Ystradgynlais Carers Challenge: a Coproduce better communication between and from services Facilitated by Powys Carers Service 22nd May 2015, Ystradgynlais Listen Plan together Deliver together Community Hospital Supported by range of partners (see inside)
PURPOSE OF THE EVENT Ystradgynlais Carers Group have highlighted that they have many challenges with the services that they and the people they care for access. Of all the challenges the one they have decided to focus on first of all is communication between and from services. This, they feel, will: Empower Carers and the Cared for to have the information to be able to make best use of services. Support the early intervention and prevention agenda. Save money for services. Lead to better services and support the wellbeing of Carers and the people they care for. To achieve these outcomes, the Carers Group invited a range of stakeholders to co-produce an Action Plan on 22 nd May 2015. It is anticipated that if everyone does their bit to progress this challenge, change will be achieved over time. Stakeholders will be invited back to Ystradgynlais in 6 months to a year; the idea being that we each focus on action, then come together to share progress, learning and co-produce an even better action plan for the following year etc. PRESENT AND APOLOGIES Ystradgynlais Carers are delighted that people travelled from all corners of Powys and beyond to support their challenge; furthermore Carers made special arrangements to ensure replacement care to relieve them of their caring duties in order to be able to contribute to the event. PRESENT Owen Judd, Carer John Nicholl, Carer Kirsty Williams, Assembly Member Meiriona Davies, Carer, Lisa Rapado, Carer and National Austistic Society. Dawn Docherty Adult Services at Powys County Council Pauline Lyddon, Carer Pam O Connor, Carer Carl Cooper, PAVO Mary Morgan, Carer Julie Skelton, Carers Wales Yvonne Bufton, Age Cymru Powys Wendy Williams, Carer Gill Colerick, Hafal Jenny O Hara, Powys Carers Service David Harris, Carer Caroline Bull, Carer and Ystradgynlais Volunteer Bureau. Maxine Oliver, Powys Carers Service Kath Nicholls, Carer Heather Parry, CYPP, Powys County Council Lucy Taylor, Powys Carers Service Margaret Hemmings, British Red Cross Paul Press, British Red Cross Ingrid Bernathova, Crossroads. 1
APOLOGIES Carol Shillabeer, Powys teaching Health Board John Coombes, Ystradgynlais Access Group ALSO INVITED: Ystradgynlais Town Council, Cllr. Huw Williams, Gwalia Housing, Ystradgynlais Communities First. CO-DESIGN EVENT FORMAT 1. Informal introductions 2. Meiriona and Owen talked about their experiences as Carers and the frustrations they encounter with communication with and between services, for example GPs, hospitals, consultants, the Ambulance Service, and Social Services. 3. Discussion over afternoon tea 4. ACTION PLANING TOGETHER, with each person announcing their individual action to progress the communication issues highlighted. Action Organize an annual/ 6 monthly (comments suggested it should be more than once a year) meeting. Powys Carers Service strategy to consult how PCS can improve its communication and link with others to do this effectively. Find ways to ensure that the LHB get involved. Will (with colleagues) create an action plan from today s comments and send to everyone. Will work with others to undertake a listening campaign using Sense Maker softwear then invite key stakeholders to address emerging issues. Who Jenny O Hara Jakeway, Powys Carers Service Help Carers recognize they are Carers Recruit Volunteer Ambassadors to raise awareness of Carers Ask for (received) a Carers Ambassador for Ystradgynlais Julie Skelton, Carers Wales Will engage with Service Users to understand the gaps, and take forward the opportunity to communicate what is needed. Will work together on the implementation of the new act. PCC is still not where it wants to be on early interventions and where Dawn has management of provider services will see that Carers are Dawn Docherty, Powys County Council
embedded earlier in the system. Dawn will take note of the statistic that Ystradgynlais has the highest number / ratio of Carers in Powys. In her new role overseeing provider services Dawn will look at Day Services Dawn assured Carers in the room that when taken forward, with the consultation at the Carers meeting, Carers will influence the council. The council must save money, but they take the point made that it needs to be spent in the best way to respond to the needs. Dawn will look for support from Powys Carers Service around the transformation programmes. Promised to take up an individual complaint from a Carer. Dawn Docherty Will talk to Carers about what more Hafal could do for them, and take back to Hafal the thoughts of the meeting. Gill Colerick, Hafal Kirsty will table an amendment to the regulations and inspections (Health and Wellbeing Act) with regard to commissioning. Commissioning is the key it is no good planting tulips and expecting orchids to come up. If the council and health board are not directly providing services, then the commissioning of the services is key. Will ask the LHB and Powys council to outline what they will do the new share of the money for diagnosis. (Carers raised issue) Will do a health survey of the constituency re GP appointments and problems accessing LHB appointments, for hard evidence to take to the LHB. Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Government Wendy will keep spreading the word about Carers. She commented: With problems that exist in one place but not another, why can t best practice that works say in Neath Port Talbot be adopted by Powys? The voluntary sector services are essential and Carers are grateful to them. Wendy, Carer As part of her engagement Yvonne will try to get out into the community and listen and take the concerns of people to the Partnership Boards. Yvonne will work closer with Powys Carers Service, Max is invited to Yvonne s Ystradgynlais group. Will raise Carers UK ambassadors with Rhiannon of Brecon Dementia Friendly Community. Yvonne Bufton, Age Cymru Powys Ingrid will work with other organizations to complement each other s work. Will look at funding from the Big Lottery. Ingrid Bernathova, Crossroads Mid 1
Raised the issue that funding from places like the Big Lottery often is short term, then rather than fund again something that is working, organizations have to start again on new and innovative projects. there is a need to provide continuity of services. and West Wales Kirsty Williams commented: There is a need to change to services where Welsh Government provides the core costs, e.g. as with LHB, whereby they do not have to balance the budget every year, a long term view is taken. Will talk to other people about caring, spread the support by word of mouth. Carers Carl will report on the 3 rd Sector capability to provide services. Will work with Powys County Council and the Local Health Board so that realistic expectations and proper support for the 3 rd Sector to do what PCC/LHB need them to do. Issue raised that there is a problem Getting the LHB in the room Carl is meeting the chair of LHB and will raise this issue. Carl Cooper, PAVO Heather hopes to get the Carers Information Strategy signed off in two weeks. Will take the information given at the meeting back to the working group to be used on the service specification for Carers in commissioning. Will contact Powys Carers Service to arrange opportunities to meet more Carers to hear their views. The Red Cross can provide transport for hospital if people cannot get there themselves. They have a driver and helper, they will help the person find the appointment place and they wait to take the person home again. They have a Home from Hospital service, massage, respite care and other services. Agencies can refer people to them. Heather Parry, Powys County Council British Red Cross Owen will look after himself as a Carer, because there is no one else to care for his wife. He noted the respite service from the Red Cross. Issue Raised: Owen raised the issue that the community needs something from the GP surgery to tell you what they can do and the resources they have, but also what they cannot do. It needs to be a booklet and produced about twice a year so it is up to date. The phone message at the surgery says: If you are, for example, experiencing chest pain phone 999. Many people phone 999 as instructed but really do not need to and the hospital/ambulances then get backlogged. A better message/ system is needed. Owen, Carer PCS to explore this with GPs 2
Issue raised: Is there any way to influence the council to stop wasting money? Powys County Council educate Care Workers that then leave, and the expertise is lost. How do you retain the good staff? Pam, Carer Caroline will try to improve signposting from the Centre. Caroline will get a directory together of services in the area, if funding is found to do so. Caroline will continue to raise the issues that partnership and cross border working is needed. Caroline Bull, Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre Meiriona will be a Carers Ambassador for Carers Wales. Meiriona, Carer John will talk to the new ambassador. John, Carer Will create a file of information for Carers and keep one at the Library and one at the Volunteer Centre and keep them updated. Will put aside time for phoning more Carers during her working hours. Maxine Oliver, Powys Carers Service Pauline, Carer Commented that she hopes the work done today will keep going. Issues raised If the Out of hours GP is a man he will not see a female patient. A patient can be sent to the hospital, but if the right staff are not there they cannot prescribe so patient is sent back to the GP. The MIU to use it you have to phone it first to make an appointment. It is not advertised that if it is not used by a certain time it can be closed for the day. Carers 3