Autumn Edition We are moving!

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Shon Skinner
5 years ago
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They are working closely together with staff in Angus to develop the integration of health and social care services.

To complement all these engagement opportunities, we are also catching up with the 21st Century! We now have our own Twitter account (training will be provided) and are refreshing our Facebook page.

This would ensure that your views are represented at future meetings. CONTENTS Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Welcome We are moving!

1 Autumn Edition 2015 Newsletter Welcome to the Autumn 2015 newsletter We need carer representation on we need carers to attend There has never been a time when your views and opinions have been so proactively requested by our Board of Directors and by staff involved in developing the Third Sector Collaborative approach to charities and community groups. They are working closely together with staff in Angus to develop the integration of health and social care services. At the Centre we also want to make sure we keep you up-to-date with progress of the Carers (Scotland) Bill. To enable us to keep in touch with you and to get feedback from you, we will continue to provide the quarterly newsletter, cuppy times and meet with you at your local groups, visit you at home or in the local community. We are developing a new approach to the Carers Forum which is now called the Angus Carers Voice (see page 6 for details). To complement all these engagement opportunities, we are also catching up with the 21st Century! We now have our own Twitter account (training will be provided) and are refreshing our Facebook page. If you have an address and would be willing to be contacted by us to gather your opinions on a range of issues and to complete short surveys, please put your details on the Reply slip. This would ensure that your views are represented at future meetings. CONTENTS Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Welcome We are moving! Caring Counts, Twitter, Membership, A message from Vicky Irons, Angus Voice AGM, Crafty Carers, House of Dun, Scottish Government Trip, Male Carers, Drug & Alcohol Project Working Carers, Options Event, Moving Safely Families Programme Angus Carers Strategy Carers Week, Glenesk Retreat, Green Fingers, You are safe, Note from Editor Dates for your diary We are moving! At the Carers Day in June it was announced that after nearly seven happy years at our Fisheracre premises, we now need to relocate to larger premises. We need to do this as the number of carers we are supporting continues to grow, as does the range of caring roles these carers have and we can no longer sustain this in our current building. We will be staying in Arbroath. We are currently working towards our move to Grant Road (just down the road from our current building) and hope to be transferred there before the nights begin to draw in at the beginning of winter. We will keep you updated on progress with this and will give a more in-depth report at the 2015 AGM in September. 3 Fisheracre, Arbroath DD11 1LE Tel: Fax: enquiries@anguscarers.org.uk Website: Angus Carers Association Charity No. SC026052

Caring Counts Caring Counts is a new short course designed by the Open University and carers. It is aimed at both carers and support workers.

developed from your personal experiences and while caring.

You can choose to work towards an Open University Badge, work as a group, individually, online or off-line.

The course has been designed to be very flexible to meet carers needs and can be completed at times to suit carers. This could be a stand-alone course or the start of something bigger.

2 Caring Counts Caring Counts is a new short course designed by the Open University and carers. It is aimed at both carers and support workers. This is a reflective tool-kit for carers and will help you gain a clearer understanding of who you are, identify your personal qualities and recognise the range of skills and abilities you've developed from your personal experiences and while caring. It will also help you to look forward, to think about what you'd like to do now or in the future, and to make plans that will help you get where you hope to be. You can choose to work towards an Open University Badge, work as a group, individually, online or off-line. You can pick the parts of the course you feel are most relevant to you, work at home or join sessions held locally. The course has been designed to be very flexible to meet carers needs and can be completed at times to suit carers. This could be a stand-alone course or the start of something bigger. Whatever you choose, Andrea Cochrane, our Open University Open Learning Champion, will be available to mentor and guide your choices. Come along to the information session on Tuesday 15 September to find out more. If you d like to attend the information session, please indicate this on the Reply Slip. Andrea will then contact you with the details. If you d like to discuss the course in more detail with Andrea, then contact her at andrea@anguscarers.org.uk or give her a call at the centre on on Twitter Angus Carers have finally joined Twitter. Follow or for Angus Young For more information Grant@anguscarers.org.uk Membership Review All carers who are currently members of Angus Carers Centre will be invited to a workshop to review the role of being a member within the organisation on Wednesday 26 August The outcome of this review will be reported at the AGM in September and in the Winter Newsletter. Find more photos at Page 2 Carers Day Sportzone Family Fun Day

3 A message from Vicky Irons, Chief Officer, Angus Health & Social Care Integration Developing a Strategic Commissioning Plan for Angus Later this year, the way health and social care are delivered in Angus will change. All Adult Services provided by the Council and by Health will be brought together providing an improved and seamless service for local people. Part of the planning process for this is the development of a Strategic Commissioning Plan. This plan will show how integrated services will develop over the next three years. It will also show how the resources available to the new Health and Social Care Partnership will be spent. 6 places have been reserved for carers living in each local area Your views are sought on what needs to happen to make sure that people can remain independent as long as possible in their own homes and have choice and control over the services they receive. We also want you to tell us what needs to happen to make sure carers are supported and that they have a life outside their caring role. You can attend one of four locality-based events planned for the autumn as detailed below. It is important that you attend the event for the locality you live in. Tuesday 1 September Thursday 3 September Tuesday 8 September Thursday 10 September Panmure Hotel, Monifieth Links Hotel, Montrose Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath Queens Hotel, Forfar These are not being planned by Angus Carers Centre but if you would like to attend, please indicate as appropriate on the Reply Slip. We will then pass your name and address to Susan McDonald, Communications and Engagement Officer, Health and Social Care Integration Team, who will confirm by letter if you are to be offered a place. If you have any questions about these events, please contact Susan directly on or at McDonaldSE@angus.gov.uk Angus Voice Participation by people who use Mental Health Services in Angus A new project is starting to develop and support involvement by people who use mental health services in Angus. A way for people to feed in their experiences and views on mental health services, as part of improving how these work for the people who use them. Having a say in plans for future developments. Being a collective voice for people who have experience of mental health problems. Lots of ways for people to be heard, from regular drop in sessions at mental health services, 1-1 conversations, open space events and more. It is hoped that working with other people in Angus will raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing and help to tackle stigma. For more information on this project or you can contact Callum on Page 3

House of Dun Trip We will be arranging a visit to the beautiful Georgian House and formal gardens in October. We have been working with staff at the House of Dun.

4 Annual General Meeting Angus Carers Centre 2015 AGM will be on Thursday 24 September from 10.00am 12.00pm at the Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath. If you would like details of the agenda nearer the time, please indicate this on the Reply Slip. House of Dun Trip We will be arranging a visit to the beautiful Georgian House and formal gardens in October. We have been working with staff at the House of Dun. One of the outcomes is that they will provide complimentary tea or coffee in the Tearooms when we visit as a group. If you like to join us for the trip, please indicate this on the Reply Slip. We will then contact you with the date and time to find out if you are available. Male Carers Support Graham Scott has started to meet with male carers, of all ages, and is working towards developing regular group meetings. The carers he has spoken to so far have put forward great suggestions for activities and outings. These are now being developed into a programme for the autumn and winter. However, Graham is always keen to hear of your ideas as well. If you would be interested in joining the group, please indicate this on the Reply Slip. If you would like more information about the group then give the Centre a call. Trip to the Scottish Parliament Thursday 29 October A visit to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, hosted by Graeme Dey MSP, has been planned for carers. We will travel to Edinburgh by coach and get a behind the scenes tour of the Parliament building with Graeme. A light lunch will be provided and also an opportunity to pose any burning questions to Graeme. If you would be interested in attending, please indicate this on the Reply Slip and we will contact you in due course with further details. (Closing date for this trip is Wednesday 9 September.) Crafty Carers A new 8-week session of Crafty Carers starts at our Centre on Wednesday 16 September from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Come along and learn some new crafting skills, show off skills you already have and enjoy a cup of tea and a chat with other carers. Beginners welcome. Drug and Alcohol Project We offer specific support to carers who are affected by someone s alcohol or drug problem. This can include information, practical advice on coping, signposting to other agencies, contact with other carers who are or have been in a similar situation, support and a listening ear. If you would like to find out more about this service please contact Belinda or Allie at the Centre. Working Carers Group At the next Working Carers Group on 18 August, Barbara Maguire from Dundee Carers Centre will be telling us about Direct Payments and how carers can access advice and support if they re thinking about this option. We ll also be discussing Self-Directed Support (SDS). As always, meetings are held in the Carers Centre from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. These are open to all carers who are working in full-time or part-time employment or are self-employed. If you need any further information or would like to attend future meetings, please Linda Davis on linda@anguscarers.org.uk or phone on Page 4

5 Angus Carers Centre are organising another of our popular Options events on Thursday 27 August. Options events are open to any carer who is exploring their choices in life: perhaps going back to education, thinking about volunteering or going into work. We bring together specialist agencies that can offer advice on managing budgets and how to cope financially through a transition stage: updating IT skills: current job searching techniques: training opportunities, etc. The event is at the TET (Towards Employment Team) at 61 Marketgate Arbroath. During the morning we will be walking the short journey to Arbroath Job Centre, where carers will be shown the computer terminals that anyone can use to access job information. TET have a great Options Event deal of knowledge of training and funding opportunities to help any age group get into employment or retrain and this may be especially helpful to young adult carers who are still making decisions about their future employment. Other agencies present will be DEAP Steps to Success project, which also helps with work readiness and CAB ADAPT project, which deals with budgeting and financial issues. The day will start at 10.00am with coffee and will end by 1.30pm after a light lunch. If you d like to register your interest for this event, please indicate on the Reply Slip and we ll write to you to confirm whether or not you have a place. If you d like more information, please contact Linda Davis at the Centre on or linda@anguscarers.org.uk. Moving and handling the person you care for Common carers' injuries The most common injuries carers experience are back injuries. Injuring your back could limit your movement and your ability to care for someone. It could take a long time for you to recover. Lifting someone incorrectly can also damage fragile skin, cause shoulder and neck injuries, increase existing breathing difficulties, or cause bruising or cuts. We would like to find out more about what you would like extra support/training with Please complete the short survey enclosed with this newsletter and return it in the freepost envelope provided. This will help us plan the best response for you. It may be possible to provide some training in your own home or in groups at a local venue. After we have received the result of the survey will get back to you with proposed training options. Families Programme Update Hello! Gail Henderson here, I just wanted to introduce myself to those of you who don t already know me as the Carer Review Worker because I am now working with Lynne Kelly on our Families Programme as a Development Worker. The Programme continues to go from strength to strength. It is designed to offer social activities to families who have children with a disability or additional support needs and we have continued to get excellent feedback from parents regarding the events we have already held. We are, as I write this, over half way through our Summer programme, continuing to run Sportzone sessions in Arbroath and Forfar, additional Hydrotherapy sessions in Dundee as well as holding a Fun Swim Session at the Arbroath Leisure Pool in July. All events for the remainder of the Summer programme are fully booked, however, we are currently working on the Autumn/Winter schedule of events and will contact parent carers who have registered, or are in the process of registering for the Families Programme, directly with more details. If you care for a child under the age of 18 and would like to find out more about the Families Programme, please contact lynne@anguscarers.org.uk or gail@anguscarers.org.uk Page 5

6 Angus Carers Strategy In our spring 2015 newsletter we invited carers to attend one of our local sessions to discuss the impact of the Angus Carers Strategy on their caring role. We held five groups with a total of 47 carers attending, from the ages of 24 to 80. People shared their experiences of being a carer in Angus within the context of the outcomes in the strategy Outcome 1 Carers are recognised and supported as key partners in the planning and delivery of care. Outcome 2 Carers are supported to have a life outside of caring. Outcome 3 Carers health and mental wellbeing is improved. Outcome 4 Carers financial needs are addressed. Outcome 5 Carers needs are fully assessed and appropriate ongoing support is offered. The issues raised reflected the topics currently being debated though the legislative stages of the Carers (Scotland) Bill e.g. National Eligibility; Short Breaks; Carer Assessments and Support Plans. There was a strong emphasis at all the meetings about carer identification, am I a Carer? One carer described her caring role as creeping up on her. The challenge for us all is how to get people the support they need when looking after a family member or friend when they don t recognise themselves as being a carer. Ideally this would be before they reach a crisis point which could impact on their own physical and mental health. Carers felt strongly that a solution would be to include them and their experiences in training staff within the statutory and voluntary sectors across Angus. This would be crucial to health and social care services staff to enable them to identify carers, to understand more about the caring role and help them to access support. A full report of these meetings is available on our website. If you would like a copy sent out, please indicate this on the Reply Slip. What next? Carers will now continue to work together with staff from NHS Tayside and Angus Council to begin to develop a new carers strategy for At the end of the local meetings it was agreed to bring everyone who attended together to discuss forming an Angus Carers Voice Group. As this will be an open group which will meet every 6 8 weeks, carers who could not make the first round of meetings are invited to get involved at any stage. The next meeting will be on Wednesday 19 August 2015 from 11.30am -1.30pm in the Canmore Room, Municipal Building in the centre of Forfar. If you like to attend this meeting or would like to receive further updates on the Angus Carers Voice Group, please indicate on the Reply Slip. Page 6

National Carers Week Over 100 carers spent the day at Carnoustie Golf Club Hotel on Wednesday 10 June to celebrate the National Carers Week and to highlight that No-one should have to care alone.

Once again the highlight of the occasion for most carers was having the day to themselves, having fun, enjoying a lovely meal and meeting friends (old and new). Green Fingers and Blue Toes!

7 National Carers Week Over 100 carers spent the day at Carnoustie Golf Club Hotel on Wednesday 10 June to celebrate the National Carers Week and to highlight that No-one should have to care alone. The sun shone as carers got busy with all of the workshops on offer. Once again the highlight of the occasion for most carers was having the day to themselves, having fun, enjoying a lovely meal and meeting friends (old and new). Green Fingers and Blue Toes! We held a Garden Party in July to celebrate all the hard work at the Fisheracre Garden by our Carers Garden Group this season. Over forty hardy souls enjoyed the outdoor games and strawberries & cream on a typical Scottish Summers Day. Glenesk Retreat Trip Over 30 carers enjoyed spending the day at The Retreat at the beginning of June. Here are the reasons the carers said they came along: To be able to get away and relax and spend the time 1-1 with my Mum Day out with daughter and a break from caring for us both A day out in the countryside in late spring what better excuse? Read about it in Newsletter and it was a change being driven instead of driving everywhere A day away and haven t been there for a few years To enjoy the views and the museum Just to be away from home for a period 81% of the carers strongly agreed and 19% agreed that they had enjoyed time out from their caring role and enjoyed meeting with other carers. A note from the Editor Our registered carers are very welcome to attend all trips and activities. Friends and Family can only attend events where an exception to this is stated. If you are a carer and would like to register with Angus Carers Centre, please contact the centre for a referral form. Who is a carer? Carers can be wives, husbands, partners, parents, daughters, sons, friends or neighbours who look after someone of any age who may have: a physical disability a medical condition a learning disability mental ill health or dementia a dependency on alcohol or drugs You are safe in our hands The Angus Carers Centre Team recently completed a refresh of their first aid training skills. Whilst we hope that you remain hale and hearty when you are with us at your group activities and programmes, you can rest assured that we are fully equipped to deal with any wee mishaps. Many thanks to Claire and Peter from CDP Training for providing such an excellent training course. CPD (a local training company) is currently planning a Family First Aid Workshop. If you would like us to pass on details of the course when they become available, please indicate on the Reply Slip. We will then arrange a training course for carers later in the year. Page 7

8 Diary of Events Date Wednesday 26 Aug Thursday 27 Aug Tuesday 15 Sept Thursday 24 Sept Thursday 29 Oct Event Membership Review (members only) Options event 10.00am 1.30pm TET, 61 Marketgate, Arbroath Caring Counts Information Session Angus Carers Centre Annual General Meeting 10.00am 12.00pm Meadowbank Inn, Arbroath Scottish Parliament Trip Edinburgh SDS Drop-ins 1.30pm 3.30pm Angus Carers Centre (Second Thursday of the month) Thursday 13 August Thursday 10 September Thursday 8 October ADAPT Appointments 10.00am 12noon Angus Carers Centre (First Thursday of the month) Thursday 3 September Thursday 1 October Thursday 5 November Carers Cuppy Times 10.30am 12.00pm Thursday 27 Aug Thursday 24 Sept Thursday 29 Oct George Hotel, Montrose Queen Street Tavern, Forfar The Stables, Brechin Carers Groups ARBROATH 10.30am Angus Carers Centre 14 Sept 12 Oct 9 Nov BRECHIN 2.00pm Brechin Baptist Church 27 Aug 24 Sept 22 Oct FORFAR 10.30am VAA 2 Sept 7 Oct 4 Nov KIRRIEMUIR 10.00am Age Concern Hall 25 Sept 30 Oct 27 Nov MONIFIETH 2.00pm Milton Inn Monifieth 27 Aug 24 Sept 22 Oct (Note change of venue) MONTROSE 2.00pm George Hotel 24 Aug 28 Sept 26 Oct AUTISM GROUP 9.30am Angus Carers Centre 19 Aug 16 Sept 21 October Queen Street Tavern, Forfar 2 Sept October trips and events to be arranged WORKING CARERS 6.30pm Angus Carers Centre 18 Aug 27 Oct DRUG & ALCOHOL Kirriemuir 19 Aug 2 Sept 16 Sept 30 Sept 14 Oct 28 Oct SMART F & F VAA, Forfar 12 Aug 26 Aug 9 Sept (Self Management & Recovery Training for Family & Friends) 23 Sept 7 Oct 21 Oct Every effort is made to ensure that the information in this newsletter is correct. Angus Carers Centre can accept no liability for errors and omissions and cannot recommend products or services. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Angus Carers Centre. Please note As an organisation that holds information, we are required by law to ask those who are on our mailing list if they still wish to receive regular mailings. If you do not wish to remain on our mailing list or if the information we hold on you is incorrect, please contact us so that we can make the necessary alterations.

Community Transport Since Jan 2015 Voluntary Action Angus has received 103 requests for

Community Transport Since Jan 2015 Voluntary Action Angus has received 103 requests for Welcome to the VAA Community Bulletin Page 1 Friday 15 th May 2015 Health and Social Care Make an impact through volunteering The Health and Social Care Integration approach is being used in Angus and