DRAFT Powys Armed and Ex-Forces Forum 4 th March 2014 2.00pm-3.30pm Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines, Brecon Present: Dr Catherine Woodward, Director of Public Health, Powys (t) Health Board (Chair) Cllr Melanie Davies, Powys(t)HB Armed Forces Champion Vice Chair, Powys (t)hb Captain Mark McGroarty, Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines Jackie Wilding, S Powys Community Health Council (CHC) Mike Lewis, SSAFA Liz Trow, Community Covenant Officer, Powys County Council (PCC) Jonathon Morgan, Powys Veteran Jane Cooke, PAVO Sophia Bird, Principal Health Promotion Specialist, Powys Public Health Team Clive Rees, Change Step, Kaleidoscope Tania Dolley, Psychologist, S Powys and Aneurin Bevan Health Board (ABHB) Apologies: Dr Alan Woodall, GP Representative, Machynlleth Health Centre Gareth Walters, Powys Veteran Jenni Thomas, Community Covenant Lead, Powys County Council Victoria Williams, All Wales Veterans Health and Wellbeing Service, ABMUHB Melanie Davies, Martin Ellacott, Veteran Representative, Powys (t) HB Mrs Margaret Evitts, CHC Representative, Montgomeryshire Yvonne Jones, Powys (t) Health Board, Commissioning Steve Hawker, Primary Care Representative, Powys HB Dr Alan Woodall, GP Practice Representative
1. All were welcomed and apologies received and recorded 2. Dr Catherine Woodward, Chair, confirmed that the focus of the forum is to fulfil the Welsh Government and Health Inspectorate Wales expectations of Health Boards. 3. Minutes of previous meeting The minutes agreed as a correct record, bar one correction, point 8 drop-inn should read drop-in. 4. Matters Arising Item 6. Community Covenant grant to develop an outdoor therapy space and woodland walk on the Bronllys hospital site. It was confirmed that the lead Director for the Health Board is Andy Evans who is the Primary Care lead in an acting capacity. Gemma Lewis is the S Localities officer for all future updates on this development. 5. Terms of Reference and membership provided a brief history to the terms of reference, explaining that they were adopted from Hywel Dda Health Board as recommended at a national Armed Forces Champions meeting, but that they did not fully reflect the expectations of the forum as set out by Health Inspectorate Wales. They have been reviewed and revised as agreed to make this expectation more prominent. The membership was then reviewed. to email Sue O Grady again for an Adult SS representative. PRU to be re-invited, and to circulate presentation again, It was confirmed that it is confusing for veterans to have a number of military charities in existence who do not necessarily work together. Veterans and housing issue to be forwarded to Liz Trow, giving an example that was raised by Jonathon regarding lack of implementation of priority access to services. A response is required regarding the processes to be followed. LT Membership of the PAEFF was deemed to be satisfactory and within guidance, with the exception of a Social Services representative. Membership to included: Andy Evans, Primary & Community Care; Yvonne Jones, Powys (t) Health Board, Commissioning; Jane Cooke / Michele, PAVO; To be taken off: April Cullen, Mid Powys Mind An updated draft of the ToR to be circulated for final comments and signed off via email and ratified at the next meeting. It was agreed that the ToR need to identify first and second representatives of organisations: ie the main and the deputy, with All to identify Deputy 2
input to be fed in by 5 th August, so ToR can be updated. ToR to be checked re Armed and ex-forces references for consistency, for example, point 4.1. if not already listed It was agreed that Cllr Melanie Davies will assume the role of Vice- Chair of this group so will be added to the ToR 6. Review of revisions to the Action Plan There are 42 actions that need to be revised and reduced. CHCs could raise 1.1 Named officers need to be on the plan No more than 4 or 5 actions to be listed on the Plan, with all completed actions deleted. All to let know of: their thoughts regarding revision and overall impressions how their organisations and their representatives can take forward actions identified any further actions by 1 st week of Sep 2014 Revisions to be circulated by the next meeting. to revise action plan. All Powys Armed Forces Community Covenant Lead Officer Jenni Thomas, Regeneration unit, PCC. Executive Lead is Paul Griffiths The Action Plan s progress will be reported to the Health Board. Action Plan take out 4.1; 4.2 lead should be HB; YJ to revise 4. When completed, the Action Plan is to be sent, in the first instance, to Health Board Executives. 7. Other Health Updates Change Step: Change Step is an all Wales peer mentoring and advice service for military veterans and others with post traumatic stress disorder and a range of psychosocial problems who want to make positive changes to their lives. YJ The service is delivered by veterans for veterans and aims to support those seeking help for problems encountered as a result of military or operational duty. The programme offers peer support, training opportunities and signposting to relevant health and welfare agencies. Who is Change Step for? Military Veterans Trauma Survivors Their family members 3
There are 17 Peer Mentors that cover the whole of Wales. Powys has two part time officers: Steve Jones who covers South Powys, based in Brecon, and Clive Rees who covers Mid and North Powys, based in Llandrindod Wells. Between us we have 10 clients that come from all over Powys who are currently receiving support (as of end of July 2014). The official All Wales Change Step launch will take place at 12.00 pm on Wednesday 1st October 2014, at The Pierhead, Cardiff Bay. Change Step is a CAIS led and DACW managed peer mentoring and advice service delivered by veterans for veterans. For more information please contact Change Step on: 0300-7772259 www.changestepwales.co.uk ask@change-step.co.uk The Ripple Pond: A Self-Help Support Group Families of Injured Servicemen and Women Set up by a mother with an injured son as a self help support group, the Ripple Pond meetings are for family members of a wounded, injured or sick serviceman or woman who would like to join a group of other mums, dads, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, girlfriends, etc for support. The self- help groups meet regularly in local areas of the UK with the main aim being to provide a space to express feelings safely in a non-judgmental environment, where everyone is heard. A group is now running in the Swansea area. If you are a family member of an injured serviceman or woman, or if you know anyone who is, and would like to be part of this group then contact The Ripple Pond on 07968 310329 for more information or by email at theripplepond@gmail.com www.theripplepond.co.uk 8. Update from Powys Armed Forces Community Covenant lead officer The Powys Armed Forces Community Covenant group is chaired by Commanding Officer Jeremy Robinson. The Lead officer is Jenni Thomas, PCC. Cllr Rosemary Harris is the PCC Armed and Ex- Forces Champion. The aim of this group is to strengthen ties between the community and armed forces. It also oversees the MoD Armed Forces Community Covenant grant applications from within Powys. It is a multi-agency partnership that includes representatives from Education; Mid Wales Manufacturing group; PAVO; Royal British Legion and Psychology services, as well as from this group. Housing and Social Services are not represented yet but this is being worked on. 4
Agreed that the ToR of this group would be circulated to ensure that there are no areas of overlap or omission. This group reports to Powys CC cabinet. Agreed that reports would go from PAEFF to this group for information. 9. PAEFF Health Board web pages to pass on web pages outline to Tin Wheeler to take forward, update and provide a completion date: ideally by the end of September to CW and go live by November. When live, it will be a requirement to record website hits and where they lead to. 10 Dates and times of future meetings LT to send to to hand over to TW TW The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 11 th November (Remembrance Day) at Dering Lines. This will be chaired by Cll Melanie Davies with a 2:00pm prompt start. All to allow time to get through the security on the base. Dates of future meetings, all at Dering Lines: Tuesday 3 March 2015 at 2 p.m. Tuesday 7 July 2015 at 2 p.m. Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 2 p.m. 11 Any Other Business A warm welcome was extended to Capt Mark McGroarty, who has recently succeeded Capt Simon Bedford Smith as Adjutant to the Infantry Battle School at Dering Lines and will be the representative for future meetings. 5