SP RI N G issue 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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Carers Week
A day in the life of our Carer Champions
Free courses for carers
Dementia Events and local Awareness Week groups and dementiarelated courses
SPR IN G iss u e 2 0 1 5
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By signing up to the Triangle of Care membership scheme, mental health trusts must undertake rigorous self-assessments and develop action plans to demonstrate how they are involving and supporting carers as well as promoting the important role they have and further improving services for carers. The second gold star, which was achieved in a year rather than the required two years, recognises GMW’s work towards the Triangle of Care standards, commitment to ensuring carers are fully included and supported by services both now and in the future and is further accreditation of the Trust’s carerfocussed services.
newsletter of the CARE hub
Compassion And Recovery-focussed Everytime
A new Care Act
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The Triangle of Care, developed in partnership with the Carers Trust as well as people with mental health problems and their carers, aims to improve communication between those caring for people with a mental health problem and mental health professionals.
CAREhub
Newsletter for carers and their supporters (family, friends, loved ones and professionals).
We receive a second gold star for our commitment to carers
MW has become one of only four mental health trusts in the country to receive a second gold star for our commitment to the national Triangle of Care initiative.
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L-R: Rachel Thompson from the Royal College of Nursing, Jackie Marsh and Janice McGrory from Salford Royal NHS Trust, Tracy Collard and Gill Drummond from GMW with MP Hazel Blears (front row centre) at the Parliamentary reception for the Traingle of Care (dementia).
he Care Act 2014 came into force on 1st April 2015. It replaces all previous acts. The Care Act strengthens the rights and recognition of carers. It should improve access to support, enabling better planning and prevention of crises.
We have already led the way in our commitment to working with carers by becoming a national NHS demonstrator pilot site for carers where best practice from Bolton was shared locally and nationally to shape the support and information carers receive.
The Care Act introduces new responsibilities of local authorities towards all individuals. For the first time, carers will be recognised in the law in the same way as those they care for, so more carers will be assessed to establish their needs.
A carers charter and strategy has also been developed by the Trust to set out what carers can expect from the Trust’s staff and services. We have also employed dedicated Carer Support Workers to support carers both practically and emotionally and run carer awareness training for staff.
The new Act covers the impact caring has on the carer’s life: such as living arrangements, work life, education and social life. The local authority and the carer will agree a support plan which sets out how the carer’s needs will be met, for example: buying a laptop to keep in touch with family and friends, gym membership or education opportunities.
If you would like to know more about this project or if you feel your experiences as a carer could help us with this piece of work, please contact: Tracy Collard, Carer Lead, on 0161 703 1362 or email: tracy.collard@gmw.nhs.uk.
To see a list of FAQs in relation to the new Care Act, please visit www.carersuk.org
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