be helpful to obtain more information. Safina to action for July. / SM
SM
SM
9. / Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting
(The meeting scheduled for 23 May was cancelled).
The next meeting will be held on 27 June 2017, at 9.30am, at Impact Hub, 58 Oxford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5NY. / Group
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