Carers Forums in Cornwall Minutes of the Truro Forum held at Cornwall Mobility, North Buildings, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, TR1 3LQ on Thursday 6 th September 2018 1.30 3.30pm Carers in Attendance: There were eight Carers in attendance (hereafter referred to as Forum Members) Also in Attendance: Tracey Sillis, Carer Support Practitioner, Kernow Carers Service Chris Perry, Forums Administrator, Kernow Carers Service 1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made around the table. Apologies were received from two members. 2. Actions and Issues Arising from the last Meeting and Approval to Publish Minutes Actions from previous meeting: 1. Approval to publish minutes from 1 February meeting actioned. 2. A member s lack of support from the Mental Health Team will be raised with at The Trust Carers Committee. Chair to raise at next TCC meeting on 26 September. 3. Truro Methodist Church to be contacted to discuss a room to hold future Forum meetings - actioned. Truro Methodist Church were unable to provide a venue for Thursday afternoons, although Wednesday was suggested as an option. CP booked the Cornwall Mobility meeting room as an alternative. Members agreed that this was a suitable venue for future meetings. The minutes of the 10 May meeting were agreed as a true record and approval for publication given. Action: CP to arrange publication on the Cornwall Council Family Information Service website. 3. Creative Spaces for Carers A talk had been planned by Wendy Brewin from Creative Spaces for Carers, who was unfortunately unable to attend due to a fractured bone in her foot. CP read through the promotional material that had been provided (see attached). 4. Information from Kernow Carers Service TS spoke to group about the work of Trek West, part of Disability Cornwall. TW offer support and guidance for people with a long term health condition or disability who receive Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance or Jobseekers Allowance. 1
They can provide help with form-filling, and can be contacted either by telephone, email, or face to face at their outreach venue in Hayle. Tel: 01736 759500. Email: info@disabilitycornwall.org.uk Address: disability Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Units 1G/H Guildford Road Industrial Estate, Guildford Road, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4QZ. TS advised that a pilot program will be trialled in the old Kerrier district, providing a strength-based approach to care. The pilot will last until the 30 th June, and will include assistance with form filling. It is hoped that the pilot can be extended to the whole of Cornwall if its benefits can be shown. TS advised that Carefreebreaks will be taking referrals again soon. Carefreebreaks provides short breaks for unpaid carers in hotels and holiday cottages provided free-ofcharge by owners during the low season. TS explained: a) breaks are available for carers and one companion, though not the cared for; b) carers must not have had a break in the past six months; c) carers must be supported by Kernow Carers Service to access these breaks and must have access to email and the internet. The next meeting of the Newquay Carers Forum will be held on the 19 th November at Newquay Community Fire Station. The Kernow Carers Carol Service will be held at 2.00pm on Monday 17 December at Truro Methodist Church. 5. Carers Open Discussion A member reported that their daughter has been waiting several years for a hip replacement. She first had x-rays taken in 2015, and only had a pre-op assessment two months ago. Chair suggested raising a complaint with the Patient Advice and Liason Service. Another member advised that a complaint could be raised via the Patient and Family Experience Team on 01872 252793. Action: Chair to raise at next CPB meeting. A member requested information about possible mental health support services for their son. Action: CP to provide information. Members had attended the meeting of the Carers Partnership Board in Liskeard on the 1 st August. Minutes of that meeting are attached, or can be found at https://www.healthwatchcornwall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cpb-august- 2018-Minutes.pdf. The next CPB meeting will be held on the 6 th November. A meeting will be held at Epiphany House on the 18 th October where carers can question Kerrier Clinical Commissioning Group about Continuing Healthcare. A member will be attending. A member had received PIP forms and was in the process of completing driving license forms. They explained that they had been feeling overwhelmed, and had made an appointment with Citizens Advice. They felt that their GP had been helpful. Following a review by Social Services their cared for s hours had been cut, and member reported difficulty optaining a copy of the report. TS confirmed that they were entitled to this under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. A member spoke about their experiences following their partner s stay in hospital. They will be attending a resolution meeting next week. A new member felt that there is an issue coordinating the various groups who can provide support. They suggested that there are too many layers to the process. TS 2
took their telephone number and will contact them directly to provide support and additional information. 6. Review of Actions Raised at this Meeting See Appendix B 7. Issues to Raise at the Carers Partnership Board See Appendix C The next meeting of the Truro Carers Forum will be held on: Thursday 1 st November 2018 from 1.30pm 3.30pm at Cornwall Mobility, North Buildings, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, TR1 3LQ Travel expenses from your home address to your local Forum may be paid. Carers Partnership Board Meetings 2018 The next meeting of the Carers Partnership Board will be held on 6 th November - time & venue to be confirmed Enquiries should be made direct to Nuala Kiely at Healthwatch nuala.kiely@healthwatchcornwall.co.uk or tel: 01872 273501 Kernow Carers Service can be contacted at Cornwall Rural Community Charity, 2 Princes Street, Truro TR1 2ES Telephone: 01872 243531. Email: carers.admin@cornwallrcc.org.uk www.cornwallrcc.org.uk chris.perry@cornwallrcc.org.uk 3
APPENDIX B TRURO FORUM 10 MAY 2018 ACTIONS RAISED & RESOLVED (FOR NOTING BY CPB) Issue 1 Minutes of the meeting held on 10 th May were agreed for publication. 2 A members lack of support from the Mental Health Team will be raised with at The Trust Carers Committee. 3 CP to provide information on mental health support resources for a member. Carer Groups Affected All MH All Solution CP to arrange publication on the Family Information Service web site (actioned) Chair to take issues to the TCC. CP to provide (actioned). 4
APPENDIX C TRURO FORUM 10 MAY 2018 ISSUES TO BE RAISED AT CPB Issue 1. A member reported that their daughter has been waiting several years for a hip replacement. She first had x-rays taken in 2015, and only had a pre-op assessment two months ago. Carer Groups Affected Solution Chair to raise at CPB. 5