August to October 2016
CareLine The FREE magazine for unpaid carers in East Sussex
Carers Week Review Bluebell Railway Trip Have Your Say Funded by
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Contents 3 Clinics provide new way to access Occupational Therapy service 4 Southdown Ambitions 5 Phoenix Day Centre to offer more flexible service 6 Carers Week 7 Carers Week - Bluebell Railway Trip 8 Your Finances / Online Self-Assessment for Carers 9 Carers Groups & Clinics - Eastbourne, Hailsham, & Seaford area 10 Carers Groups & Clinics - High Weald, Lewes, & Havens area 11 Carers Groups & Clinics - Hastings & Rother area 12 Carer Awareness Training / Wheels For All 13 Care for the Carers AGM 2016 14 East Sussex Better Together - 100 Week Milestone 15 Make a Breakfast, Make a Difference 16 & 17 Spring Carers Forum Review 18 Carers Toolkit 19 Have Your Say
Content Flags From the ‘Have Your Say’ flag to indicate surveys and other ways of makng your views known, to the ‘Flexi Telecheck’ flag to suggest where you might be able to utilise that service to help you to attend an event, we hope that this feature will help you to find the articles you need more easily.
Flexi Telecheck
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Have Your Say
Carers Card
Healthcare Appointments Grant
Carer Training Opportunity
You may benefit from exclusive discounts through use of your Carers Card.
Event / Date for your Diary
Mobile Scannable Content
Adult Social Care Occupational Therapy (OT) are now offering OT assessments in clinic venues across the County. Our aim is to reach more people and reduce the time people wait to be seen.
Who is it for? Clinic appointments are for clients and their carers who: • Have an eligible need which can be met with simple stock equipment, minor adaptations or advice • Are able to attend the clinics • Have mental capacity and can participate in this model. Carers attending will also be offered a carers assessment as well as information and advice about back care and moving and handling. Clinic appointments are not suitable for clients who: • Have long term neurological conditions • Are bariatric • Are receiving palliative care or have a life limiting condition • Have challenging behaviour issues Note: this is not an exhaustive list: referrals will be considered on a case by case basis.
Where and when is the new service launching? We’re planning to have one clinic in each of the three CCG areas. The first clinic launched in ‘High Weald, Lewes and Wealden’ area at the Phoenix Centre in May offering 2 clinic days a week. Hastings and Rother Clinic is launching in June at the Charter Centre in Bexhill and ‘Eastbourne, Hailsham & Seaford’ will follow shortly.
How can I access the new service? Access to this new model is via the current pathways with a clinic appointment being considered alongside other assessment routes. • Professionals can make referrals through Health & Social Care Connect (HSCC); • Self-referrers and referrals from voluntary organisations should contact Social Care Direct on 0345 60 80 191. Referrals will be screened and determined if a client is suitable for a clinic appointment. Any needs that cannot be met at Clinic will be referred back to the most appropriate team.
Clinics provide new way to access OT service
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Ambitions Ambitions provides support for carers of adults in East Sussex to achieve their vocational aspirations. A skilled vocational specialist helps carers identify and achieve their employment, educational and volunteering ambitions. As well as helping them pursue their vocational aspirations, Ambitions also supports them to keep an existing job or to regain a balance between working and caring responsibilities. Steph hopes that her story will inspire others to take advantage of the service. “I am a carer for my partner who suffers from mental ill health. For a long time neither he or I even recognised that I was his ‘carer’, having been very independent he found it difficult to acknowledge that he needed my help. I also have some mental health issues and our situation was becoming out of control – we were both out of work and had started to rely on food banks to eat. My depression caused me to question whether I was helping my partner or making things worse, I became withdrawn and lost all self-confidence.
Together we completed my CV and filled in a job application form for the role of a Quality Consultant at Southdown. I attended my first interview in many years and, although I was nervous, I am delighted to say I got the job!
This is a huge step forward for me, I already feel more confident. I know I can rely on the support of the Ambitions service if I need it and that this role will be a stepping stone to move on in the future. It’s wonderful to be able to focus on Luckily I was referred to Home Works who something other than my own situation. Today’s provided much needed support. They recognised my first day, wish me luck!” my role as a carer and referred me to the Ambitions service who helped me with support, If you would like more information about the information and guidance around looking for Southdown Ambitions service, contact Paul work. Turk on 01273 405822 or 07805 811186, or by email at p.turk@southdownhousing.org
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Southdown Ambitions
Lewes Day Centre Expands Access The Phoenix Centre offer a more flexible service! The Phoenix Day Care Centre is flexing it’s criteria, in response to demand and the feedback from referral agencies and carers.
We offer up to two taster sessions, free of charge, so that applicants are able to experience a day at the Phoenix Centre. Applicants can come alone or with their carer or family, for as few or as many Whilst we will remain a service predominantly for hours as they feel comfortable with, to enjoy the those older clients with Dementia, Alzheimers and company, activities and freshly cooked lunch. those suffering the effects of a stroke, our service offer is now open to younger applicants with We can assess applicants at the centre and also in similar support needs to our current client group. their own homes, with or without a carer or family We would very much welcome referrals from or member present. on behalf of a client with an acquired brain injury, learning disability or low level mental health More information can be provided and taster days diagnosis. arranged, by calling us at the Phoenix Centre, on 01273 472 005 Welcoming new clients, particularly a little younger, will assist us give the centre a more modern approach and create a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere, as our activities will also be further developed to meet all aspects of age and need. If you know of someone who may be suitable, please do make contact with us to discuss their condition and or support needs in more detail.
How to access the service: One option is to contact and be assessed by East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care. If you meet the assessment criteria, which includes a financial assessment and are given funding, we will be informed and will agree a start date for you. The second option, if you will meet the costs yourself, is to apply to us directly.
Phoenix Centre Update
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Carers Week 2016 Carers Week 2016 was one of the most exciting to date, with a large range of events happening across the county. These included radio interviews, information stands, a trip on the Bluebell Railway, pamper sessions, and the Carers Challenge. The Carers Challenge involved a number of decision makers and community leaders visiting carers groups, not to talk, but to listen. Carers discussed the difficulties they face due to their caring roles, and those visiting were challenged to consider what they could do to improve carers’ day-to-day lives. A number of carers groups enjoyed a cream tea
together during Carers Week It was a busy week for carers organisations all over East Sussex, who were running information stands and reaching out to carers who may not yet be accessing the services available to them. The freshly printed “Are you a carer?“ scratchcards provided a new way of starting converstaions with people who are looking after someone, but don’t yet identify themselves as a carer. Look out for these at your local hospital or GP surgery!
A number of short videos were produced throughout the week, and can be viewed on the Care for the Carers YouTube channel at www.cftc.org.uk/youtube
Councillor Alan Shuttleworth (far right), seen here visiting the Embrace group, was among the community leaders who attended a carers group as part of the Carers Challenge.
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Carers Week 2016
Bluebell Railway Trip On Thursday 9th June, as part of our Carers Week celebrations, there was a special day out to the Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park. This included 24 family carers, and the people they care for who are living with dementia The event included a ride on a steam train through scenic countryside whilst tucking into a delightful ploughman’s lunch. Transport was provided for those who required it and ‘goody bags’ were given to all the carers. It was a very special, memorable, sunny day that provided a real treat for all those who came along. The outing was funded by a kind donation from the East Sussex Women of the Year, and it was organised and supported by staff at Care for the Carers. As this trip was such a success and so beneficial to those who took part, Care for the Carers will be working hard to create similar opportunities in the future. If you would like to register your interest in joining future trips please contact Care for the Carers on 01323 738390, or by email at info@cftc.org.uk.
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Your Finances Carers UK’s latest valuation of the value of unpaid care in the UK shows that the contribution of the UK’s carers is growing and is now worth £132 billion. That’s £18,000 for every carer in East Sussex. Despite their valuable contribution, East Sussex County Council know that many carers may experience financial hardship. That’s why we have made a very clear commitment to carers in East Sussex not to charge carers for services and to make sure that carers can get the information, advice and support they need directly from carers’ organisations.
Online Self-Assessment for Carers Adult Social Care has launched a new form to enable carers to complete a self assessment online. This is the first stage of a project that will allow carers and adults with support needs, as well as people on their behalf, to register and complete online forms which are sent directly to the social care team. To start your online self assessment visit the carers pages at: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/socialcare/ carers/assessment For help in completing your online self assessment, contact Care for the Carers on 01323 738390, text 07860 077300 or email info@cftc.org.uk
Benefits Advice If you live within the Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area and the Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG area you can email the Welfare Benefits Helpline at benefitseastsussex@harcuk.com If you live within the High Weald, Lewes and Havens CCG area contact Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444.
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You can also contact Carers UK on 0808 808 7777 for help and advice on a wide range of issues including benefits and other financial advice.
Your Finances / Online Self Assessment for Carers
Carers’ Groups Calendar Eastbourne, Hailsham, & Seaford August - October 2016 Carers Clinics
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Seaside Medical Centre, Eastbourne
9am - 12 noon
Enys Road Surgery, Eastbourne 1pm - 5pm
Every Thursday
Herstmonceux Health Centre
2:30pm - 4:30pm
2nd Fridays
Downlands Surgery, Polegate
2pm - 5pm
Carers Advice and Information Groups
3rd Wednesdays
Church Bailey Court, Pevensey
10am - 12 noon
4th Thursdays
St Barnabas Church Hall, Langney
10am- 12 noon
Wellbeing Groups
1st Mondays
Fusciardi’s, Marine Parade, Eastbourne 10:30am - 11:30am
3rd Mondays Care for the Carers, Highlight House, St. Leonards Road, Eastbourne
10am - 1pm
1st Wednesdays The Inglenook, Hailsham Town Council, 10:30am-12noon Market Street, Hailsham
2nd Wednesdays
Seaford House, Crouch Lane, Seaford
10am-12noon
Dementia Carer Support Groups
2nd Mondays
Milton Grange, Eastbourne
1:30pm - 3:30pm
2nd Tuesdays
St James’ Trust, Seaford
2pm - 4pm
See pages 10 and 11 for descriptions of the different types of clinics and groups
Eastbourne, Hailsham, and Seaford
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Carers’ Groups Calendar High Weald, Lewes and Havens August - October 2016 Carers Clinics 2nd Tuesdays Quayside Medical Practice, Newhaven 9am - 5pm Bird in Eye Surgery, Uckfield Hospital 2pm - 5pm 1st Wednesdays Buxted Medical Centre 1pm - 5pm
3rd Wednesdays
East Hoathly Medical Centre
1pm - 4pm
1st Thursdays
Heathfield Community Health Centre
2pm - 5pm
4th Thursdays
Manor Oak Surgery, Horam
2pm - 5pm
4th Fridays Ringmer Surgery 9am - 12 noon Newick Health Centre 1pm - 5pm
Carers Advice and Information Groups
1st Tuesdays
St. Mary’s Room, Ringmer Village Hall
10am - 12 noon
United Free Church Hall, Crowborough 10am - 12 noon
2nd Tuesdays
Carillon Cottage, Wadhurst
10am - 12 noon
3rd Tuesdays
Forest Row Community Centre
10am - 12 noon
4th Tuesdays
Heathfield Community Health Centre
2pm - 4pm
The House Project, Peacehaven
10:30am - 12 noon
Wellbeing Groups
3rd Tuesdays
Dementia Carer Support Groups
4th Wednesdays
Horder Centre, Crowborough
Carers’ Clinics: One-to-one pre-booked appointments with a Carer Support Worker, to listen to your worries or concerns, and give advice, information and support 10to carers. To book, call Care for the Carers on 01323 738390
2pm - 4pm
Dementia Carer Support Groups: Group meetings provide a safe, friendly environment - where you can be yourself and talk about dementia comfortably with others who find themselves in similar situations.
Carers’ Groups Calendar Hastings and Rother August - October 2016 Carers Clinics
1st Mondays
Shankhill Surgery, Hastings
2pm - 5pm
4th Wednesdays
Ferry Road Health Centre, Rye
2pm - 4:30pm
1st & 3rd Fridays
Battle Health Centre
9am - 12 noon
Bexhill Health Centre 2pm - 4:30pm
Carers Advice and Information Groups
4th Tuesdays
Emmanuel Centre, Battle
10am - 12 noon
2nd Wednesdays
The Bridge, Priory Road, Ore
10am - 12 noon
Mental Health Carers Groups
Last Saturdays
Carisbrooke House, St. Leonards
10am - 12:30pm
Centenary House, Bexhill
10am - 12 noon
Wellbeing Groups
4th Thursdays
Dementia Carer Support Groups
Last Mondays
St. Barnabas’ Church, Hastings
2pm - 4pm
3rd Wednesdays
St Mark’s Church Hall, Little Common
2pm - 4pm
Information and Advice Groups:
Wellbeing Groups:
Regular meetings for all carers, facilitated by Carer Regular informal drop-in groups for all carers, with Support Workers. The first half of the meeting gives input at some groups from Carer Support Workers. time to have cuppa and a chat with other carers, and the second half has a guest speaker who brings Mental Health Carers Support Groups: useful information and advice. Regular meetings for carers of people with mental11 health issues, facilitated by Carer Support Workers.
Carer Awareness Training Care for the Carers’ free Carer Awareness Training consists of a three hour interactive and informative session, which provides attendees with information about who carers are, how we can identify them, and their needs.
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Very enjoyable. Made me think more about how important our carers are to us
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Attendees are then given an overview of the support that is available, information on the Carers Card, and opportunity to become a Carers Champion for their organisation.
The next session is being run on 20th September 2016, at the Phoenix Day Care Centre in Lewes. Further opportunities are currently being planned for the Hailsham and Battle areas. If you would like to book on to a Carer Awareness Training session, or would be interested in Care for the Carers delivering training to your organisation, please contact Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 or at info@cftc.org.uk
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A Date For Your Diary Care for the Carers will be holding its Annual General Meeting on
Wednesday 28th September 2016 11 am - 1 pm at
The Kings Centre, Eastbourne, BN23 6PT If you would like to attend, please contact Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 or by email at info@cftc.org.uk
Could you join our Board of Trustees? We need people who can help direct Care for the Carers towards achieving its mission and ensure the organisation is effectively managed. You will need to be able to make a commitment to Care for the Carers and devote the necessary time; have strategic vision, independent judgement, an ability to think creatively and a willingness to speak your mind. Ideally, our new Trustees will also have skills and experience in one or more of the following areas: o Human Resources o Legal Expertise o Marketing & Fundraising o Media & Communication o Health and/or Social Care o Finance We are particularly keen to achieve a diverse Board of Trustees, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community. We will pay all trustees’ travel expenses and provide an induction into Care for the Carers’ work. Our Board Meetings are held bi-monthly in Eastbourne. Board Members are encouraged to become part of a sub-committee, but this is not mandatory. Young Adult Carers 13
Update
100-week milestone for East Sussex Better Together
The groundbreaking East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) programme that’s transforming local health and social care services has entered its 100th week. The 150-week programme was launched in August 2014 with the aims of improving and joining up local health and social care services, making people healthier and reducing costs. 2015/16 was the year ESBT shifted from planning to delivery, with a vast range of new initiatives having a transformational impact on patient experience and local services. So far ESBT has: Launched Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC) – a new phone service that’s helping people and professionals to receive the right health and social care support faster – in 2015-2016 it received over 100,000 enquiries in total. Developed six teams of health and social care professionals to work in local communities. For the first time local people’s health and social care needs are provided by one team, in one convenient local place. • Launched a new service at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust to support frail people to live independent and healthy lives out of hospital. • Launched the Health Help Now app to help people make the right choices about accessing NHS services.
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• Developed a new urgent care service model that includes the new integrated care hubs at the front of emergency departments and extends access to community-based seven-day urgent care services. • Launched a £3million programme to tackle obesity in schools and nursery schools. • Continued delivering a major programme to tackle health inequality in our most deprived wards. In Hastings and Rother, that’s included awarding £200,000 in grants to local community groups to support healthy activities, rolling out an award-winning social prescribing service for people with low-level mental health need, extensive public and stakeholder engagement to develop new health and wellbeing centres and a major focus on cancer prevention and treatment.
“We’re delighted with the transformative improvements ESBT is already delivering, The new locality teams and the Health and Social Care Connect phone service are bringing together health and social care services like never before and ensuring much more joined-up and seamless care for many local people.” - Keith Hinkley, Director of Adult Social Care and Health at East Sussex County Council
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Spring Carers Forum Review The East Sussex Carers Forums take place twice a year and explore issues that unpaid carers have identified are important to them. At these events, Carers have a rare opportunity to talk to key decision makers and have a direct influence on policy and service provision. The spring Carers Forum 2016 was held on 4th May 2016 at the International Tennis Centre in Eastbourne and was attended by 126 carers and workers from across the county. The theme was Taboo Subjects, which local carers told us was important to them. They wanted the chance to discuss difficult topics around legality, mortality, and sexuality with relevant organisations, and other carers who were in similar positions. Feedback from the event was very positive with carers and workers valuing the opportunity to meet, listen and learn from each other.
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The best thing about the forum was …meeting with other carers & listening to how they cope and also the smiles of everyone - it made me feel very uplifted in a tough time that I am going through at the moment.
One section of the ‘marketplace’, where carers could speak to workers from local organisations
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Spring Carers Forum Review
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A marketplace, full of stalls with information from a range of organisations, was very popular with carers saying it was great to be able to get the information they needed in one place.
Carers said:• they valued being able to talk about difficult subjects and that they needed more opportunities to do this • they wanted more information and support around financial issues, understanding benefits, the cost of different care options and facing end of life decisions • that their own mental health issues were not always recognised by professionals in the same way as the people they cared for • that caring for someone with mental health issues has an enormous impact on their own health and wellbeing which should be acknowledged and addressed more equally • that service providers rarely consider the impact that changes in their relationships has on their mental health. Carers valued counselling and felt more evening and countywide groups and a closed CftC Facebook page would be valuable. • they wanted more engagement with local Members of Parliament to raise the profile of their needs.
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I would like to see more events like this, a wonderful day!
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The workshops around mental health, care options, end of life planning and relationships, intimacy and sexuality were well received with carers saying they would like more of the same in the future.
Next steps The next Carers Forum is already being planned and will be held in October 2016. It will explore more of the difficult to talk about subjects that carers tell us that they’d like to explore further. What carers have said during the Forum will be shared widely and opportunities arranged to explore issues further with decision makers in East Sussex. If you would like more information about any of the issues highlighted through this forum or to get involved and share your views contact Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 or by email at info@cftc.org.uk
A full house at the International Tennis Centre for the Spring Carers Forum
Spring Carers Forum Review
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Carers Toolkit
The new Carers Toolkit is up and running!
Upcoming Courses:
The Carers Toolkit is a training programme designed by carers, for carers. Training sessions are free to carers and take place around the county.
15th August Rye Creative Centre, Rye, 11am – 1pm 26th September The Bridge, Hastings 10am – 12pm 27th September Fleur De Lys, Hailsham 10am – 12pm 18th October St. Barnabas Church, Langney 10am – 12pm
Carers can choose to attend one or a series of training modules on different subjects which aim to equip them with skills and information on a wide range of caring issues, improve health and wellbeing and ensure carers have improved knowledge of the support services available to them. Our Mindfulness course is now fully booked and we are happy to say that we hope to run a further course in Autumn so watch this space! We are also planning a cookery course, details are coming soon. If you are interested in any of the above and would like further information please contact Hazel on 01323 738390 or email hazelo@cftc.org.uk
First Aid
Tai Chi
10th August Peacehaven 10am – 12pm 12th September Rye Creative Centre 11am – 1pm 17th October Heathfield 10am – 12pm 24th October Hastings, 10am - 12pm 25th October Hailsham 10am – 12pm
Back Care
30th August Hailsham 10am – 12pm 10th October Rye 11am – 1pm
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Carers Toolkit
Have Your Say This is your opportunity to have a voice on local and national issues affecting carers. Care for the Carers encourages all carers to share their views on key issues and have a say in improving services and support for Carers. We regularly consult with the Carers Voices Network on many different issues, recent opportunities included a trip to Westminster to meet with MPs, road testing the new online Carers’ Assessment and a survey about dementia care. You can chose what to get involved in and how much time you can spare. It may be a day of your time at a Carers Forum or it could be an online survey that takes 15 minutes, it’s your choice. If you are interested in having your say and would like us to inform you of any future opportunities, please complete the slip below or contact Debbie Reid at debbier@cftc.org.uk or by phone on 01323 738390. We look forward to hearing from you.
I’d like to be part of the Carers Voices Network Name Address
Postcode Telephone Email
Please complete & post this form to our FREEPOST address: Care for the Carers, FREEPOST RTAC-GURC-XUJC Highlight House, 8 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UH 19
Contact Us
Care for the Carers
Telephone: 01323 738390
www.cftc.org.uk
Email: info@cftc.org.uk
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