The Carers Report
Learning Difficulties Partnership Board
December 2012
/ ILF; we know that the consultation process is now completed, but carers remain anxious that the current level of support received from ILF will be reviewed by the Council and reduced to save costs. Are there any reassurances at this stage that current level of packages will be maintained?/ PIP; carers are increasingly concerned that the person they care for, who have a “indefinite” period to receive DLA will be reviewed to a lesser award in light of the Governments plans to save 3.5million. Will Health and Social Care and NHS Bristol staff be trained to understand the benefit changes and implications for current service users?
/ CHANGING PLACES; (a) Has any progress been made in having a Changing Places facility at the Council House?
(b) Derbyshire Council has purchased a mobile Changing Places facility which can be hired to have at events
where the current facilities are inadequate.We would liketo discuss thisas a need for Bristol.
(c) Is there to be a new version of the Bristol Access Guide for 2013, if sowe would request that all Changing places facilities are easilyidentified within it, with clear wording about what is available ateach venue. The 2012 guide did not hold this information and as such was not good enough for a section of the population.
/ WINTERBOURNE VIEW; Jackie Clarke attended the hearing in Bristol and has submitted a report on her findings.
UPDATE / Transformation program; I have now visited all LD Day Centres and Drop Ins potentially identifying 110 carers. Each has been sent an information pack about the Carers Support Centre and its services along with a letter introducing myself, the LD newsletter and Carers News. I have heard from 7 carers to date. I have started a rolling monthly Carers Advocacy Surgery for North, Central and South Bristol carers. The first surgery attracted 3 carers, 2 from Dovercourt & 1 from Shirelink. The second surgery is scheduled for 28th November.
Reviewing Team; I have met with Lal Heaton and Alan Flower and we have agreed that letters going out to carers to arrange review will include an invitation for support by myself and contact details to ensure that as much support as possible has been offered to carers during this process as the team plan to review finances ahead of charging for in-house services April 2013 and Carers Assessments
CLDT and staff teams, I have started to raise awareness at day centre staff meetings and community learning difficulties teams to ensure that staff know about the role of Learning Difficulty Carer Support Worker and sign post carers as and when the need arises, or to Carersline. This work will continue during the transformation program.
/ EMPLOYMENT; Keith Bates has agreed to prepare an update for Bristol carers and this will be mailed out from the Carers Support Centre in December.
I am currently liaising with Sue Kerswell from South Glos LDPB around Bristol Carers attending a Questions and Answers session with Liz Wood on ‘Presumption of Employability’ on 17th January 2013. Places are restricted to numbers and carers have identified themselves as interested through Planning for the future sessions.
Sam Radford
Learning Difficulties Carer Support & Development Worker
November 27th 2012